I really don't think I am

[HonoriaGlossop]

To be annoyed that our local park, where I've just dropped DH and DS, is literally FULL of teenagers, not talking 11 or 12 here but 14, 15 and up. They are all over the play equipment, pushing the roundabout at the speed of light so no little kids dare go near it, hanging all over the swings etc etc.

I'm not saying they are doing anything awful, but they are stopping the little ones playing on equipment that is clearly aimed at them

And we live in a small town but yes there IS stuff for teenagers, we have the sea, we have a huge, well desgined skate park, an amusement arcade, free tennis courts and basketball court and a HUGE rec ground

And yet there they are, in the littlies playground

Just ask them to slow it down and let the little ones play on it.

14 year olds are neurologically similar to 8 year olds when you look at the empathy area of their brain. They don't identify with anyone buy other teenagers - so they cannot see why they may be causing a problem for anyone else.

I understand your annoyance but at the same timer I really feel for teenagers as they have nowhere to go and everywhere they try to hang out someone's annoyed with them.

They need youth clubs and stuff.

You have to tell them, assertively, that there are children waiting to play on it. If they sneer and laugh, you just stand they making eye contact upon which they will realise you mean it and slope off.

They will carry on doing anything they think they can get away with at this age.

I told a group of lads off for bad language in front of small children (mine and others) the other day. They initially rolled their eyes and ignored me, but I stood there staring at them (like a strict old matron) and there was no more swearing within my ear shot for the duration we were there.

did you read my post though spider? Locally, there are loads of places for them to go - spcially on a nice sunny day like this!

Colditz you're right, of course. I've tackled them before and as I say, they're fine, not causing trouble, but sometimes I'd just like to go there without having to assert myself to a huge group of them

Spidermama, sounds like they have that "stuff" in Honoria's area at least.

I know, it is hard work, and they do make you wish they'd think before doing things, but at least it's not on purpose.

I too have told teens off for bad language, and kept looking at them until they stopped, but then I am in a small market town and am statistically unlikely to get stabbed, and I am also a youth worker and ALSO know their mums as I grew up here.

sounds like we're in similar areas colditz, I must admit I hadn't worried about being stabbed, just annoyed at having to DEAL with them

Yeah, small marker towner here too Colditz, I suppose that is relevant. I'm not a youth worker though, sod that, just a becoming-seasoned mother of a teen boy

Eeek. Have just realised the degree I am slaving away at will lead me into work with "the yoof of today", so not sure why I said "sod that"!

(market!)

Just tell them. Admittedly, as a teacher I find it easier to be total cow as needed, but it works most times.

I meant "a" cow.

Moooo.

Don't let them scare you, they are probably completely unaware that you are there

They slope off if you smile nicely and produce a child for said ride

when I went to pick DS up, there was a couple of them playing football IN the little playpark - which is surrounded by what is probably a square half-mile of recreation ground

FGS!

Hairy eyeball was enough though and they did slope off

But I mean - FFS - why would you?

My dh says it's laziness, because the ball will bounce of the fence and they don't have to run to fetch it, and I bow to his superior knowledge of being a lazy teenage boy

tell them, they're like spiders, more scared of you than you are of them

My local park has two fenced areas, one for teenies (baby swings, slides etc) and a bigger one with climbing frames, tyre swings etc. We have less of a problem with the teenagers mucking around on them - they do but move along when massed mums approach the park! - and more with other parents, bringing loose dogs INTO the fenced area, smoking and kicking footballs around in the playground.Which is next door to two large pitches.

They react less well to confrontation I've found

What MP said.

They don't think about all the whys and wherefores. They want to play on the equipment, so they do. I rather like the swings myself, and I'm 37...

Ask them nicely to let the younger children have a turn and they usually do IME.

If it's anything like my local park there is a sign on the entrance saying it's for under 12's.
I'd ask them if they could move so the children could play on it, they aren't doing anything wrong but it doesn't mean the children shouldn't be able to play.