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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have been a bit annoyed by this school class? (

86 replies

Thecatsmother17 · 18/07/2017 17:03

I may well be being v v v unreasonable as I've had very little sleep and am feeling pretty grumpy!

I took my two young children to a small playground near our house early this afternoon. It's good because it's fenced off and doesn't have very much there so doesn't usually get very busy. We arrived to find an entire school class of 30 kids there with about 3 teachers or TA's. They basically took over the entire area meaning mine and the other small children there couldn't play and so we had to leave. They were being very boisterous and hogging all of the playground equipment. Most of the time they were not even using it properly but seemed to be playing The Walking Dead. They were only about 7 or 8 so I was shocked they even knew that show! Anyway it meant them using the one slide and small climbing frame as their "base" to jump off and congregate on. So the little one seems there felt a bit intimidated and obviously it wasn't that safe as children that age don't think to watch where they are going.

The teachers sat at a picnic table chatting. I've been to the school they are from and they have several nice playgrounds with their own equipment and activities so I'm really not sure why they were there. I know it's a public space and they had every right but they took it over completely. We were not the only people to arrive and then leave because of them.

So aibu to have been a bit annoyed?

OP posts:

mellicauli · 18/07/2017 18:28

yAbu....they have as much right to use this public facility as you do. older children are more boisterous..if they can't let off steam in the park, where can they? And why not play zombies, if That's what they think is fun? This class we're at the park for 1 day for an end of term test,..the rest of the year you can use it in peace.

AnnetteCurtains · 18/07/2017 18:28

Of course there is GreatFuckability
When we take a class we are very aware that other children want to play too so make sure they don't hog all the equipment

FaFoutis · 18/07/2017 18:28

When your children get to that age you will realise you were BU.

LittleIda · 18/07/2017 18:30

Yabu

ChoudeBruxelles · 18/07/2017 18:30

So it's a public park which you want to keep to yourself. Yabu. The kids probably were allowed an end of term trip to the park as it's somewhere they don't usually get to go to.

BasketOfDeplorables · 18/07/2017 18:30

I sympathise OP, I'm in London and the local schools all have brilliant playgrounds with loads of equipment, yet regularly a whole heap of them come to the park (never the same time each week so you can't avoid) and completely take over.

My toddler isn't 2 for a few months so I specifically go in school hours so she can use the equipment - baby swings, toddler climbing frame with slide. There's also loads of equipment for older ones, right up to teens, so there is plenty for them to do without disturbing the preschoolers who were already there.

They're not closely supervised and will just run all over equipment that's already being used by a few little ones to the point that you basically have to give up.

Obviously the school has every right to take the kids there, but they could easily be told to let the little ones play. I'm sure plenty of them have little brothers and siblings and are used to looking out for them.

eyebrowsonfleek · 18/07/2017 18:33

7/8 year old parents wouldn't be supervising. It's the age where kids start to go to the park alone.

If your 7/8 year old came back from school and said they'd gone to a restaurant fervent playground as a treat you'd be pleased for them.

I understand that they are much bigger, louder and outnumber your kids but it's purely bad luck.

As for the Walking Dead- the king ds are almost certainly not watching it. They pick up adult references like Walking Dead etc as it's probably referenced by their favourite YouTubers (or literally advertised in YouTube ads) Many adults would know the famous image of Negan holding Lucille (baseball bat) even if they didn't watch Walking Dead. It's the same for kids- my 10 year old knows that King Joffrey was a mean king who died in Game of Thrones despite never watching an episode.

SavoyCabbage · 18/07/2017 18:34

When your children are at school you should make sure they don't attend any trips from end of the year park visits to swimming lessons.

GahBuggerit · 18/07/2017 18:36

I think I that sounds like a lovely change for them, if you're annoyed your annoyed but nothing you could do, not even " telling them to leave"

elevenclips · 18/07/2017 18:36

Yabu. You can't expect non essential public facilities to be at your personal beck and call. Those kids probably enjoyed the outing and change of scenery. Think yourself lucky they weren't teens smashing beer bottles in the play area or dog owners taking their dogs into a no dog fenced off little playground. Ours have become unusable 24/7 because of these issues.

HateSummer · 18/07/2017 18:37

Dear me, the park doesn't belong to you. Maybe the kids and teachers wanted a change of scenery? Go back tomorrow, I'm sure they won't be there.

