Toddlers on scooters in Skate Parks

[BrendaFlange]

AIBU to think that whilst teens should not use playgrounds and equipment provided for younger children, it is unreasonable for parents to allow small children and toddlers on scooters to monopolise skate parks?

The skate park near us is well used by young teens (and younger children, 7 years and up) who are learning or proficient in skateboarding, stunt biking and stunt scootering. Amongst themselves they have a well ordered etiquette for ensuring that people do not crash. There is no other provision for teens anywhere in the vicinity.

My son and his friends have frequently had to come home because parents of 2 and 3 year olds are allowing their children to use micro scooters in the skate park, and get very shirty with the teens, telling them off, warning them not to skate, shouting at them (they would NEVER endanger a child). My DS asked a child who was sitting at the bottom of a ramp just enjoying the time of day to sit elsewhere, and got an aggressive mouthful from the mother. There is miles of alternative space for toddler scootering - but their presence in the skate park makes it unusable for skate boarders.

And suppose a toddler wanders into the path of a skateboarder in the skatepark and gets hurt? A 12 year old may not be able to anticipate the next move of a pre-schooler.

AIBU?

YANBU.
I took my dc to a skate park for the first time last week. Ds3 is only 4, but the older dc helped him and made sure he wasn't in anyone's way.

A group of mums with toddlers and ride-on toys set up for a picnic on the edge of the park (lots of grass nearby, park suitable for toddlers just nearby) and let their children play on the ramps, get in the way of the older children there.

I'd email the council.

If there is an age displayed then point out that is being ignored and ask if this can be monitored or bigger/more signage used.

If there is no age minimum displayed then point out the issues and ask the council to display a minimum age or times for different age groups.

They will have risk assessed the facility and will log your email.

If one of the pre schoolers does get flattened and seriously injured then the parents may look to suing the council. If the council is on notice there is an issue they are more likely to act to prevent any liability attaching to them.

A 'word' will be ignored an email cannot be.

Not quite the same but we have a park near us. Cars park across the entrance making it hazardous for kids emerging from the gate. I initially got fobbed off that it was not an adopted road yet. An email pointing out the hazards and I had witnessed a 'near miss' collision resulted in warning signs almost immediately.

YANBU in my experience it has only ever been a problem if the parents have an entitled attitude, we use to give younger kids plenty of time and take turns using ramps bowls and rails. It was always cool to see younger kids get better and more importantly gain confidence.
The skate parks I have used always had a great community feel, parents that are experienced are awesome when they are at the park with toddlers.

I think parents that aren't experienced would be pleasantly surprised if they relaxed and talked to the teenagers, they might learn some things.

Dixiechick - really helpful - thanks.

Also LeChien and CatMilk - this is the spirit I have observed and heard about at skate parks.

Ride on toys!! It's a skatepark. And yes, many are there because people campaigned and gave money because they wanted an opportunity for older children / teens.

Of course there is no problem if there are no whizzing skateboarders there at the time.

YANBU My 16 year old DS has taken to telling parents to stop putting their children in danger this way, he's not rude about it even when they are. He also takes small children of polite parents around the outside of the park on his board so they can learn. He does however give as good as he gets if he gets a mouthful if abuse off someone who's stupid enough to let their little darling wonder into the path of a pack of boarders four times their size!

Technically my 4 yr old was too young to be there, so I'm not really in the best position to moan about it!
He was heavily supervised though by me and three older children, and definitely wasn't in anyone's way.
The toddlers on ride-ons didn't have any road sense, weren't encouraged to take turns, and were allowed to swarm around the skatepark as the mums enjoyed a quiet cup of tea.
Ds2 (10) has ASD and was fuming. We had to leave early.

Yanbu.

I hate shitty selfish toddler parenting (3 under 4 so haven't experienced shitty selfish school gate or shitty selfish teen parenting)!

LeChien - there is no problem with your approach - my DS would be delighted to help smaller children, too - he just doesn't want to be blamed for crashing into them, or prevented from using the park because toddler-parents are keeping older kids and skaters at bay so that their kids can pootle.

Assuming it's the council that run it contact them and say it's a health and safety issue. Ask them if they would put a sign up limiting it to over 7s or so. Lord knows that they won't want to be sued if a toddler gets sent flying!

Yanbu at all, I totally agree, very selfish. I woukd tell your DC to remind prince/princess parents that it's a scare park and bmx circuit, not a young children's playpark.

Totally agree - the state park is NOT for scooters (sorry mums of young ones) My 3 would look longingly on the ramps and if it was empty, I would venture in with them. I left immediately if people on (shock) skateboards came in. As a mum of 2 teens and 1 almost there, I realise that it was absolutely the right thing to do.

Yanbu. Older kids and teens have few places that are theirs. Dd loved them at preschool age, therefore it was my duty to go when they were deserted, not the older kids duty to look after her. And if we passed when it was busy we stood and watched and discussed why it would be mean to go in and spoil their fun.
Similar happens on an adventure playground locally, it's aimed at older kids and yet with loads of ones nearby suitable for toddlers, some expect to monopolise that too.

My OH is a Playground Inspector. He says that the management (Council?) should be informed of the issue and should be taking steps to rectify the problem. This would include a site visit where they would discuss the issues with users and making parents aware of the dangers of inappropriate use.

Valkyrie - great - this is all useful information, and I will encourage DS and his friends to empower themselves and make an approach to the council for a constructive solution.

Meanwhile, maybe some MN-ers will have a bit of a think about this - whether parents of tots or teens

Thanks all - a good AIBU thread!

Yanbu
Bloody outrageous. We told our older DS to pay no attention at idiot parents.

I take the dc (8 & 10) to the skate park and they know the rules about not scooting into others down the bowl ect. This summer I've noticed loads of toddlers just diving in with their scooters and causing accidents. It's bloody annoying when it's not built for them in the first place.

When mine were little I used to take them early in the morning before the teens got there.

YANBU when mine were tiny they were desperate to play in the skate park but only allowed to do so at 8am when there were no big kids around. It's not even a matter for supervision. If a 3 year old is using a ramp it just isn't safe for anyone adult sized to be using it too, esp at speed. Some people will just never say no to their special snowflakes though

YAB a bit U.

I agree with what Cheddar said. I don't think the problem is with toddlers in the skatepark on scooters - the problem is their selfish entitled parents.

YANBU.
Some people seem to have no sense of consideration where their very young DCs are involved, heck I was probably one of them when DS was I know that DH certainly was.

i bever let mine do it when tiny unless no one there

My sons now keen skaters and it PISSES THEM OFF

make the parents aware of the dangers of inappropriate use

seriously are people that dense? Yanbu op I have a 6yo and a 3yo and it would never occur to me to let them anywhere near a skate park.

YANBU
Our local skatepark has a sign saying it is for 8 years and older.
There are plenty of playparks for little ones and not nearly so much for older and especially teens. I have teens and a 4 year old. The wee one has plenty opportunity to stretch her skills without the need of the skatepark which she can grow into.

YANBU.

I used to ds2 in, with his scooter, when it was empty. The minute an older kid/adult came in with skateboard/bike/whatever, we left. That was the rule, and ds2 knew it and was fine with it.

However, his grandparents (who also knew the rule, as I was careful to tell them, being aware of the dangers), chose to ignore it and on a trip there without me, let ds2 carry on playing while older kids were skateboarding. The result? Ds2 got crashed into and broke his arm. The kid who'd crashed into him (and it was a complete accident, from what I heard), was very upset.

I, of course, was furious- but at least the gps learned not to dismiss my concerns after that.