To expect an outdoor gym to not be used as a playground by children?

[FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop]

Went for a run yesterday and afterwards went into an outdoor gym which is (unfortunately) next to a kids' play park. There are some weights attached to vertical beams, an exercise bike, ropes, cross trainer and markings on the ground for relay runs. Loads of signs saying age 13+ only and children weren't to use it as play equipment.

It was absolutely over run with small kids aged about 4-10 climbing all over it, using the equipment and just generally getting in the way while their parents sat in the play park in clear sight of them doing nothing. When I did manage to use some equipment kids were waiting as if we were taking turns. I'd been on the exercise bike for about 15 minutes with one little girl who was about 6 staring at me...she went to get her mum who actually came and asked if her DD could have a go as she'd been waiting for ages I said no this bike is for adults and they she got all huffy and was all "Never mind darling, the lady won't get off so we'll have to just wait won't we". I was then doing relays on the markings and they were running in front of me nearly knocking into me. I gave up in the end!

Is it really so much to ask that parents tell their children to keep out of adult only areas and stay in the massive park built for children? Want to go again today as it's a great little gym, council spent a small fortune but CBA with all the unsupervised kids.

A different angle, but I've seen children's areas with a suitable sized version for kids in the kids playground. So a small cross trainer with little resistance and a small exercise bike.

The adult equipment in the park nearest me is so rusty and stiff, they either shriek painfully or don't move. No maintenance at all.

I think it is vile to refer to children as 'little shits' especially if they are acting their age and asking to have a turn on something that won't harm them.

It had been a difficult year to be a child, locked away, restricted. Surely as a parent you can understand that and be more supportive of parents that are just trying to facilitate a bit of fun for their child, seemingly in a polite way. It is not neglectful parenting, it is the opposite, it is trying to make up for quite a horrible time.

YANBU

We witnessed a young girl injure her leg on one of the pieces of equipment on our outdoor gym. It was bad enough for an ambulance to attend.

It's a shame they are so near play parks, I think it puts a lot of adults off using them.

@Goldenbear

I think it is vile to refer to children as 'little shits' especially if they are acting their age and asking to have a turn on something that won't harm them.

It had been a difficult year to be a child, locked away, restricted. Surely as a parent you can understand that and be more supportive of parents that are just trying to facilitate a bit of fun for their child, seemingly in a polite way. It is not neglectful parenting, it is the opposite, it is trying to make up for quite a horrible time.

Something that won't harm them? I'm not sure what you don't understand tbh. This equipment is built for adults to use. It can harm little children, how on earth can you not see that? Surely as a parent you can understand that children should use equipment that is designed for them, therefore, safe for them? Keep your children safe for heaven's sake.

@Goldenbear

I think it is vile to refer to children as 'little shits' especially if they are acting their age and asking to have a turn on something that won't harm them.

It had been a difficult year to be a child, locked away, restricted. Surely as a parent you can understand that and be more supportive of parents that are just trying to facilitate a bit of fun for their child, seemingly in a polite way. It is not neglectful parenting, it is the opposite, it is trying to make up for quite a horrible time.

It has been a difficult year to be an adult. Surely as a fellow adult you can understand that and be more supportive of adults that are just trying to enjoy a workout in peace, using the equipment intended for them.

Your child’s fun does not take priority over anyone already using the equipment and I wouldn’t cut my workout short for it.

I have a feeling you’re just here on the wind up anyway though.

@Goldenbear

What because I think differently to you, I'm trolling. How is an exercise bike dangerous? Many people don't have children to control them, it is not the 1950s. Even then my Mum was not controlled. I would not want my children to be unsafe but that risk assessment varies between parents. My DH would think it is fine to do most of this, I would be hesitant on some things like tree climbing.

You're the parent OP encountered, aren't you.

@Goldenbear

I think it is vile to refer to children as 'little shits' especially if they are acting their age and asking to have a turn on something that won't harm them.

It had been a difficult year to be a child, locked away, restricted. Surely as a parent you can understand that and be more supportive of parents that are just trying to facilitate a bit of fun for their child, seemingly in a polite way. It is not neglectful parenting, it is the opposite, it is trying to make up for quite a horrible time.

Of course it's neglectful parenting to allow them to play on equipment deemed by experts to be dangerous for them.

Especially when there's a fit for purpose playground right next to them.

We had the opposite problem in one of our local playgrounds; all the adult equipment was barricaded off until a couple of weeks ago, so adults had taken using the monkey bars in the children’s play area to do pull-ups and stuff. 8 yo DD was most annoyed at having to wait for some random sweaty bloke to get out of the way so she could do her flips.

And I agree with others. Goldenbear is either on a wind up, or very possibly the sort of parent who doesn't give a shit as long as their kid isn't whinging and whining about being told 'no'.

YANBU, but it sounds like this equipment is not well used. At our local park you wouldn’t want your kids anywhere near the gym equipment because it is overrun with muscle bound men (a separate issue - it’s too intimidating to anyone else who wants to use it).

