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.

@Branleuse similar except my local one has weights. So what if it isn't what you consider to be 'serious' - it's not for kids! I don't care hat Robyn's parents post boring 7 minutes videos on YouTube of her 'grand days out' - theres an age limit for a reason

@Sparklingbrook

I imagined something like this

Yes that's exactly what the bikes are like near mine

Goodness, you seem quite angry about a non event.

The toddler is not safe in the skate park, pretty self evident, if children are skating in to them. An exercise bike that is akin to the kind of equipment featured in Branleuse's video does not equate to the same risk for a 6 year old, particularly if the Mum is just showing her how to use it and is nearby. Part of being a parent is understanding risk and how to mitigate it, what is the likelihood of this happening. I carry out risk assessments as part of my job so my thought process is not so extreme and I can understand the difference between a skate park and a toddler on a scooter and an older child with their Mum on an exercise bike. My youngest is way past 6 she is 9 and I have a very tall teenager. I don't follow her around with a bucket and spade at the sandpit catching her in case she falls as she is not 2!! Sometimes she wonders out of the play area to areas of the park nearby with her friends. She is confident enough to ask an adult this sort of thing as are her friends and she can cope with a 'No'. What am I supposed to do about that, tell her she can't speak without my approval, tell her she can't be curious and pursue that curiosity as you never know 'you', a smallish, polite and articulate 9 year old may scare someone off. Surely children are 'vunerable'. How do you know the mum asking you if her daughter may have a turn is not vulnerable at the moment, overwhelmed, stressed, got nothing left to give. You don't know!

Why do you find the idea of parents encouraging inquisitiveness and creativity and independence offensive? You may have lots of rules and boundaries in place that I would argue are stifling but I am not offended by your choices and don't refer to your children disdainfully using childish terms like 'Diddums'. If you work with children don't you understand that tolerance of a variety of personalities is a must.

@Branleuse

Just double checking we mean this sort of serious outdoor gym?

I'm not sure what including this is supposed to prove, apart from the fact that the equipment clearly isn't made for children. Her feet and arms can't reach anything and she's not capable of doing any of the movements, her parents have to do it for her. I don't mind when it's just one kid and it's not interfering with adults trying to use the equipment, but in the OP's it wasn't like this, it was overrun. This equipment can indeed give adults a decent workout when used correctly - not comparable to a modern indoor gym, but beggars can't be choosers and as well as gyms being closed, some can't afford them. Adults deserve spaces like this for their well-being too.

Goodness, you seem quite angry about a non event.

Not at all, simply responding to posts.

The toddler is not safe in the skate park, pretty self evident, if children are skating in to them.

But what gives children the right to skate when toddlers are around expressing their individuality? Don't toddlers have the same right to be there as older children?

Unlike outdoor gyms where it's very clear why it's not safe for children under 13.

Part of being a parent is understanding risk and how to mitigate it, what is the likelihood of this happening. I carry out risk assessments as part of my job so my thought process is not so extreme and I can understand the difference between a skate park and a toddler on a scooter and an older child with their Mum on an exercise bike.

What's so hard to understand "no children under 13"? Serious question - what makes your kids or anyone else's so special that they're above the rules.

My youngest is way past 6 she is 9 and I have a very tall teenager

You seem to be applying this principle to your 9yo where I said the girl whose mum asked me to move was around 6 and there were plenty of toddlers in there. No children were using the equipment the way it was intended to be used. For example...I don't know what they're called but there are some ropes with handles on the end to do pull up types exercise. Kids had their feet in the handle parts and were swinging. Toddlers trying to life the heavy weights with their toes beneath them.

I don't follow her around with a bucket and spade at the sandpit catching her in case she falls as she is not 2!!

U.K., no one expects you to? But if you're in a play park with her surely you keep an eye on her? You know, to ensure she doesn't wander out the park, or with a strangers, or into an area she shouldn't be?

Sometimes she wonders out of the play area to areas of the park nearby with her friends.

Bad form on your part for either letting her or not noticing.

She is confident enough to ask an adult this sort of thing as are her friends and she can cope with a 'No'.

Why do you think it's ok for her to ask adults to get off adult only equipment so she could have a go? That's not necessarily confidence when it's rude. Confidence can be nurtured in other, more considerate, ways.

What am I supposed to do about that, tell her she can't speak without my approval, tell her she can't be curious and pursue that curiosity as you never know 'you', a smallish, polite and articulate 9 year old may scare someone off.

Boundaries. It's very simple. Tell her what is and isn't for her. Why do you think this involves "telling her to speak without my approval"? Do you always overthink things this way?

Surely children are 'vunerable'. How do you know the mum asking you if her daughter may have a turn is not vulnerable at the moment, overwhelmed, stressed, got nothing left to give. You don't know!

Then if she is she needs to find an appropriate activity suitable and safe for her daughters age. The key to helping vulnerable children is not giving their way with everything at the expense at others

Why do you find the idea of parents encouraging inquisitiveness and creativity and independence offensive?

There you go again making things up. So tedious!

You may have lots of rules and boundaries in place that I would argue are stifling but I am not offended by your choices and don't refer to your children disdainfully using childish terms like 'Diddums'.

Well you don't know me so it would be weird if you did. I happen to be able to have both tiles and bounds toes and also encourage independence, challenging and creativity. It can be done you k ow without letting them get their way with everything.

If you work with children don't you understand that tolerance of a variety of personalities is a must.

