Playgym etiquette?

[cjt110]

We went to a playgym at the weekend. Been many times before when it's been quiet and busy. There is a soft play area for 0-2 and a multi-level jungle gym for 3-6. My son is 17m. Not intetrested in the slightest in the softplay bit. IMO it's more for little babies, say less than a year. On previous visits, like many other parents, I have gone into the jungle gym with DS, keeping him mainly to the lower level and the ball pool, supervised at all times. As I say, other parents have also let their LO's in that are under 3 and stayed with them supervised. Always been a pleasant visit before.

So, we go on Saturday. Its packed. Some toddlers, a baby or two, and at least 3/4 kids I would say were easily 6+ Lots of parents just sat chatting on the tables letting their kids run riot, scream, shout, barge, push. My son will go up the "ladder" and down the slide from/to the first level. Thats it. On more than one occassion I had to stop him being squashed by a 6/7YO flying up the "ladder" I also had to stop him going down the slide several times when the said 6/7YOs were running up the slides. NO parental intervention telling them not to run up the slides or not to be so rough etc. Just letting them get on with it. A staff member even walked in and didnt say anything, despite signs saying not to run up the slides.

Is it just me or should they have reigned their kids in a little. Not to stop them playing and having fun but to allow others to play happily. I just don't know what the etiquette is? Whilst I know my son is under the 3YO limit, we have happily played in the gym before, like other parents. Was I wrong to take him? Or should the other parents have calmed their kids a bit?

[aprilanne]

sorry but you ignored the rules as an adult and yet you expect a child of six or seven to obey them .if you had said to me about my son i would have told him not to go up front of chute .but told you you had no right being there in the first place .the person in the wrong here is you.

[Vanillaradio]

This is the very reason 2 year old ds and I have stopped going to soft play, 0-2 area is too young now and bores him so he tries to run off to older area which is full of older children running about like mad things who would happily bowl him over. Will be waiting till he can hold his own a bit more with the bigger ones!

[SaucyJack]

I'm afraid it is you who are in the wrong here.

It's a shame your son doesn't enjoy the baby bit, but it's unfair on other paying customers to expect them not to get full enjoyment of their age-appropriate section so you can take your son in.