Kids at the park

[Blueb3ll]

I specifically went to the park late today so it would be quiet and dd (1.5) could explore. When we turned up we were literally the only people there, but after 15 mins or so a group of kids turned up.

When the kids (4 of them, supervised by a teenager), my dd was playing on the slide. They wanted to use the slide so I moved dd and said “come on let’s use something else”, and I moved her to another part which was one of the ways up to this climbing frame. There were 4 ways to get up to this slide. Two of the kids, the same ones I moved her for, I’d say around 7&5 then decided they wanted to come up and down the part she was playing on. Didn’t say excuse me, didn’t say anything, the seven year old looking boy pushed my child out of the way by her head!!! I said “No, don’t push her”. I wasn’t angry, I was just firm.

The boy then didn’t come back but the 5 year old girl kept coming back and trying to push passed dd not saying excuse me or anything. I looked over at the teenager and she was just sat on her phone. I didn’t move dd but I didn’t stop the girl squeezing passed, I don’t think I had the right to tell the girl no go a different way so I just ignored her and carried on playing with dd.

Am I being unreasonable? I’m new to the children’s park scene but how do I handle situations like this?

I can’t believe that boy pushed my 1 year old by her head! I’m annoyed. Is this normal? I’ve never seen any kids in my family/ friends behave like this.

I think I do need some parenting tips from @Blueb3ll. How on earth have you had the time to write over 120 comments on a single Mumsnet thread in the last couple days?? Especially given that you're constantly paying close, loving attention to your child not looking at your phone like a bored teenager 🤔

OP,you did well to hold your own against some of the idiots on this thread.

What thread have YOU been reading?! 🙈

I would have told my kids to be carefully around a smaller child. But I also agree with other posters that certain equipment is not suitable for certain age groups. In the picture it is obvious that it's intended age group is from around 5+. Kids need to burn off energy in an age appropriate without worrying about younger kids who really shouldn't be exploring in a surrounding buot for bigger kids to run off stream.

I agree with you Maxus. Part of being in the park and using an age-appropriate play area is to allow children to blow off steam in a safe environment.

I feel the same when mine want to climb on and use the bigger slides and swings at the moment. It's not reasonable to expect the older ones to be on guard and to modify their play because I've chosen to take my DC to explore. Equally I'll move my DC out of the way of younger children if they're in a toddler area with family friends and cousins. It's all about common sense and accepting that different play spaces are aimed at different children.