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.

@Goldenbear

How many times has the word, 'entitled' been over used on this thread.

My parents would not have asked me to move from a bit of equipment that is in a public park in the 80/90s but then again they would have been embarrassed to go on such equipment as they would deem such things to be for children, teenagers!

Talk about a fuss over nothing- I just don't see how anyone can get worked up about this. If you are a parent surely you should be more supportive and understanding.

Councils have created free outdoor gyms for teenagers and adults to encourage exercise and well being. They're not designed for children, the signs back this up. The children have their own play areas built with safety in mind.

@lljkk

We have an adult outdoor gym next to our play park. Complete waste of money because I have never in 5 years seen and adult use it, only kids

That's exactly why I think it's fine for kids to use the equipment; better than it going to waste. I have one DS who quite likes those outdoor gyms. Maybe the habit will persist into adulthood.

I was astonished to see our adult outdoor gym finally unbarriered so people could use it again. And happy that most of those people were kids.

15 minutes on the exercise bike is greedy. YABU.

You’re joking right?

It’s not a toy.

Does that mean I'm not allowed to play on the playground equipment

15 minutes on the exercise bike is greedy. YABU

How is it greedy when in your first paragraph you say no one uses it? Surely if no one is waiting for it, then that's no problem?

My point is this same old stuff is trotted out on these threads that it comes down to parents being scared to say, 'no' to their children. I am appealing to those with an imagination to understand that people use different parental techniques and that they are entitled to have different approaches that don't fit these limited definitions of a 'good' parent. I just think rather than being offended and defensive about that it makes for a better society where we try to empathise with others and not just denigrate their choices and mock them.

@TheKeatingFive

In theory YANBU but in reality, this stuff is barely used by adults. So it seems a bit churlish to keep children off it if they are being properly supervised.

I wonder if it’s barely used by adults because children have co-opted it

I think some people have the wrong end of the stick. The equipment is designed to be used for 13+ not that children can't use it. They are just as entitled to use it as anyone else if they want a go. There's not a "no children allowed" sign for a reason. But do ask the council for one if you really want to know.

@Goldenbear

My point is this same old stuff is trotted out on these threads that it comes down to parents being scared to say, 'no' to their children. I am appealing to those with an imagination to understand that people use different parental techniques and that they are entitled to have different approaches that don't fit these limited definitions of a 'good' parent. I just think rather than being offended and defensive about that it makes for a better society where we try to empathise with others and not just denigrate their choices and mock them.

What makes for a better society is when everyone understands that the rules apply to them equally and they and their kids are not a special case who can do whatever they like, no matter if it inconveniences other people.

Gym equipment can be dangerous and is no place for kids. If there are kids swarming all over the equipment chase them off. Your an adult!

@Goldenbear

My point is this same old stuff is trotted out on these threads that it comes down to parents being scared to say, 'no' to their children. I am appealing to those with an imagination to understand that people use different parental techniques and that they are entitled to have different approaches that don't fit these limited definitions of a 'good' parent. I just think rather than being offended and defensive about that it makes for a better society where we try to empathise with others and not just denigrate their choices and mock them.

I just think rather than being offended and defensive about that it makes for a better society where we try to empathise with others and not just denigrate their choices and mock them.

The bottom line is people need to look after their kids and stop them playing on dangerous things that weren't designed to be played on.

I will 'denigrate' any parent putting their children at risk and not teaching them that there are certain things that are out of bounds until they reach the appropriate age for their own well being.

I've just read all 6 pages of this thread and haven't seen anything to make me believe you were being anything than totally reasonable @FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop. That Mother was particularly

Some of the replies on here trying to twist facts to make it absolutely fine for children under 13 to use the equipment are hilarious.

@Alpines

I think some people have the wrong end of the stick. The equipment is designed to be used for 13+ not that children can't use it. They are just as entitled to use it as anyone else if they want a go. There's not a "no children allowed" sign for a reason. But do ask the council for one if you really want to know.

Children are not allowed to use it in the parks around here.

They are not entitled to use it under the age of 14 years

"There's not a "no children allowed" sign for a reason" - There are 'No children under the age of 14 allowed" on all the outdoor gym equipment here.

No need to ask the council as they've very sensibly supplied them...

