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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that there should NOT be a children's play area at every single bloody tourist attraction I go to?

136 replies

LittleBella · 18/04/2008 22:36

I mean, Leeds Castle - a beautiful, interesting castle with stunning grounds, peacocks, restaurant, land train, maze, grotto, craft room... isn't that enough? Isn't an effing CASTLE enough? And Wildwood - wolves, wild boar, badgers, loads of wild animals, craft stuff, trails - WHY do children need a play area? OK perhaps I am being very unreasonable, but I feel there's something philistine and vulgar about teaching kids that they have to have effing special playgrounds at every single attraction they go to. Why can they not be expected to just enjoy the fact that they're being taken for a day out and play around the grounds which have masses of space?

I almost feel like writing letters of complaint saying that the playgrounds spoilt my enjoyment of the venue. Am I a grumpy old curmudgeon? I suspect I am...

OP posts:
Novicecamper · 19/04/2008 16:10

I think you are being utterly ridiculous (OP)

Novicecamper · 19/04/2008 16:11

'I so agree.It teaches children to be utter neanderthals.
I never take my kids on stuff like that as a matter of principle.
Mind you,I feel the same about numpties who put dvd players in their cars. FFS! Enjoy the view! Enjoy the journey! That is the whole damned point! '

FFS

expatinscotland · 19/04/2008 16:12

I'm in two minds about them.

But, in general, as we found out the hard way, toddlers and historic castles don't mix - as we say privately in our home, 'Remember Glamis?'

But once they get a bit older, then would they even still be interested in a play area?

I wish somewhere would set up a play area for adults - I'd like to trampoline, bounce in a bouncy castle or go on the swings.

expatinscotland · 19/04/2008 16:12

Don't own a camcorder or DVD player - just play them on a laptop or DH's PS2.

And am one of those people who has a PAYG mobile that was given to me by a friend about 4 years ago.

Othersideofthechannel · 19/04/2008 16:14

What's to stop you going on the swings? I always go on the swings! And sometimes the climbing frames, not always to rescue a stuck child either.
Think you'll have to hire a bouncy castle for your next round number birthday!

JossStick · 19/04/2008 16:16

Crossness - i used to live near Bradgate park (sighs at the memories esp. going over the steps over the wall and back)

Don't know if this is related to the OP but i hate it when i go in a POSH restaurant / Tea Room and the DCs get given crayons and a puzzle sheet. I expect it at pizza hut etc. but sometimes it's nice for them to learn to behave in a posher setting.

expatinscotland · 19/04/2008 16:17

they're not really made for a preggo woman, otherside.

whenever we go to these castles and historic houses, one of us goes in for hte tour whilst the other stays out with the DDs. although DD1 is getting old enough to enjoy them and she can decide if she wants to go on the tour or not. but DD2 is 2 and going on a tour with her wouldn't be worth the bother.

then the other person goes in unencumbered.

Othersideofthechannel · 19/04/2008 16:20

Oh, I didn't know you were pregnant.
I guess trampolines are out of the question too then!

CrossnessMaureen · 19/04/2008 16:22

Jostick: oooh, yes, I remember those steps over the wall! We used to run wild for hours - running to the top of the hill to that tower that Lady Jane grey was kept in.

JossStick · 19/04/2008 16:28

Old John - shaped like an old fashioned pint of beer

matildax · 19/04/2008 16:41

hello, i agree with little bella, yanbu.
i am sick of taking my kids to nice places, with loads of activities, and interesting stuff to do and see, and all they are interested in, is where the swings, slides, bouncy bloody castles are!!! (a certain really rather pricey working farm near me springs to mind)
i have nothing against swings, slides etc, however everything in its place and in moderation, is my motto. i think it kind of defeats the object of taking them somewhere nice for the day.
local parks, with all this stuff are free, so if thats what you were looking for, thats where you would go.
i also think kids get over stimulated these days, and when playing with one thing are already looking at "whats next".

expatinscotland · 19/04/2008 16:44

'i also think kids get over stimulated these days, and when playing with one thing are already looking at "whats next". '

now i agree with this. there's a generation of people now who have no idea how to entertain themselves properly, and it causes many problems.

