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.

There are a lot of parents now who feel to over run and exhausted to actually parent properly.

Not to mention the over-entitled ones who are with us whatever the circumstances.

Our council has put the outdoor gym next to the play area too. It makes sense in a way, aesthetically it looks neater than pulling apart another part of the park for ugly equipment, but you can see the difficulties that arise.

Parents should have enough common sense to keep their children clear of adults working out. Probably best to use it before the little darlings are up and about.

YABNU. Its dangerous for children, thats why they aren't allowed on the equipment!

I also wonder why it’s often so near to the play park.

I’m not sure it’s so awful for kids to use it per se, but definitely not unsupervised or getting in the way of adults who want to use it.

It’s a sliding scale I guess, because I wouldn’t see a problem with a tall, sensible 10-12 year old using the equipment for its intended purpose, but having little kids climbing all over it unsupervised is just dangerous.

And adults are allowed to have something for themselves!

(Tall because if they were smaller they couldn’t use it as intended)

@Tsubasa1

I'm a teacher, I work in ASN and mainstream and have come across this in both settings. It has an impact on so many things, not least of all creative writing because some don't even know where to start to come up with an idea for a story. But also their social skills, if parents and adults are always around (and often intervening) children don't learn to play naturally amongst and with each other and to address issues themselves (I obviously don't mean bigger issues such as bullying here). Children interact so differently when adults aren't around, you here it in the playground through the class windows at breaktime. I think that time to explore and play without adults is really important too, as is guidance from adults when required but not constantly and not in a way that hinders their ability to think and do for themselves or develop resilience.
It can even impact on areas of learning you wouldn't think it would such as maths, problem solving in particular because they can't think outside the box or think for themselves without being shown a specific strategy.

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.

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

I also wonder why it’s often so near to the play park.

I’m not sure it’s so awful for kids to use it per se, but definitely not unsupervised or getting in the way of adults who want to use it.

It’s a sliding scale I guess, because I wouldn’t see a problem with a tall, sensible 10-12 year old using the equipment for its intended purpose, but having little kids climbing all over it unsupervised is just dangerous.

And adults are allowed to have something for themselves!

I think it's so the adults can use the gym equipment while their kids use the play equipment.

The whole point of outdoor gym equipment is for adults and teenagers to feel encouraged to use it. Gym memberships and equipment can be expensive and an expense that can't always be justified.
Children under 13 should not be on gym equipment and it's pretty poor parenting if you let your child use it. It's not designed for their bodies and they could have an accident easily. And if that happens what's the betting the parent will blame the piece of equipment.
Children have parks and playgrounds, there is plenty for them without them going on the gym equipment. And everyone has had a hard year, not just children. Adults have also had to worry about the bills, keeping a job, potentially home schooling. It's been pretty hard for everyone.

@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.

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

I think your post proves it hasn't been over used once.

In fact it's also proved the apple doesn't fall far from the tree 🤷‍♀️

@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.

So a woman's desire to exercise in a space designed for that purpose is 'nothing' compared to a child's desire to use equipment that is dangerous for them, not designed for that purpose, prevents the actual purpose it was designed for and which they are explicitly prohibited from using by the council?

I'd love an outdoor gym to go to.

Problems will arise when some kid gets seriously hurt on the equipment.

Then some twat parent will say that it's a danger and should be shut down. So everyone it was designed for will miss out because of shitty, absent non-parenting.

I would agree but countless times at my local park the play equipment is used by grown ups to excersise on .We go before school last Tuesday there five adults all hogging the equipment literally mist of the park

YABU

While children who can't use the equipment safely shouldn't be allowed to swarm all over it, there are bigger children who are able to use some items safely under the age 13 guide. Likewise, I often find that some items are designed for 6ft men and are unsuitable for short women to use safely too. A lot often just isn't a good workout, so there's only a few items that are worthwhile to use.

No one should hog the equipment for prolonged periods (outdoor gym, playground or proper gyms). While I do let my children use the equipment, they use it briefly and I wouldn't let them interfere with more serious users.

Most outdoor gyms are scarcely used by adults because most adults wanting a serious work out will use indoor gyms. Better that children use them sensibly than be disused and be removed through lack of demand. It's not often that there is a latant demand of adults not using them because of hoardes of marauding children.

I'll admit to street drunks putting me off one new one in my area. Children are far preferable.

In many areas there is insufficient and dull play equipment not presenting much challenge or development opportunities for older children.

Kids have given up an awful lot this year. There have been no classes, no soft play, school closures, no swimming, no travelling, no grandparents, no days out for such a long time...

Sure, let’s just have them play in the traffic and run around with knives.

The age limits for outdoor gyms are a safety thing. This equipment is no designed for children and they shouldn’t be using it. How does a 6 year old even fit on an adult bike?

Global pandemic does seem to be something people want to use to throw all the rules out of the window. Kids won’t suffer because they can’t use an adults outdoor gym.

@starfishmummy

I would have told the mother the child could have her turn when she was 13 as stated on the the signage.

That. I don't understand why you and others don't just point such people to the signage. It takes away the personal element and it's harder for them to argue or take offence.

Of course YANBU - the sign says 13 plus, children should not be using it. Simple. They have their own play area. How ridiculous that a child's mother approached you about it - she should have encouraged her child to play in the kids play area or do something else.

Why should you pay for a gym membership when there is an outdoor adult gym for your use?

Also, 15 minutes is not 'greedy' at all on a bit of exercise equipment.

I think yabu to expect people to stick to a random age limit on a sign.

Well it's an age limit for a reason it's not 'random'. And why is it unreasonable to expect this?

Kids have given up a lot this past year

No they haven't. There was no choice, the UK has been in lockdown and facilities not open or available to use.

I don't believe for a minute that kids would make a conscious decision to 'give up' anything, so saying that kids/adults haven 'given up so much' is is a non-statement that just isn't true.

Demonising children for playing and being curious is petty- if the child can ride the exercise bike what is the big deal! I just think getting cross about it only harms you, do you really have the energy to care about this. With play equipment in the children's area I encourage my youngest to move on to something else or ask politely if they can have a turn- this often works and life is sometimes about compromise, it is not ideal for the OP to have children in the way but we don't live in an ideal world. As an adult, surely you understand that. I don't think someone asking for a turn on the bike is a problem. It is polite and the OP said, 'no' so that is the end of it. What is there to say after that.

@Goldenbear oh the irony of your post ...

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

The mother's behaviour is strange. It's clearly meant for adults so she has a nerve to ask you to stop for her daughter.

Outdoor gyms are quite new where I am. I wish more adults would use them but maybe it takes some time. Although kids will put adults off.

It was good that you kept trying use the equipment. I'm sure most adults would have been put off.

Where is the irony?

Also, 15 minutes is not 'greedy' at all on a bit of exercise equipment.

Oh, people love to throw that word out thinking they can shame other people.

'So greedy'. A good response is: 'Yep, that's me! Gluttony is my forename. My middle one is double-barrelled. It's f*&^-off'.