To think a 14 year old can play in a playground?

[RedSkyLastNight]

Whilst out today, we passed an adventure playground and DS (aged 14) decided to climb up some of the tall climbing structures and hang off the ropes. He was not in any other child's way.

A small child (aged about 5 or 6) came up to him, asked how old he was and then said "My Mummy says you're too old to play in the playground". DS said "well I'm not", and carried on doing his own thing".

DS was luckily oblivious, (my hackles did rise against the unknown parent), but was he BU? There was a sign up indicating that one area of the playground was only for children up to age 7, but no signs anywhere else suggesting acceptable age (and DS was no where near the under 7s bit).

Would you consider a 14 year old (playing considerately in respect of other playground users) to be too old to play in a playground?

Isn't there height restrictions in most soft play indoor areas. You don't get teens dashing about.

We have an excellent park near us. It has a range of huge climbing equipment made from things that look like telegraph poles, a zip wire, big basket swing and a skateboard ramp. It also has gym equipment suitable for adults. My 13 year old loves it, as do a lot of other local teens.

Given that it's a magnet for teens I'm happy to report no known incidents of feral teens placing younger children at risk of harm. They are a remarkably laid back and tolerant bunch. Even when a load of 3 and 4 year olds are hogging the skateboard ramp by running up and down it - while their useless mothers are sat at the other side of the park completely oblivious.

The park in my street has 2 swings, a roundabout and a small climbing frame.

Not really designed for any age but can be used by all ages iyswim?

I LOVE the fact that the 14/15/16 yo teens are out there and playing with the little kids. They push them on the swings, the roundabout and they play football, tag, nerf guns etc. And the little kids leave them be to chat if they ask.

It's the way it should be - community.

Sometimes dp and I go on the zip line at our local park when we walk past at night

Great for him and it sounds like he handled an awkward situation well even if he was oblivious. I wouldn't consider a 14-year-old too old to play in a playground, probably wouldn't bat an eye unless they were being inconsiderate but they would be true at all ages.

Last month, I was up a tall rope climbing frame for the first time in years with a bunch of teens and pre-teens at a local park. It was lovely (they were very encouraging and supportive when I had to rest a few times while trying) and hilarious and it was a great day that I was glad to be part of and glad my kids and so many others could do. The younger ones seemed to love having the big kids around and they were all being supervised by adults. In fact, the teens helped enable more play when us poor adults getting tired - they pushed the swings and spun the roundabout just as much as any adults were. All fun and no harm.

While most of the parks near me do group the older kid stuff away from the tiny one stuff, the only ones I know of that have listed age restrictions are those connected with businesses rather than open public parks. I'd ensure any of my kids followed the stated rules but generally encourage mine to play.

My 9yo son (SEN) still wants to sit in the baby swings, as he hasn't worked out about holding onto the chains of normal swings. We do get some weird looks but if there's not a queue for the swing, I'm going to carry on letting him have fun his way for as long as he fits. And he'll probably still be going on basket/cradle swings when he's an adult, because he won't understand otherwise.

I just hope, by that time, there are more disabled-friendly playparks in our area.

I think it's great he still wants to play at 14. Hope my DSs do x

@funinthesun18 I really really hope you’re a troll.

So true ☺️ @CwtchforLaurie

My 14 year old regularly goes to playparks, sometimes they just hang out on the equipment but she also plays with her younger sister when they go there together.

She was recently at a park with a friend and younger kids chased them both away armed with Nerf guns and Pritt sticks apparently.

Good grief, at his age my PE teacher used to take us to the swings as a reward for good behaviour!

It was ace to have free run of a playground without onlookers (it didn't have any equipment for preschoolers).

I genuinely don't understand anyone who would deny people fun just because they look "odd". Some people look "odd" merely walking down the street, should we ban that too?

Not too old!! Let him play if he wants to!

We sometimes get teenagers chatting on the swings near us but if my kids want a go all I have to do is approach them with a confident I-am-the-adult-here smile and ask them politely if they could move over. They always have so far, no backchat or anything. Most kids (round here at least) are fundamentally respectful of adults they don't know! No need to be overly suspicious or scared of them. Teenagers are still just kids after all, though most of them are bigger than me!

Lots of playgrounds now have that gym style equipment in them (weights, cross trainers etc) which I assume are meant for adults to use...

One of my sons went to the local playground with three or four of his friends. They were in year 6, so 10 & 11. The playground has no age limit and has a clearly defined area for little children.

One mother took it upon herself to throw them out as they were too old for the playground and said they were stopping younger children having fun.

My son and his friends did not have a parent with them to back them up so they left and came home to me. I quizzed them thoroughly and realised they had done nothing wrong. I went back with them and they carried on playing but it wasn't the same and they never really felt at home their again. In their own playground!

This attitude towards our teenage boys is just shocking. They are children. You can't complain they are all addicted to their consoles when they are bullied out of public spaces merely for existing.

Most playgrounds have signs which denote their age range. Most small playgrounds are for under 12s.

I don't pay attention to the age range but to the suitability of the equipment for my child who has physical delays. As long as he is properly supervised and not doing anything that makes it unsafe for anyone else there is no problem. His options for play are far less than most children so I wouldn't stop him doing things because he is older than 12 or whatever.

I’m 26 and sometimes I go on the slide and the swing with my kids. We are never to old to have fun. When I was 14 I was doing far worse than using the climbing frame in the park.

As long as he wasn't bothering anyone and was using the equipment for its intended purpose I wouldn't have a problem.

It does annoy me when a gang of teenagers are messing around together, hogging equipment, tearing around the place shouting, using bad language etc.

It depends on the playground as some are clearly for younger children. Others with zip wires and larger climbing frames and apparatus are fine for older kids. My DNephew is 14 and over 6". When he comes to stay we regularly take my DC to the park. He enjoys a kick around with a ball but not interested in the playground area.

I'd love more adult/teen frienly playgrounds.I do not want to use gym equipment but I would like to go on the swings,slides.As I get older I was activities that improve my balance and coordination and are fun.
It is sad that at the same time as bemoaning childhood obesity it play grounds are only for small children,My DD was too tall for many if our localplaygrounds when she was 8.

I don't see a problem with older children using play park equipment as it is intended, as long as they're not hogging them. Why shouldn't they? What I would like to see is more equipment aimed at older children. And while I'm there, in my mind I like to design new exciting stuff, add more litter bins, benches, that sort of thing...

We took dc and a friend to an aerial assault course for kids, and all the time they were on it, my inner self was jumping up and down inside screaming "I want a go! I WANT A GO! me me ME!" like Timmy the Spoilt Bastard in Viz