OTOH, we've been to many castles here and i haven't see a play area in them.

you just have a picnic and let them tear about, or bring a flying disc or some squishy balls.

JossStick · 19/04/2008 16:47

Is there anything more DULL than watching your kids in a playground / adventure playground / play area???

And yes - this includes birthday parties (although i'm not brave enough to say this in RL)

Went recently to a beautiful lake to feed the ducks with SIL and DSs cousins. All they were interested in was the adventure playground (I mean ALL - everything in moderation and a bit of both wouldn't have hurt). To top it all off her DCs were scared of the ducks

matildax · 19/04/2008 16:47

my point exactly expat, i mean i remember things like that from my childhood, so that is why i have had enough of "touristy stuff" and now go to secluded beaches or woods, and have a picnic like you said, i think it will bring happy memories when they are older.

expatinscotland · 19/04/2008 16:50

the only historic home/castle/ruins we've really been to in England with the kids was Etal Castle, though.

no play area there, but it's a ruin, a playground in and of itself .

matildax · 19/04/2008 16:54

in other words, i doubt very much that our dcs in later life, will look back fondly on yet another play area!!!!!!

AbbeyA · 19/04/2008 16:54

If you live near these places then you are most probably going only to the adventure playground. They can amuse themselves all day and have imaginative games using the equipment. There is usually open ground for ball games etc and you can have a walk. It is often much cheaper if you are not going to the main attraction (having already seen it).

Fullmoonfiend · 19/04/2008 16:57

I agree with the OP.
I always feel quite smug when we've managed a nice day out which everyone has enjoyed without there being a playground at the end of it. I have a 10 year old and a 7 year old and at one point, a couple of years ago, when we said: ''we're going out'' their immediate response was ''will there be a park?'' and then a sulk if we said there wasn't.
We've cured them of that!

Don't get me wrong, sometimes we've visited a place becausee there is a playground, but I want my children to discover that a day in the woods can be fun, or a river walk or whatever,

matildax · 19/04/2008 17:00

lol joss!! i know a few kids like that!!!!
its really rather sad though, if you ask me. some parents need a little wake up call.....
im sure some think it is easier to throw your kids in a park, than having to interact with them...
like i said earlier its all about moderation in my opinion.

Othersideofthechannel · 19/04/2008 17:02

Good job I enjoy climbing and swinging so much because DCs rarely let me sit and watch.

Fullmoonfiend · 19/04/2008 17:06

There is one Stateley House with gardens near us which has the most amazing gardens. Magical, beautiful, loads to see - but do I ever get to see them? No, I have to pay the best part of £40 to spend 5 hours trying to get my kids off the adventure playground and into the gardens..
Now I used to go there when I was a kid (before they built the play area) and I loved exploring these grounds, running through the water gardens, hiding in rhodedendron bushes, making dens in the woody bits etc, with nothing more exciting than a promise of a stale scone in the tea shop at the end of it...

matildax · 19/04/2008 17:06

yeah osotc, then thats acceptable isnt it...

i mean i know we all need a break from our kids, even on days out, but NOT all the time.

and isnt it nicer to go places off the beaten track sometimes, and spend some family quality time???
it really is rather liberating

msappropriate · 19/04/2008 17:06

I am so happy there are play areas now I have kids. It makes it into a longer day out. It also lets them burn off some energy so they can be more receptive to the more passive experience of walking through a castle or zoo and talking about it. Before I had kids I would have never noticed them.

I would love to have children who enjoy looking out of the car window for hours and enjoying the view. Life must be a breeze.

soapbox · 19/04/2008 17:10

I think you are being a tad unreasonable, given that the play area at Leeds Castle is at the very, very far end of the track. So it would not exist as far as a child is concerned as you walked round the castle, saw the peacocks etc. So I think it is fair to say, that if you went to the play area, you didn't end up there by accident!

It is an under 5's playground IIRC - so not exactly for children who would be that turned on by an old and fusty castle.

I've done Leeds Castle gazillions of times, both before and after the play area was put in, and I can't say the experience was much changed. The children knew that if they were well behaved we might go to the playground at the end of the day for 15 mins before catching the land train back again.

Othersideofthechannel · 19/04/2008 17:10

Matildax, not exactly sure what you mean.