As for the Walking Dead. I'm afraid to say my 5 year old knows what it is because it's what I hide away and watch by myself. He knows mummy watches the walking dead blah blah blah. It's also a comic book you know.

GahBuggerit · 18/07/2017 18:38

And my DS knows a fair bit about TWD despite only hearing me talk about bits of it and seeing the odd t-shirt in primarily, he talks as if he's a seasoned watcher. He knew a bit about breaking bad as well thanks to me gushing over it with dp

papersmile · 18/07/2017 18:43

I had this when my twins were small in London. We were in the park (which was the only one with a fence/gate, which is handy with small twins who go in opposite directions) and children from a nearby school descended. It was chaos. It stopped being safe for the small children who were playing there already and we had to leave.
There were four teachers. One organised a game of football - which was great, the others sat and chatted. They ignored the fact that the children were throwing stones, and pushing each other off swings.
When another mum complained that two children had jumped over the blanket (and the baby that was laying on it) the teacher insisted it couldn't have happened because she hadn't seen it happen.
Brilliant logic.
It still annoys me to this day. When I spoke to another teacher to say that the children already in the park can't play here anymore because it's no longer a safe environment so what would she suggest. She suggested we all go home.
yes it's only one day, but getting out with small children is not always easy and the entitled nature of the teachers really annoyed me. It gave a really bad impression of the school too.
Yes kids should be able to go to the park, but they should also be expected to respect other park users.
I don't know whether my children and peers are particularly sheltered but I don't know one 7/8 year old that goes to the park without an adult.

RiverTam · 18/07/2017 18:43

It's a change of scene, OP. And they don't need adults following them around.

Hmmalittlefishy · 18/07/2017 18:44

7/8 yr olds are quite capable of watching out for younger children even if you needed to give a little reminder and politely ask 'please can you let my little girl use the slide'
Particularly when they are in school and more used to listening to adults

They may have good playground equipment but have played on it for every break and lunchtime since September for the last 4yrs!

MyPepper · 18/07/2017 19:02

I doubt that parents will be following their 7 or 8yo in the playground TBH.
And these children were using the quipement. They Did what children should do which is to use their imagination and the slide, the climbing frame etc... part of their game. I think that they did great there!

Spikeyball · 18/07/2017 19:10

My son goes to a local playground with other children from his special school, every week. I hope the parents of pre schoolers aren't resentful of older children being there in the way you seem to be. Playgrounds are for all children.

BarbarianMum · 18/07/2017 19:20

My ds2 (9) has been known to play Walking Dead. I can assure you he's never seen a single episode - the game is based on mangled 3rd/4th hand accounts passed down via older siblings.

CatsRidingRollercoasters · 18/07/2017 19:33

Not using the equipment properly? What? Where is your imagination? My preschooler has a favour climbing frame in our local park. It has been everything and anything (greengrocer, rocket, secret cave, safe space where wolves can't go, pet shop, jungle, Fireman Sam's fire station/engine, bunk bed, cafe, ice cream van...)

If I dictated how it should be played on it would be no fun.

I am a teacher (as well as a parent of little ones). Yes they might have play stuff at school, but a trip anywhere is so much more exciting! Plus it's free and we have no money these days.

Don't be such a meanie.

annoyedofnorwich · 18/07/2017 19:47

I sympathise- was a bit annoyed on a recent zoo trip where about 20-30 primary age kids were queuing for the toilet with teachers. No offer for the clearly recently toilet trained toddler I was with to jump the queue!

Floggingmolly · 18/07/2017 19:59

How was it clear the toddler was recently toilet trained??

Sirzy · 18/07/2017 20:01

And did you think to say "excuse me he is newly potty trained and can't wait could we sneak in?" Or did you expect the staff to be watching for your child as well as all those in their care?

annoyedofnorwich · 18/07/2017 20:20

Well pretty clear to someone who works with kids! Clearly two or young 3! Given lots of reception kids aren't reliable I'd think quite obvious! Asked 'can I come through with this little one please she could really do with the toilet?' and just got stared at! Not even a reply!

annoyedofnorwich · 18/07/2017 20:22

Added to which said child was saying "I neeeeed a weeeee!"

GreenTulips · 18/07/2017 20:26

Well so did the others!!

Hold them out or pee up a tree!! You have options

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