I think it's quite clear to most people that small children should stay away from the adult exercise equipment.

It's also perfectly clear to most people that adults should not be using children's playgrounds as an exercise facility. The equipment is neither intended nor designed for them. Personal trainers who use children's play areas as part of their routine are beyond the pale. Adults pulling up on monkey bars weaken the structure for the children.

Older children (maybe 10+) are more of a grey area. If there is a specific age limit for the equipment (say 13+), parents and children need to respect this. If children are capable of using the equipment properly and behaving sensibly, they should be able to use it alongside adults. But a tall, mature 10 year old is very different from a curious 4 year old.

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

The whole "I let my child if there's no adults on it" - that's not ok!! Perhaps the reason there are no adults is because they always see kids in it. Would it really be so very hard to keep your child in the child's playground - you know, the place that was built for them to enjoy?

Hmm. I actually don’t think you’re being unreasonable, but whenever we’ve had a look at the equipment (and he isn’t playing on it, we’re looking at them and talking about them, it’s what toddlers like to do, we do the same with signs and drains and bridges and gates) it’s been during one of those winter lockdown days when the park is completely deserted. In our case I very much doubt that any adult had seen us and changed their mind - they were sensibly hunkered down in their warm houses because they hadn’t been driven outside by a stir crazy toddler

What I'm getting from this thread, with men taking over the children's playground and a woman being prevented from using an adult gym by kids, is that in public space the priority goes:
1/ men
2/ children
3/ women

My children will be told, 'no' but not without an explanation and not every hour of their life. Their emotional needs are imperative to me as well as their physical safety. Funnily enough, the biggest compliment I have from many people about my children is how kind and considerate they are. My DD's friends always want her around as sh is easy going and 'no hassle'. I think working yourself up over every little thing does not make for a happy childhood and the parents who are like this always seem to have the most troublesome children and are stressed beyond belief!

Adults won't 'suffer' if they can't use an outdoor gym.

Yes they will. With indoor gyms being closed, proper outdoor exercise is important for adults. Kids have their own playgrounds for that.

This reminds me of the Peloton recall, when some idiot parents were not monitoring their children and it came to some incidents.

Fitness equipment is not for children to play.

Yanbu

My children will be told, 'no' but not without an explanation and not every hour of their life.

You can give them an explanation @Goldenbear. The equipment is for adults to use, not children. And where on earth did anyone say that anyone would need to say no to any child every hour of their life? Don't make stuff up to suit your narrative, it's tiresome.

But adults have not lived through a pandemic as children and had 1.5 years of their childhood taken from them. I think children should be a priority for a 'decent' society and their needs met before adults at a broader level as they cannot advocate for themselves.

Swimming is exactly the same. I had to join a private gym because all of the local leisure centres near me had a policy that even in the limited slots where the swimming lanes were put up, kids of any age could play in them. And oh, they do...

The centres responded to my queries about adult-only swimming areas/sessions as if I was from another planet.

If my gym stops doing sessions where nobody under 16 is allowed, then I will riot.

YANBU OP.

But adults have had very real health effects as a result of COVID and lockdowns and should be entitled to use spaces dedicated for them.

But adults have not lived through a pandemic as children and had 1.5 years of their childhood taken from them. I think children should be a priority for a 'decent' society and their needs met before adults at a broader level as they cannot advocate for themselves.

And they are a priority. In their own playground where it's safe for them to play.

But adults have not lived through a pandemic as children and had 1.5 years of their childhood taken from them.

My children have not had their childhood 'taken' from them @Goldenbear. Not at all. It's been a different year (not 1.5 years, that's just not true), for sure, but still a childhood. Have you done nothing with your children over the last year to ensure they had some enrichment in their lives?

@Goldenbear

My children will be told, 'no' but not without an explanation and not every hour of their life. Their emotional needs are imperative to me as well as their physical safety. Funnily enough, the biggest compliment I have from many people about my children is how kind and considerate they are. My DD's friends always want her around as sh is easy going and 'no hassle'. I think working yourself up over every little thing does not make for a happy childhood and the parents who are like this always seem to have the most troublesome children and are stressed beyond belief!

Yes, because the people on this thread who refuse to neglect their children's safety but not allowing them on adult gym equipment, will be telling their kids 'no' every hour of their lives 🙄🙄

You're embarrassing yourself now with your exaggerations.

YANBU.
The only outdoor exercise areas I’ve seen have no age restrictions so if it is clearly marked I would have just said no as it is 13+ but I am wondering if she was unaware it wasn’t for everyone.

In theory it’s a good idea to have it next to a playground so the parents can exercise whilst watching their DCs but it is always going to be overrun with kids which would be really annoying.

I used to have a women come into the playground when my DC was there and exercise by doing pull ups on the monkey bars etc she wasn’t in my way so it didn’t bother me but you could always do that and purposely get in their way lol.