To have challenged teenagers at the park?

[KiteSirfer]

I was with my two dc aged 6 and 9 at the playground in the park this evening.

Three young teenage boys were kicking a football. I asked them to stop, or to move into the park rather than nearly hitting young children in the playground. They became quite mouthy, refusing to move. So when their ball almost hit my kids for the second time, I picked it up and put it in the bin, to prevent them keep nearly hitting young kids with it.

All three of them then started arguing with me, calling me crazy, swearing, claiming it was child abuse I'd put their ball in the bin. Of course they easily retrieved the ball from the bin, then kept arguing with me. I was quite calm, kept explaining why their behaviour was dangerous and why Id asked them to stop. They also filmed me without my permission but I didn't say anything 'wrong'. Eventually they calmed down and we parted company.

Aibu to have challenged them? I'm a bit concerned they filmed me in discussion and claimed 'child abuse' for putting their ball in the bin. I should probably have walked away. The level of disrespect they had for adults and other children was quite sad and astonishing, I don't know how teachers deal with this level of disrespect, their language and behaviour was awful.

Well done!!! Most people wouldn't have said anything (me included!!) but I always wish I was more ballsy.

I would of stabbed their ball with my car keys. Well done!

I’d have done similar so well done

I’ve challenged teenagers in my local playground a couple of times, one lot for shouting swear words and second lot for smoking stuff.

Like you there is land adjacent that they could easily be using rather than the small kids playground

Thanks. I'm not sure their purpose of filming me?? Maybe it's just something they do nowadays.

Seems sad if teenagers behaviour prevents others using the park/playground on a nice evening.

Well done, I have done the same and for a similar amount of abuse.

I have a theory that pre-teens and teenagers should not be left unsupervised in large groups. It's intimidating plus they feel the need to one up each other doing stupid and often dangerous things.

I say the above as the owner of DD21 DD13 and DS11. Eldest DD was never allowed to hang around parks / the streets. Teenage DC are supervised partly from a distance if in town, is in a park then I take youngest DS3 to the park at the same time.

I don't care if it's not cool or the done thing, until they are responsible enough to make sensible choices I will carry on.

Good for you! It’s incredibly selfish to play in the playground when there’s decent park land.

They may upload it to the Internet somewhere but you won't look bad in it so don't worry about that.

They are filming you for tiktok. Been there.

This.

YANBU

But they don't need your permission to film you.

I think you were reasonable to ask them to move.

I think throwing their ball in the bin was not really necessary.

They don’t need your permission to film you or your children; you were in a public place.

It’ll be going on Snapchat or TikTok.

I think it depends on how you asked them. Why did they not just take it back out the bin?

They'll just be filming so they can put it on social media, doubt anyone will care much. Some teens are dreadful little shits.

You weren't unreasonable to challenge them, but it was extremely antagonistic to throw the ball in the bin. You could have just chucked it out of the playground into the park.
I think you over reacted, especially as your kids aren't toddlers.

Why? If people like you do nothing, nothing changes and anti-social behaviour gets worse.

if someone films you again either tap dance or film them back.

Where did I say I would do nothing?

Also agree your kids aren't toddlers, I mean what did they say in all this? At 6 and 9 I'd leave my kids to complain to other kids themselves if balls etc were bothering them. Were they bothering your kids or just you? I mean my kids are 7 and almost 10 I don't even go to the bloody playground or park with them.

I don’t think any of you covered yourselves in glory TBH.

Don’t be surprised if you end up on TikTok being called a Karen - this is the mentality of Gen Z’ers I’m afraid

They sound brattish. Why would they even want to be in a small kids playground at that age?

Definitely not unreasonable to politely/diplomatically challenge them, but it was a dick move to put their ball in the bin.

Not entirely sure what you were hoping to achieve by the latter and it's a provocative move that could have gone sideways.

I've always asked older kids (who've been lairy/at risk of splatting younger kids with their balls etc) in a friendly way to mind the little ones. And, that's mainly worked because, I dunno, challenges don't always need to sound otherwise.

If its getting too much, I'll just trot off with DC (who are only 5) because they don't need to hear things kicking off (and I'm someone who, if peed off - especially when it concerns my daughters - can very readily control their tongue)).

Not saying my way is the right way - and, in an ideal world, older children would know how to 'behave' around younger children - but I do what works to try and keep my DC away from antisocial behaviour (including my own).

Fine to ask them to stop. A bit of a risk to put their ball in the bin- I wouldn’t want to rile up some teenagers I didn’t know, in front of my kids.

It’s possible your kids were scared of all the arguing, not a football
being kicked around