To let my son play in the fountain?

[CruCru]

On Thursday we were in Russell Square. My son was keen on the fountain (it is one that you can walk through, set into the ground) and it was hot so I stripped him down to his nappy and let him run through the fountain.

The mix of reactions was quite strange. Older people smiled but the younger office worker crowd looked a bit shocked and disapproving.

I was with him all the time and went in myself (wearing shorts). I had a towelling jumper to shove on him when he was done so he didn't get cold.

You are DNBU! one thing I have discovered since moving to the states is this thing called a splash pad. They're found in local parks and are free to the public. The one near us has lots of sprayer things that kids can point at each other and because the water all runs away (it is recycled) it is safe for toddlers to run around in as there's no standing water.

Great minds think alike, Thumbwitch.

missus we discovered one of those at the park in Bakewell while on holiday. Ended up doing near daily visits.

Somerset house used to have great fountains for running throug. You can pretend you're somewhere fabulous in Europe, the courtyard is just lovely. Are they still there?

Indith aren't they great? It gets really hot and humid here in the summer and we don't have a garden so it is a godsend. Sometimes when it's hot I just can't bear walking to the playground and pushing the swing.

Missuswife we have splash pads in the UK too but they are way too few and far between. For any east / south east Londoners there is one in belvedere and one in danson park (along with a mini gauge railway) another in wells park sydenham. I'm north east but it is worth the drive down south to go to these particularly the first two.

The Olympic park has great fountains as well!

Apparently there is also one at beckenham place park and this link shows the locations of many more in the UK

www.sunsafe.co.uk/waterplay_portfolio_newparks.htm

isn't that what these fountains are for?

I was introduced to the Somerset House one recently. Utterly awesome setting!!

Oops I think the mini railway was swanley park ( would hate anyone to be disappointed) - I went to so many last summer I forget which is which!

There's some great fountains like that on the South Bank as well, right by the London council building. I've seen loads of kids (and mums/dads) playing in them. Fountains that spring from the ground like that are designed to be played in on sunny days.

No it's fine! I take DD to that fountain all the time, all the kids go in it, it's so fun! It's packed in the height of summer! All the kids go in in their nappies. Germ obsessive people need to find something better to worry about x

YANBU DD3 has spent much of the lunch time (picnic with a free show) running through the fountains outside the sack of spuds in Brum - we are there every Sat (DD2 has drama club) and I now pack a change of clothes !

My niece loves that one

Hello ch1a nice to hear from you on this thread but we want to hear from you on another with some good news!

The office workers were

I don't let my DC play in town fountains, but that's just me. sometimes I'm not quick enough to stop them randomly jumping in, though

Haha Andrew. I'm occupying myself while I wait 100 years for anything to actually happen. Each day feels eternal.

Maybe they were just jealous? I hated being stuck in an office when it was sunny

One of my favourite things is when some wag puts bubble bath/shampoo in our city fountains. My inner ten year old rejoices at the sight, all those millions of bubbles.

On sunny days ours is always full of children, soaked to the skin and having a whale of a time. Lovely. :)

my 3 yr old played in just the fountain the other day (just paddling). was great. I always assumed that was what is was for.

DNBU. 6 year old son went running through one of 'em the other day. His 44 yo mother followed - fully clothed . The looks that I got from the very proper neatly presented people around !

YANBU, my kids played in the Russell Square fountains in their nappies and now do so in their pants. We also love Granary Square, Somerset House and the splash area at London Zoo. Have you tried the Oasis outdoor pool on Endell Street in Covent Garden? That's great when they're starting to swim, although it gets busy outside school hours.

Office workers were envious not disapproving! Always kids playing in there.

Ds has enjoyed the one at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester many a time

And I have frequently cooled my feet in fountains in many a European city. The office workers were prob just jealous and hot.

Splash away!

TitsCrossed... another great Mancunian fountain is the river-y one outside Chethams!

This thread made me think of that one Cardinal. How would you keep children out of it!

ch1a Thank you. If the online goodwill of MN could do the trick your DC2 would be weaned by now but alas, not so. I'm keeping the Westfield thread watched and when you post your good news open the windows and listen carefully, you might just hear the cheering!