Noone stopped OP from using the equipment ffs, it was just already in use, by kids in a park cos of it being a busy saturday. She could have waited or asked the kid to get off.
If its against the law then call the police!

I dont think its terrible parenting to take your kids to the park at the weekend for a play about and to use exercise equipment.
If it had been a group of teenagers on there youd have been just as annoyed

I let my DD’s use the spinning platforms at our nearby park, there is gym equipment staggered around the 2.5km park circling track) 2 playgrounds and a flying fox but only if there is no adults about.
The rest of the equipment they aren’t allowed to use.

There is also an adult ninja course training thing which is funny to watch (for the slap stick) Dd calls it the adults playground.

It's like soft play where there's sections for under 2s, they were always full of primary aged children squashing the little ones. I guess that's ok too, as it's only designed for toddlers?

In our local park, the skate park is right next to the children’s playground. The skate park is always overrun with small children playing on the equipment, sitting on the rails and sliding down the ramps, so that the skaters can’t use any of the equipment. It’s a shame that so much money was invested in equipment that isn’t really being used, as the playground has slides and benches that could just as easily be used by small children for the same purpose, but the skate park is the only place the skaters can really go.

@ZombeaArthur. I agree completely, small children should be kept out of the skate area. My 3 yo loves watching the bigger boys do their stunts through the bars and obviously they can't do that if there's little ones wandering around.

I’ve just started letting DS (10) go in the skate park with his skateboard or bike, and only on the condition he waits his turn and doesn’t get in the way of the teenagers and adults.

I don’t have words for the utter twat that encouraged his toddler on to the local BMX track on a bloody microscooter last time we were there. The teens and tweens who were using it at the time all stopped and waited, but there are blind dips and curves and there could’ve been a horrible accident.

Anyone allowing their child to use equipment thats too old for them will undoubtedly be the first to kick off when the child turns teenager and hasn’t got exclusive run of the skate park or what have you. It’s like a universal law.

Ours is the same, next to the park and always full of kids, so no one really uses it.

My point is this same old stuff is trotted out on these threads that it comes down to parents being scared to say, 'no' to their children. I am appealing to those with an imagination to understand that people use different parental techniques and that they are entitled to have different approaches that don't fit these limited definitions of a 'good' parent. I just think rather than being offended and defensive about that it makes for a better society where we try to empathise with others and not just denigrate their choices and mock them.

Like you've empathised with others on this thread you mean?

If allowing children to play on equipment meant specifically for adults - because it can be dangerous to children - is a 'different' style of parenting then I'm happy to stick with keeping my kids safe in a children's playground tbh. One may argue that this 'different' style of parenting is lazy. It's easier to let them carry on thinking that they can do what they like rather than actually teach them that some things are not for them until they're older.

I'm absolutely amazed how little people are willing to tell their children 'no' even when it comes to their safety. What are you actually afraid of?

I absolutely echo what others have said - we've forgotten the joy of the simplicities of life. Nice modern play equipment has apparently become boring and unstimulating to some children. When I was a child me and my 3 siblings were booted out the house every day in the summer, equipped only with sun cream, a packed lunch each and our imaginations. I never once remember being bored. I remember being very, very happy and fairly undemanding

Demonising children for playing and being curious is petty- if the child can ride the exercise bike what is the big deal! I

Who's demonising children?

The big deal is that it's not made for her, it's made for me who wants to use it. Can I go and push kids out the way to go down the slide?

I really despise this whole attitude of adult, their time and needs not being important. I don't know what happened to anyone to make them think they aren't worthy of using facilities designed for them, but a little self worth goes a long way.

@Goldenbear

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

How do you know? I need to exercise, I like to exercise and stay healthy. Why must I tolerate anything less than "suffering".

Oh and kids won't suffer by not constantly getting their way all the time.

@Goldenbear

That's a spectacular spin on my posts you have there.

My point is that adults should have more understanding of the world than children and appreciate more readily that loads of stuff happens that you can't control, especially in a public space.

Having a better understanding of the world doesn't mean giving everything up freely to children. In fact I'd argue the opposite - a little adversity (if we are calling a 6yo not being able to use an exercise bike that's not safe or made for them adverse) makes up the wonderful fabric of life.