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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that parents of toddlers need to realise that older children have just as much right to play in playparks....

61 replies

MrsHeffley · 27/12/2011 17:58

and actually some areas are actually designed for the over 4s.

So taking that into account giving kids of 7 and over the evils and tutting when playing quite happily on equipment at the older end because your pfb is on the same equipment is a tad precious and actually not very nice.

If you don't like older kids engaging in loud energetic play remove your toddler and take him/her down to the large amount of play equipment designated for younger children.

Also expecting a large number of older kids to queue for a veeeeery long time so your pfb can spend ages being lifted step by step up a ladder is a tad selfish when it's the only slide for older kids and you have 3 other toddler slides to choose from!!!!

Just sayin.

OP posts:

mrspepperpotty · 27/12/2011 18:31

YANBU OP, but try to remember what it was like when you were a mum of toddlers. First of all you got used to having the playground to yourself during term time, and felt a bit aggrieved when it was crammed full during the school holidays. And these older children seemed SO BIG and rough compared to your tiny one! I'm not saying it's right, but I think it's natural to feel that way.

tigerlillyd02 · 27/12/2011 18:37

YANBU, but it also works both ways. The older kids should keep off the equipment meant for toddlers which I also see time and time again both at outside parks and in soft play areas.

nailak · 27/12/2011 18:37

Does anyone else get the problem of older kids and young teens riding their bikes in the playground, where toddlers are toddling?

This irritates me, as they have the whole park to ride in, but choose the.most.congested bit, with young kids who are just learning to walk.

Sirzy · 27/12/2011 18:38

I tend to avoid the park with Ds during school holidays as much as possible! He can use it during term time so there aren't bigger children so no issue!

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 27/12/2011 18:40

Certainly don't want to exclude little ones from the park as a whole but think in a park of it's size sorry older kids should be able to play as they need to on the areas designed for them.The park is huge toddlers don't need to monopolise it all.

Maybe there needs to be parks built exclusively for older kids,kind of a sad thought but older kids need space to breath and play too.

Soooo much money is spent on the under 8s,you never see anything for older kids and they really need it.

OP posts:

RainboweBrite · 27/12/2011 18:47

I let my son use the new area that was aimed at kids aged roughly 7-12 that was built when he was about 4, but I always made it clear to him that the older ones took priority in that area, so he would either have to wait his turn for as long as it took, or use the younger ones' equipment.

thefroggy · 27/12/2011 18:50

I think older kids are fine as long as they understand they have to be more careful when around the little ones. When I was young I slipped off a roundabout that was being pushed really fast by an older lad and ended up being dragged around and around on the gravel. He couldn't see me as I was on the opposite side to him and was mortified when someone shouted to him to stop and he realised what he'd done. He certainly didn't do it deliberately and was really upset by the whole thing (as was I with my bloody knees!)

runningwilde · 27/12/2011 18:50

Add message | Report | Message poster Sirzy Tue 27-Dec-11 18:03:23
It works both ways. Parents of older children should encourage them to be aware of little children, parents on younger children should make sure they don't get in the way to much! If everyone did that it would make trips to the park much nicer!

Agree with this - I have no problem with older kids playing on suitable equipment but I get bloody sick of them going on the toddler stuff with no care or consideration for little ones. Parents say fuck all to that a lot of the time too

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 27/12/2011 18:55

Agree. I gave up on parks because of the over 8's monopolising the baby swings, little slides etc. They might be too big for the equipment but they still manage to arse about on it and stop the younger ones playing. I have little sympathy until parents of older children realise that.

lljkk · 27/12/2011 20:04

Maybe there needs to be parks built exclusively for older kids

Doesn't work for those of us with older AND younger kids. Where can I take 3yo & 12yo at the same time? Yes I could send off 12yo on his own, but then what about the 7yo & 10yo, I don't necessarily want them out of sight, too. Parks that are exclusively just one age group or another are very awkward.

lljkk · 27/12/2011 20:07

oops! I had a quote in my last post, about building parks just for older children.
Not sure where it went. .
DS7 was playing in an under 8s park once & asked to leave after 3 minutes, having gone nowhere near other children but the parent of a toddler didn't want her child copying the way he climbed on things. I can't help but suspect that was highly pfb...

