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

[Esmeismyhero]

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?

Give and take, innit?

Yup.

I''m on the side of those saying that this is the teens domain and you shouldn't be there unless it's first thing and the place is empty. Have you seen the speed these teens can go at?

It's all very well saying 'well they have to learn at some point'. Yes they do. First thing in the morning when it's quiet!!

And it's a skate park. Not a bloody scooter or bike park.

As the mum of a teenager who frequently gets demonised just for being a teenager I support their right to have a space of their own which isn't full of small kids which could get seriously hurt if they were to crash into them.

Certainly not enough to keep up with the older ones

What about the teens that arent competent? Are they not allowed in either?

We were at a park with a skate park and kids play park next to each other recently and I watched a little girl about 5 or 6 on a scooter going up and down the ramps. She lasted about 5 minutes then fell, injuring her leg (her mum was sitting watching her). Even without the risk of bigger kids bumping them skate parks don't seem the safest places for little ones.

I've seen a child's front teeth knocked clean out by a rogue skateboard from a trick gone wrong and as much as the father wanted someone to blame it was nobody's fault. Skateparks are just pretty dangerous places and not made for small children. Empty mornings are absolutely fine but as soon as the actual skaters appear it's only fair to let use one of the very few places they can enjoy them self without breaching nuisance laws and kiddie dodging.

Yabu. And spoiling it for the teens because most will be spoiling their own fun being careful round your dc. Dd is always polite and careful when young dc gatecrash, but afterwards is justifiably annoyed at how selfish the adult with them was. Especially because she doesn't see why they can't do the same as I and countless other parents did when she was the little one, and only go when it was empty, and explain how it's selfish to spoil the only place the older dc have by expecting them to dodge you.

Kids of varying abilities, who are roughly the same age, aren't going to get hurt in the same way that a four year old will if he collides with a 13 yo.

Exactly specter
Plus if we're going to argue that 'it's a skate park not a scooter park' then best kick all the teens off at our local one, because I've never seen a single one of them in a pair of skates! They all have scooters and bikes!

I think people saying teens are given a bad rep in one breath and then saying 'teens need somewhere to keep them out of trouble' are a bit hypocritical! So if they didn't have the skate park they'd all be out getting 'in trouble' would they?

I'm an adult who skates, whenever I'm skating in the presence of young children, I always have to be aware that children are unpredictable, and can do such things as change direction, or come into your path with very little warning and very quickly, and the consequences of me hitting them at speed if I can't avoid them, could be devestating. If you rock up at a skate park with young children, you have to accept that older people already there will likely sometimes not appreciate it, as they'll have to change how they're skating to accomadte your children, and ensure they don't harm them. As long as you're being considerate and your kids aren't hogging stuff, or trying things they're obviously unskilled at, then I'd imagine there won't be many problems in most instances.

We always used to sit down when little kids were around - too much risk of them ending up under your jump or something otherwise. It happened maybe once every two months so we didn't mind too much. We probably would have been irritated had it been weekly or something - it's not like you can do jumps elsewhere, it's banned in most places these days. Four year olds could skate elsewhere, as they are likely to be just skating, not jumping or riding or anything.

It's your own decision though.

Torchlight suggest if your pre schooler needs somewhere to skate, you take them when it's quiet, as suggested, and not mid afternoon when it is busy and dangerous.

Poor teenagers. Can't bloody win, can they?

The average speed of a skateboard is around 10-20mph. If you're happy for your 4YO to be smacked in the face with one MrsSpecter/Torchlight, fine.

Personally I think that's an unacceptable risk to my kid's face but hey, each to their own.

YABU

Just because it isn't labelled as being for teens only I would suggest using common sense. Common sense does not dictate having your children play in a place like that.

As for incompetent teens, it's completely different. Firstly because they'll quite happily tell another teen to stay clear of a certain spot for a few minutes, something they won't do to a small child. Secondly an incompetent teen has more spatial awareness and sense than a small child. And thirdly two teens colliding won't do the same damage as one colliding with a much smaller child.

Besides, incompetent teens are usually quite happy to practice anywhere flat, rather than having a child's desire to join the big kids. Or, they are there socially, unlike small dc, and stay out of the way.

a skate park is the only place a pre schooler can skate?

Is it? They can "skate" anywhere.

Of course going at a quieter time is the best idea, it would be for any novice, it just seems unreasonable to me that teens have ownership of something that is a community thing!

Yanbu OP because as you explained right at the beginning you are being courteous to the teens, they are being courteous to you, I'm sure you weren't sending your little one speeding down the middle of a big ramp towards a bunch of angry teens!

Most skate parks have enough space that if you do go early and there are some teens there, you can easily stay out of each other's way

Maybe we should give the teens a bit more credit, instead of assuming they're all children hating trouble makers? I have a teen neice and her and her friends would probably fall over themselves to help 'teach' little one some skating!

Torchlight - skate park = skateboard, not skates.

Why don't we have a facepalm emoticon?

Go on a weekday when the teenagers are in school, our skate/scooter ramps are empty during the day but fill up after school and evenings.

DD wants to go with her scooter (she's in school now) so we'll go early Saturday morning as we're usually all up and dressed by 7am . I can't imagine it will be full of teenagers then. I wouldn't let her on it, even at 6yo with older children although I'm happy to take her to the park to watch them.

YANBU to want to take your children or to use the equipment. YABU to do so when older or more experienced children are using it especially at a time when they don't have other places to hang out.

Honeysuckle I agree, and in response to you're highlighted need suggesting that no toddler needs somewhere to skate, I would suggest that no one at any age needs somewhere to skate!

How about realising that teenagers are still children and many still want to play, but aren't allowed in the play area anymore. If you see them in there you'll no doubt have something to say, just look at all the threads on here moaning about a 5 yo in the under 2s area, a 7 yo in the under 5s area and shock horror a 12 yo wanting a go on a swing. So they go where they are allowed and where they can play and now that's not ok because precious Johnny needs to practice on his scooter in the skate park. Just no.

The average speed of a skateboard is around 10-20mph. If you're happy for your 4YO to be smacked in the face with one MrsSpecter/Torchlight, fine.

But its fine for the teens to be smacked in the face with one?

Although really lovely that the kids were nice and welcoming to you and your DCs. I don't doubt teenagers would love to help little ones but if it becomes an hour every night at prime time, it would become annoying for them, I'm sure.