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?

I also think if you go early, the teens aren't likely to be up and moving.

My older children find it frustrating to be unable to use the skate park because it is full of toddlers on push bikes and mums standing in the middle of it chatting! As others have said, there is not much designed for teenagers to do, so commandeering the skate park is a little mean. But again, if you pick your times right, there won't be anyone there anyway.

Linda my apologies for my faux pas faceplant indeed!

You see I'm a little out of touch, i'm not a teen anymore, so by law I am not allowed to access skate parks!

They're not 'child-hating troublemakers' torchlight. They're teenagers who are taking part in one of the very few free activities they can do.

Your kids are going to be that age one day. Have a bit of empathy

YAB U

Take your little children to the little children play park. Leave the skate park to the teenagers who have precious little space to use without disapproval.

If teens were sitting on the play park swings locking them from use having a natter I bet you would be pissed at them..

Take your kids early, or not at all. The teenagers would have needed to moderate their behavior and watched out for your small children.

It's the teens' choice if they do that MrsSpecter. It's not if they hit your kids. That's entirely your choice.

Is this really so difficult?

Will also point out that OP asked if she was BU to bring her kids back to the skatepark. She didnt say she was going to bring them back at 7pm when its packed with people. Its perfectly possible for her children to use the park without hindering anyone elsems fun.

Lynda I think you misunderstood! that was my point! They are not trouble making child haters!

Face Plant!

Face plants all round.

Like a toddler in a skate park

btw OP its 'faux pas'

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

A beginner tean is (1) not as breakable as a small 4 year old when crashed into by another tean and (2) probably much more aware of the skate park etiquette and when its their turn and when they are in the way.

Tean? Teen!!!

I really feel sorry for teenagers, where on earth are they supposed to go? Nothing free or cheap is aimed at them the way it is at younger children. They are demonised for hanging around in groups, it's such a shame that more isn't available to them in the community.

True lunar1

And Jesus what the hell do the 100s of thousands of teens who don't like skate parks do?! Seen as that seems to be the only thing teens have to entertain them!

YANBU if you go early. Poor teenagers don't have much to do in many areas so it's best not to push their tolerance too much.

Seen as that seems to be the only thing teens have to entertain them

Indeed!

MrsSpecter - they do in some places. I know round here there is at least one park with a mini skate/bike ramp. There is a bigger one nearby too in same park.

Our main ones round here are taken up with older teens and adults, mainly male from what I can see. You do see preschoolers on them in term time during the day though.

Go on a weekday when the teenagers are in school,

Ours is popular with adults from nearby cities, so is rarely unoccupied

If teens were sitting on the play park swings locking them from use having a natter I bet you would be pissed at them..

Nope. Only if they're smoking weed, dropping fag ends or leaving broken glass lying around. I've seen more parents/adults do that, the actual teens are very considerate

Skateparks round here are definitely not just for skateboards. They have people on boards, bikes, scooters and skates, teens and adults alike.

I would suggest that you go first thing in the morning.
Our local skatepark is deserted at 9 am. Not a teenager in sight.

I can take them early if no teens and clear out if they arrive.

Ah sorry, misunderstood. And it was a facepalm, not a faceplant. They're rather different

Take them early Esme :) I think that sounds like a great plan.

Honestly reread your own post, it's a skate park, your dc took bikes, yabu there are lots and lots of places a 4 and 5 year old can ride bikes there are very few skate parks

YANBU we took our DC last year DD was 7,it was DD11 birthday and she had a new board and DS13,DS19 and DS17 were with us.

There were quite alot of teenagers at the one we went to and they were all so lovely,they helped our DD11,they asked if our DD7 would like to have ago,she said no and we explained that she's disabled and they decided to do some jumps and tricks to show her because they didn't want her to feel left out,they're words.Lovely lovely children and we didn't know any of them.

Like others have said with it being the half term it might be better to go in the morning.

But I have to say not all teenagers are mindless thugs like so many seem to think,we have 3 teenagers in the house now,DS17,DS14 and DD13 today they all adore children and they're friends all adore our youngest DD8,our DC and they're friends all spoil her rotten.Oldest DS has just stopped being a teenager(he's 20 now)since he's worked and he was only a teen then he's always spoiled all 4 of his siblings when he gets paid.