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

[HugeFloweryPants]

I second the going down the slide not up thing. Every other child takes 20 seconds to go down, nice flow of children using it and no queue. Until one precious darling's turn has to be a prolonged effort to go UP it and a queue that never was forms of children that take turns/ down kick others in the face. Precious darling then turns round, slides down...and straight back up again going up and down until their bored while every other child waits.

I think it's fair to play with one rule:
don't do anything that is likely to upset/ hurt others

There's still loads to do without being annoying

[WorraLiberty]

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

I said exactly the same thing to my DH in bed last night....

[katrinefonsmark]

I agree with worra, I clicked on this thread for same reason I stop the remote on qvc- incredulous at the banality. That aside op you're right. No balls up the slide.

[MeerkatMerkin]

I have never seen anyone doing this at soft play.

[MeerkatMerkin]

I have, however, seen children take the ride-on cars to the top of the slide and roll them down, which is dangerous, and could have someone's eye out. Pisses me off that the parents ignore this behaviour.

[KatoPotato]

Oh Worra you made me 'audibly hoot' once again!

[hopefloats]

OP, it is called 'performance parenting' and the same parents will be found singing Wheels On The Bus in the supermarket and reading a book REALLY LOUDLY in any medical waiting room, to their offspring. This proves they are very good parents indeed.

[catgirl1976]

I just sang Wheels on the Bus to DS on the bus

I read to him in waiting rooms

And I actively play with him at soft play

I just call it "Parenting" though. It's not a performance.

[SolomanDaisy]

If singing the wheels on the bus in the supermarket is performance parenting, I think MN has finally reached the stage where any form of interaction with your child outside the confines of your living room is considered performance parenting. What super cool relaxed parents!

[hazeyjane]

hopefloats, you're kidding right?! Playing with your toddler, singing to them and keeping them entertained in a waiting room, are all fairly standard things to do with your children!

[MrsKeithRichards]

at performance parenting.

None of your examples constitute performance parenting. Cool laid back parent attempt fail.

[larks35]

Oh for goodness sake! It is quite easy to explain to a toddler that throwing balls up a slide when others are using them isn't on, it is also quite fun to throw a ball up the slide to your toddler and have him roll it back down to you. It is also quite easy to explain to your toddler that climbing up a slide isn't the done thing even if other children do it. It is also quite easy to explain to your toddler that he isn't having choclolate buttons even if others are. etc. etc. etc...

Your child is always going to witness others doing stuff that you don't want him to do. Rather than expect everyone to behave the way you want your child to, you need to develop a way of explaining your expectations to him regardless of what other people do.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I loathe kids climbing up the slide. I have seen plenty of adults taking out wee kids on the slide - once you are going you can't stop, and an adult has a fair amount of weight/momentum behind them.

Even a kid hitting another kid at slide speed is pretty dangerous.

Really scares me when I see toddlers trying to climb up the big slides. Even worse when you can't see them in a tunnel slide.