WorraLiberty · 27/12/2011 20:08

Why wouldn't you want a 7yr old and a 10yr old out of your sight in a park?

HoHoOpotomus · 27/12/2011 20:10

My bugbear is kids on bikes in playgrounds - whatever their age!

CardyMow · 27/12/2011 20:11

My older dc would NOT go on the toddler equipment, and they don't expect to have to dodge toddlers playing on the equipment meant for them - why should my 8yo and 9yo have to stifle their play to avoid tinies when there is a separate section of the park meant for the tinies?

And by the same token - I wouldn't be letting 11mo DS3 toddle around in the older dc's section.

And 13yo isn't too old for playparks - DD often goes to the park to go on the swings and slides and have a run around with her friends. Why on EARTH not?? Why should she be limited to going round town looking at boys when that's not what she is interested in?

PeelThemWithTheirMithrasKnives · 27/12/2011 20:11

It is annoying when parents watch indulgently as toddlers and smaller children run up and down skateboarding equipment. To be fair to the bigger kids (lads usually) they have waited patiently in these cases, but why should they have to?

CharlotteBronteSaurus · 27/12/2011 20:14

i don't care how old the kids are as long as they've been taught to play nicely and take turns, or are ticked off if they don't.

i don't especially enjoy having to reprimand other people's nine year olds, but if they keep running up the slide, blocking it for ages, all the while the littlies at the top are politely asking them not too, then I will.

Dustinthewind · 27/12/2011 20:15

Our local park has a toddler bit and a bit more suitable for those up to 12. If you are over 12, you aren't supposed to play in the park, but in the summer the teens sometimes take over around baby bedtime. Most of the 7+ year olds are patient with annoying mothers and their toddlers.

After that, you have to go to the other side of the park where the local community built a combination assault course and climbing thing for older children, tyre swings and knotted ropes and the like. The field in between is for football/frisbee and running round in circles.
There's a BMX track too, apparently.
One of the difficulties is that older children do need places to go and hang out without been treated like extras from Clockwork Orange.

Dustinthewind · 27/12/2011 20:16

Toddlers climbing up slides is a particular pain.

itsbrandybutterandtinseltime · 27/12/2011 20:18

peel seriously?! Have you seen parents letting their toddlers run about on skating ramps I am speechless!

YANBU. DS is 14mo, only just walking (with some help) and is ONLY allowed on swings and a little slide thing. It annoys me though when 5/6 year olds come racing up behind him, pushing him over when they've got 2 other massive climbing frames and treehouse things to play on, and their parents just meekly stand there saying 'Dont push, Tarquin...' GET IN CONTROL OF YOUR CHILD!

ddubsgirl · 27/12/2011 23:43

ugh when away camping we took kids to a park not far from where we were,it was about 5ish and park is locked up at 6 so took them,my 4 + dn my eldest is 14 and was told to fuck off and get out by a man with 2 kids,son came over too me(had dog so didnt sit in the play area)and told me,told the man not to swear at my son and he has every right to play in the park and if he has a problem to speak to me!he ranted something about it being for kids and told him my son is a kid hes 14 ,sil went in with them and played on the slide etc with our kids and the man left.

ChippingInLovesChristmasLights · 27/12/2011 23:55

Consideration - it's lacking in a lot of people sadly.

GrimmaTheNome · 27/12/2011 23:57

DD is approaching 13 but she is small and still loves a zipwire or big slide - I'll let her play like a child as long as she wants to. Of course, she knows to be courteous to other children.

IME older children are often really sweet with younger ones - I remember a 'big girl' (as she seemed to me then) helping my then-small DD up the Big Slide for her first time. Lovely.

RomanChristingle · 28/12/2011 00:00

I agree with all your point but it works both ways. My 2 yo is pretty fast up the steps on the slide but that doesn't stop much bigger kids pretending he's not there and just climbing over him/stepping on his fingers.

HRHBarbaraMillicentR0berts · 28/12/2011 00:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GrimmaTheNome · 28/12/2011 00:05

I don't think we've ever been anywhere that the kids didn't all know that you take turns and wait till its your turn.

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