I understand that no personality - no matter how confident or spirited - warrants a child being above not only the rules but their own safety.

Seriously what is so hard to understand: outdoor gyms are not for children. There's a play park next to it they can use. The end. Why is that so hard to comprehend? I am genuinely baffled.

Sorry for tall the typos 🙄 must proof read my posts before I hit send

*all not tall 🤣

BTW you can also see from this clip how easily a small children could have an accident unsupervised on the too large equipment. I myself have a permanent scar from going on a fairground ride that I wasn't big enough to go on when I was a child, but I guess if you're okay with that for your kids then crack on.

This isn't my local outdoor gym but it has this almost identical equipment - the rope things on the left are what children put their feet in and try to swing about. The weights on poles at my park go up to 24kg and kids try to pick them up.

It doesn't matter how confident little Diddums is, this is not safe equipment for children and parents need to look up from their phones to see their child mucking about dangerously and taking up equipment that adults need to use

I see children mis using play equipment quite regularly, they stand on swings or a group of children stand in basket swings and jump from them. Parents only say something if it is looking like an accident is going to happen i.e they assess the risk.
It is bad form for my child to go outside of the play area in the park to area next door where they sometimes play table tennis or go round the maze. The parents will have a position where they can see tops of heads etc. The children know where you are they are together in groups of 4. You do know that some schools allow children to walk to school at this age. I don't as we live a bit too far away from the school with a very busy road which my DD would not be able to cross safely as she is too small, see what I've done there- assessed the risk.

I don't think it is ok for anyone to demand someone gets off a piece of equipment but my DD manages to talk politely to people. I think it is fine to talk to an adult politely. I have seen girls ask politely if DD would mind getting off the swing so that they can have a go. Dd obliges, the child will say thanks and if she hasn't wondered off will go back on. It is a civilised process that children manage between themselves and it is called, 'sharing'.

Some rules are silly though and should be challenged. I know a school where the girls can only wear trousers, why? The 13 year old rule is not the law, I mean you couldn't call the police on this 6 year old for using the exercise bike.

Why the 'Diddums' references, such a strange hostility towards children you don't know.

"as it is meant to be used yes, this is the key point here."

Yes using it appropriately and safely which could be true of someone outside the age stated. Of course where there are disabilities involved reasonable adjustment has to be taken into account whereas it wouldn't be for children using equipment outside of a given age.

I thought these gyms were for teens too. Hence why they are next to
Play parks. Not adults.

@Goldenbear rules that children can't use equipment that could seriously injure them aren't 'silly'. It doesn't matter that it's 'not illegal' - would you take your 9yo to a 15 rated film at the cinema? After all it's just silly rules right?

And it doesn't matter what tone you use, it's not polite to ask an adult to get off something they're using that's adult-only so a child can have a go.

A bit worrying that your excuse for not keeping an eye on your child is "some kids walk to school at that age" and "I can see the top o her head". Keep an eye on your kid! Is it so hard to do?

@helpmemakeit

I thought these gyms were for teens too. Hence why they are next to Play parks. Not adults.

Not they're for adults and teens. Otherwise it would say "13-18" not 13+

YABU.

YANBU at all!

My 9 year old makes a beeline for those things every time we go to the park - every time I call him back. They’re not for him, I don’t want him swinging himself off the elliptical or squashing his fingers or toes. Occasionally I’ll let him have a go when I’m standing right by him - but only if there’s no adults about who might want to use them.

I’m assuming the people that think it’s ok are the type that let their school age kids in the toddler section at soft play because they want to. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with saying no, that isn’t for you, come away.

Incidentally, I only watched Strictly Ballroom yesterday @FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop - it’s one of my favourites!

It really is quite simple.

There's a play park fit for purpose for your child

Next to it is an outdoor gym for for purpose for people aged 13+

Kids use the play park. Teenagers and adults use the outdoor gym.

The end.

The fact it's so distressing to some parents that there can't be a crossover for their young child to use dangerous equipment is quite worrying really. Like I say, as a teacher who teaches the children of entitled parents, you are doing them no favours.

@Cat2014

YABU.

Can I ask why @Cat2014

@JackieTheFart I'm so pleased you got my username reference best film ever!

I see children mis using play equipment quite regularly, they stand on swings or a group of children stand in basket swings and jump from them. Parents only say something if it is looking like an accident is going to happen i.e they assess the risk

@Goldenbear do you even know what OP is talking about? Play equipment is not the same as gym equipment. Do you genuinely think that the council (or whoever) has put all that equipment in without doing a risk assessment, because if there’s a sign saying 13 years and up it would appear they have?

I'm absolutely going to head for the soft play as soon as it opens. It doesn't matter than I'm 35 years old - my creativity and inquisitiveness are calling me, and I will not be stifled by silly rules about age limits! Wheeeeeeee!

I mean it would seem that most gyms have a ‘not under 12’ policy for their gym equipment so I’m not sure why stuff in the park is considered a free for all just because it’s not inside.

Even if kids do dick about jumping off swings
A. They are low enough on the ground to mitigate damage from any falls, and
B. It's still up to parents to supervise their children and that their child's safety is their responsibility. There's even signs pointing out this very basic information.

Do people actually just sit down going "hey, it's a park, yes they're climbing up something that's too high for them but what can ya do, they're expressing themselves, kids ey?"

Use the big wet thing in your mouth and tell them to stop it. Don't be scared that you're sTiFLinG them, it's ok to tell kids 'no' when it comes to their safety.