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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

taking my dc to the skate park? have a commited some horrible teenage faux par

117 replies

Esmeismyhero · 01/06/2016 18:57

We live in a fairly quite town and recently my dc (4 and 5) wanted tot ake their bikes to the skate park. There were maybe 3 or 4 teenagers there and tbh they were very good with the kids, I managed to keep them out of the teenagers way etc.

The dc loved it, going on the ramps with their bikes and watching the tricks the other kids were doing but am I being a nuisance being there?

One teenager was a bit of a shit looked annoyed that were there but in fairness the kids were not in their way.

the dc want to go again, I know its holidays and probably a cool hangout but if it was packed I wouldn't let the dc go there and if they were annoying the teenagers I wouldn't.

aibu?

OP posts:
knaffedoff · 01/06/2016 19:39

We go but usually in the mornings, this is because it's often quieter and the language is less fruity!!!!!! The teenagers are often very accommodating and lovely Grin

OhMyGoddess · 01/06/2016 19:41

It's the only place they have. They shouldn't have to slow down and watch out for little kids. Literally every other piece of play equipment is aimed at younger ones.

waterrat · 01/06/2016 19:41

I actually feel quite strongly that you are really being unreasonable here.

I have a 4 year old and yes he would love to hang out in a skate park - but it's not fair! There are hundreds of thousands of playgrounds for kids - you literally could take your 4 year old to so many places within walking distance to you I imagine.

Why should they have to be patient with your kids in the very little space they have to hang out?

I live near a lot of playgrounds and only one skate park - I have seen teens be told off for being in the playground - I think you should take your pre schoolers to a pre school space and let teens do what they want.

I think its pretty selfish to put teens in a position where they have to help your kid have a nice time.

waterrat · 01/06/2016 19:42

All the people saying they 'aren't specifically for teens' - I presume they are for young people who can skate board ...which does not include 4 year olds.

MrsSpecter · 01/06/2016 19:43

The park is aimed at teens

No its aimed at skaters.

OhMyGoddess · 01/06/2016 19:43

Exactly waterrat

Torchlight86 · 01/06/2016 19:43

Why would they be in a position where they 'have' to help them have a good time?!

I'm not saying it's fair to go and get in their way, but why shouldn't your DS be allowed to access a communal area? What if he's the next Tony Hawks and doesn't want to wait until he's a teenager to be allowed to practice?! Hmm

MrsSpecter · 01/06/2016 19:43

which does not include 4 year olds.

4 years olds can skate.

Hassled · 01/06/2016 19:43

No, they don't have a monopoly and no, skate parks aren't built just for teenagers - but the thing is, they have bugger all else in the way of places to go and congregate and do something active. It's a relatively safe environment and it's their environment. There are playgrounds for younger kids. Don't lose sight of the fact that your DCs will be teenagers in the blink of an eye.

19lottie82 · 01/06/2016 19:44

Meh........ Sorry to say but YABU.

It's one of the only places where teens can go to hang out and skate, they don't need little kids getting in their way. As others have pointed out, they wouldn't go running through the LO's play area while your DCs are trying to use the slide ect.

As others have suggested, take your kids early in the morning before the older ones get there.

Torchlight86 · 01/06/2016 19:45

Water rat or people learning to skate?! No one can automatically skate competently on a skate park with out being a beginner at one point?! How would anyone ever be allowed to access it if they have to be able to do it before they start?

MrsSpecter · 01/06/2016 19:46

How would anyone ever be allowed to access it if they have to be able to do it before they start?

Exactly.

Some teens only decide to try and skate when they are already teens. Are you saying they cant go in skate parks to learn?

Waltermittythesequel · 01/06/2016 19:47

I think it's really mean for people to take their small kids to skate parks.

They can pretty much go anywhere.

Teens and skaters, not so much.

JuliaDreams · 01/06/2016 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Torchlight86 · 01/06/2016 19:50

Yes ok so pre schoolers can go anywhere to play, fine, but what if they love skating?! Surely as much as a skate park is 'the only place teens can hang out' (debatable) a skate park is the only place a pre schooler can skate? Why should they not be allowed to access something they desire to do just so others can, and again, no one is saying the teens should leave if a preschooler was there, most skate parks are plenty big enough for the pre schooler to not get in the way of older kids, or equally the older kids to get in the way of pre schooler!

I honestly don't see the problem!

LyndaNotLinda · 01/06/2016 19:51

I have never seen a competent 4 year old skateboarder.

We have a privately owned indoor/outdoor skatepark here. They separate little kids on scooters and bikes from 12+ kids because it's dangerous. Plus it's really no fun for teens to have to curb their speed because a couple of pre-schoolers are wobbling up and down

KingscoteStaff · 01/06/2016 19:51

When I was learning, I went very early in the morning. Then progressed to the morning crowd. I only joined the hardcore 5pm onwards crowd when I was very confident.

MrsSpecter · 01/06/2016 19:51

Maybe they should build skateparks with beginner sections. Or build mini ramps for smaller skaters in playgrounds.

nobilityobliges · 01/06/2016 19:51

I think that teens learning to skate are unlikely to start off in a skate park. I would presume that they learn some basic skills before they go. So I think that probably the question is are your children as good at skating as a reasonable beginner teen or adult skater would be when starting out. If not then yabu to take them when others are there. if they're little prodigies - crack on.

JillyWillyPops · 01/06/2016 19:52

Personally I wouldn't take them to play there (I'd take them to observe though).

I feel teenagers are a bit hard done to most of they time. Don't get me wrong there are some little shits out there but teenagers are always being told off for hanging about on streets with nowhere to go and parents are always complaining to councils that there's nowhere for teenagers to go.

These parks are built to keep teenagers out of trouble and to give them something to focus on.

Certainly if there is no one on the skate park
I would let my little ones use it but as soon as any older kids arrive I would either leave or ask my kids to just watch. There are some really fast skaters/cyclists that use the parks and to be honest little ones going slow or crossing their paths could be a serious danger to not only themselves but others as well.

Torchlight86 · 01/06/2016 19:52

YABU. Teenagers need somewhere to skate. That's why there are skate parks for them.

Why don't pre schoolers need somewhere to skate?

GeoffreysGoat · 01/06/2016 19:53

I live near a large skate park, it's almost in top of the kids swing park.

Teenagers come in and play on the swings, and if a little kid wants a go on the Ramps they all steer clear of a low one for a bit. Give and take, innit?

MrsSpecter · 01/06/2016 19:54

I have never seen a competent 4 year old skateboarder

No, not many are tony hawke at 4! Hmm but if they are skating then they are skaters. Just like the many teens who arent competent but still go to the park to practise. How are they supposed to become competent if they arent allowed to practise? Confused

Original poster
Esmeismyhero · 01/06/2016 19:54

Ok so general consensus is iabu, in my defence the times we have gone (twice) most of the teens have been sitting chatting and we have on;y stayed for 20 mins max because as we all know smaller kids have no attention span but I'll find somewhere more small kid friendly. I don't want to take advantage of the teens so hence me asking.

Thank wise mumsnetters

OP posts:
OhMyGoddess · 01/06/2016 19:55

No preschooler is going to be particularly competent. Certainly not enough to keep up with the older ones so you'll expect them to go slow and take care and mind the little one and, as has been pointed out a number of times, that isn't fair.

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