To wish adults wouldn't throw balls up the slide at soft play?

[YesIamYourSisterInLaw]

Because I can't explain to my toddler why its ok for them to do it and not him. Obviously as adults we are able to comprehend not throwing them when someone is coming down the slide etc but young children do not have that logical thought yet.
Why do it? you pains in the ass

[catgirl1976]

Our softplay has a ball pit where they post balls into tubes which suck up the balls into a big cage thing overhead and then when it is full it opens and hundreds of balls fall from the ceiling and onto the heads of the toddlers

This is DS's favourite thing in the world

He stuffs the tubes like a manic robot and when the klaxon sounds flings himself directly under the cage, looking up excitedly waiting to get a facefull of falling balls

One hasn't had his eye out yet :)

[pamelat]

Mmmmm

My DH does this and I "told him off" for possibly encouraging ds to throw stuff up there BUT ds doesn't, he seems to realise it's a grown up thing, and I decided it wouldn't hurt anyway.

I don't let ds climb up slides but that's because I do think that could hurt him and whoever is appropriately sliding down!!

[YesIamYourSisterInLaw]

Cat girl we go to a bigger park that has one of those but the balls are the foam ones that are half eaten by the kids hahaha
Ds loves it and I love the cannons you can use to shoot them up to the cage

[Rhubarbgarden]

Our local soft play has a sign up saying "No throwing balls".

[CloudsAndTrees]

I can get On board with rolling balls up the slide, but children climbing up the slide are a complete pain in the arse, for lots of reasons.

[claraschu]

Life is full of contradictions, mixed messages, and inconsistency. kids are smart and understand this, given the chance. Some people can drive, others can't; some people joke around and surprise you, others are very straight ahead; some people respond well to whining and blackmail;others don't; some objects are ok to throw, others aren't.

[catgirl1976]

Oh that sounds fab YesIam DS would love cannons!

[babanouche]

YABU

I second the poster who said slides are for playing on. Why limit your child's exploration with a bunch of made up rules about slides only being for sliding down? You can climb up them, lie across them, roll down them, whatever. Let the kids play.

As for adults chucking balls up the slide - they're playing with the kids fgs. Presumably they're not lobbing them with a view to taking anyone's eyes out. Small children need to learn how to play without harming others. Watching adults interact with their children is one way of doing this.

[ceeveebee]

Playing? Having fun? How very dare they!

Unless you are going to ban balls from your DCs life, it seems a perfect opportunity to teach them about taking turns etc. My 16 mo DTs also love to climb up the slide and now after a few feet to head incidents know to wait if the other one is coming back down. In fact at Gymboree they teach them to climb up them and throw balls up them.

[WorraLiberty]

OP, I'd be willing to bet my last penny that in years to come, you'll look back on this and criiiiiinge

It's such a non issue...like the queen of non issues, walking down non issue street, wearing a huge badge with 'non issue' emblazoned upon it, whilst selling a magazine called 'non issue'.

Trust me, it'll happen.

[DoJo]

Children surely need to learn to be aware of their surroundings rather than hoping that rules will be applicable no matter what the circumstances. I think it's a shame to limit their play just in case when it would make more sense for them to learn 'this is ok, unless I say it isn't' which is true of most situations.

[DigestivesWithCheese]

I hate it when they are allowed to climb up the bloody slides! Slides are for going DOWN. If you have your own slide at home then going up/throwing balls doesn't matter, but in areas where children are sharing, they all need to go in the same direction!!

The other thing that gives me soft play rage: bigger children racing around in the toddler area. Why don't the parents just say "Out of here, you are too big for this part"?

[Flossbert]

I could potentially agree with all the "just let the children play" sentiments regarding letting kids go up the slide except that, actually, as they get older the children are plainly not supervised constantly and so the children that understand that slides are for going DOWN are stuck at the top, patiently waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Because they don't want to kick another child in the face, and I don't want them to teach them that they can/ should.

[MrsKeithRichards]

You know it's only us adults that attach instructions and right ways to play equipment. Part of being a child is exploring, learning and using these things.

[ohmyrainydays]

I hate it when children go up the slide the wrong way. It usually is a child that isn't being supervised and then there becomes a back log of children at the top because they won't get off. I think it's dangerous and shouldn't be encouraged.

[catgirl1976]

Remind me to ensure I fully supress DS's sense of adventure, desire to explore an try things out and his imagination next time I take him out to play

Maybe there could be a manual on how he should play and how much fun he is allowed

[Crawling]

YABU let people play stop being a tyrant trying to dictate play rules.

[zippey]

I dont think there is a right or wrong answer in this, but I would take the view to keep it fun and let children explore. For example, you can tell them that paper is used for writing and reading, but also for making paper aeroplanes, oragami, snowballs etc.

I think its great to throw balls on a slide and watch them come down.

[KatoPotato]

YANBU. Why would anyone want to touch those grotty balls on purpose?

[SissySpacekAteMyHamster]

I'm with Worral (well I would be if it was an issue)

[YesIamYourSisterInLaw]

@ how I'm a tyrant
Worra I may look back and think meh but I doubt I'll cringe. If only this was the most cringeworthy thing in my life, if only.....

[Crawling]

well your taking it in good fun

[kelda]

YANBU at any adult playing in the soft play and looking like they enjoy it.

Soft play is for the parents ie. ME to sit at a table as far away as possible, read my book and stick my fingers in my ears if necessary.

[Sunnymeg]

I still remember a boy in my class breaking both his legs by climbing up a slide and then another lad coming down and straight into him. I have a real thing about slides now because of that.