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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

adults with learning difficulties on small childrens' play area.

580 replies

Bethshine82 · 15/04/2012 16:40

Took DS to the play area on Friday, it is not a huge play area and has one of those signs saying it is designed for use by children 14 and under.
Whilst we were there a group of around eight adults with learning difficulties and their carers arrived. The adults proceeded to go onto the playground.
AIBU to think this isn't very fair? They were adults and they weren't really aware of their strength and size. The carers weren't supervising brilliantly and twice I saw one of the adults just shove the children out of the way. Also some of the adults were shouting and screaming which frightened some of the toddlers. Many of the children left. I'm not in any way suggesting that adults with learning difficulties shouldn't be able to go out and enjoy themselves or that they shouldn't be part of the community, I'm just not sure a small childrens' play area is the place for an adults' afternoon out.

I think that the playground should only be used by children, it isn't safe otherwise really. AIBU?

OP posts:
ErikNorseman · 15/04/2012 16:44

YANBU
It isn't really appropriate to have adults playing on children's play equipment.

Noqontrol · 15/04/2012 16:45

If its for children under 14 and they weren't under 14 then no they shouldn't have been on it. The same would go for anyone though, not just people with LD.

Codandchops · 15/04/2012 16:45

I am wondering why the carers felt this was a suitable venue for adults. Confused

Difficult one, is the equipment designed for adult use?

hairylemon · 15/04/2012 16:46

Yanbu

Original poster
Bethshine82 · 15/04/2012 16:48

No, it has two sets of swings, the baby ones and the ones for older children and it also has a couple of different sized slides. However they were using all of the equipment even the roundabout in the toddler area. Some of it was of course too small physically like the baby swings and rockers.
Yes, any adults using childrens' play area would not be safe, was just surprised as they had clearly come together on an organised outing. I was just surprised it was seen as suitable.

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 15/04/2012 16:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

edam · 15/04/2012 16:49

Sounds like the carers are rather irresponsible.

Sarcalogos · 15/04/2012 16:52

Yanbu, this is inappropriate and dangerous. The vulnerable adults could have been hurt using equipment not designed for adult height/weight. Also it's demeaning for them to be lumped in with toddlers effectively, the carers job is to find more age appropriate 'fun' stuff they can do.

I would try and speak/complain to the management of the charity/organisation leading the trip.

Alexa12 · 15/04/2012 16:52

YANBU, that's totally inappropriate, not to mention irresponsible on the part of the carers - if any of the adults hurt themselves then the carers would be liable as it clearly stated for use by under 14s. Sounds a littke bit like the carers wanted an easy half an hour for themselves...

Do you know where they were from? What centre or anything?

saintlyjimjams · 15/04/2012 16:53

Are you sure they were adults? Some of ds1's friends are young teens and over 6 foot. It just seems a strange choice of venue - most care homes are very aware of the need for appropriate activities and never mind the kids a play park with small equipment doesn't seem that suitable an activity. Did you talk to any of the carers?

jandymaccomesback · 15/04/2012 16:55

YANBU
The reason 14 is the maximum age is because it is designed for children. Adults are too big to use children's equipment.
Having said that I have a friend with a 30 year old daughter who has a mental age of 7 and trying to explain to her that she can't go on children's equipment can be very difficult, as mentally it is what she wants to do.
The carers should not have taken them as an organised activity though, especially as a group.

TheMonster · 15/04/2012 16:57

YANBU.

MrsKittyFane · 15/04/2012 16:57

YANBU. There is an age limit of 11 at the play park near me.
It wasn't an appropriate thing for the caret to do.

MrsKittyFane · 15/04/2012 16:58

Carers not caret

butterfingerz · 15/04/2012 17:51

I think I've seen something like this before, at Heaton Park in Manchester. There's a really big slide for older children and a few other things, though younger children use the play area too. They seemed to be well supervised though, I think they must have been late teens/early twenties.

But YANBU if it's a play area for young children.

Catsdontcare · 15/04/2012 17:57

It is inappropriate and demeaning IMO. I also think it is laziness on the carers part. They could quite easily have set up some activities on a playing field that would have been more appropriate and engaging.

I used to work for a special needs plays heme and my mind often used to. Ogle at the trips that were organised.

Catsdontcare · 15/04/2012 17:58

Boggle no ogle. Stupid phone

Original poster
Bethshine82 · 15/04/2012 18:01

Definitely adults, I'm certain, saintly.

No the carers weren't great. As the group walked down one to the play area one of them fell and sat on the floor crying but I noticed some of the carers (appeared to be (1:1) were laughing.
Not sure where they were from, the play area is set within a larger reserve where you can't see the car park. At first I thought they were going to walk around the nature reserve but they went straight to the playground. I think they walked from wherever they were from though as when we went back to the car park there wasn't a mini bus parked unless they were dropped off.

OP posts:
2shoes · 15/04/2012 18:02

yabu
as this thread has been done before...

Original poster
Bethshine82 · 15/04/2012 18:04

Has it? Ooops, not in my mn lifetime. Sorry.

OP posts:
belgo · 15/04/2012 18:04

What about parents who use the equipment? I see loads of parents following their children around on playgroup equipment. If they are are allowed to use it, then presumably it is insured for all adults as well as children. Which means that disable adults can use it as well.

Mrsjay · 15/04/2012 18:06

Yanbu and the carers shouldve taken them to a more suitible activity imo . they are grown ups even if they have LD the swings mightve broken or a child maybe hurt by the rubbish carers by the look of things ,

Original poster
Bethshine82 · 15/04/2012 18:07

But there is a difference between an adult helping a child up a ladder or supporting them with using equipment and eight adults who may not be aware of how to use the equipment safely.

But yes, any group of adults taking precedence over the children would be the same.

OP posts:
comedycentral · 15/04/2012 18:13

The problem here is the lack of provision for disabled teens and adults. For some disabled teens and adults a playground is 'age appropriate' if you consider their developmental age. Ideally there would be places to climb, slide and swing safely. In the city I live in, there is a play centre for disabled children, young people and adults. Not sure how it's funded and I assume it's not cheap but I do think it's a great idea.

I don't think YABU, from what you are saying it's not fit for those over a certain age so it wouldn't be safe.

mumeeee · 15/04/2012 18:24

I work with young adults with learning difficulties. Sometimes they do get taken to a play area but it would be one to one and only one or two at a time. They get taken as they love the swings. But we would nor take them if there were children using the area and certainly would not let them go on toddler equipment.