to think that people should not smoke in a childs outdoor play area?

[pamelat]

I know it isnt illegal but surely its wrong morally?

I was at the park on Friday with my PFB (!) who is 7 months and we were on the swings when a set of grandparents turned up with a little boy who looked to be about 2 years old. They sat him on the swing next to my DD and the woman lit a cigarette and proceeded to smoke.

The park was full of children.

I think its really wrong?

i'm het up about the dog poo issue.

i have to face a dog poo riddled park tomorrow

I agree 100% with Expat.

Look, it's an emotional issue for me because my DD was in hospital this week with lung problems.

But, I don't feel that it's fair that the 'me me me' comment was justified. Is it justified that I object to something that is legal? Sure, a lot of things that are legal I object to. I hate it when people swear within ear range of DD who understands words, and will repeat it. And yes, I will mention it

And then the dog shit argument was brought in. Why? Because of my talk name? (but is completely irrelevant as not cleaning up is illegal).

If all smokers were considerate and made sure as some posters have mentioned that they weren't actually standing next to the swings/someone's kids blowing smoke on them (and their parents/carers) I might not mind so much. And if they picked up their cigarette ends.

But our playground is in the middle of a park which also has other spaces which are designed for the use of smokers, like the tables outside the cafe, outside the playground gates but not far away. There are also benches inside the playground. Yet one of the favourite places for smokers to sit is on what's meant to be a piece of play equipment for very young children. And they leave the cigarette ends there so we keep having to take them off 15 month old ds.

I also hate it because I'm pregnant and the smell of cigarette smoke, even outside, makes me feel really sick. And cigarette smokers, inside and outside, have an amazing ability to blow their smoke into my face and hair

There are signs outside our playground saying no smoking. I wish they'd put those and the no dog signs inside the playground.

omg elkiedee
are you kidding that smokers shouldn't smoke outside because you are preg and it makes you feel ill?

But on the other hand, smokers who spark up next to a pregnant woman...isn't that just vile?

DS was born in 2007 before the smoking ban in pubs and cafes in England. So then I had to avoid a lot of places entirely. I'm not asking for a smoking ban in the whole of the park, but most playgrounds are in a much bigger space which has areas where people are welcome to smoke. So I don't see what's so unreasonable about them not smoking in the playground. (I should say the culprits are rarely those with kids under 5 in our nearest playground).

The smoking ban is great. Now I can take my kids to the pub

PMSL

How would one know? Would one ask before lighting up therefore cause more slapped faces for those who have been asked and aren't pregnant!!

Rhonds, I didn't say smokers shouldn't smoke outside, I'm saying they shouldn't smoke in the playground - and not only that, on the play equipment - when there's the whole of the rest park where they could go, including the terrace outside the cafe with seats, tables, ashtrays and even an undercover but outside area which is presumably designed for smokers to indulge.

Well if you aren't sure, fair enough. But I've had people spark up a fag within a few feet of me when I was 8 months pregnant, no mistaking. I didn't say anything - like I said, I'm not going to attack people for smoking in a public place - but I did think 'Wanker!'.

I'm a Friend of our local park (signed up today, got the kids a free green sparkly gonk each ).

The play area & the paddling pool probably amount to about 5% of the total area.

So I don't see what's so unreasonable in smokers finding somewhere else.

Rhonds, local playground has a non-smoking sign. Unfortunately it's outside the playground. I'm not expecting people not to light up near me, but it's quite likely that a playground is going to have a few pregnant women in it - I usually see one or two others there.

We've taken ds to the pub a few times.

I repeat that I'm not and never have been a smoker. I just think that the risk posed to health from passive smoking out doors is soo negligible it is laughable. However I do agree that any inconsiderate behaviour should be addressed and agree that leaving fag butts everywhere is inconsiderate.
Just mho

My DD tries to pick up fag butts even if they aren't in a play area, so i can vouch for that.

That said, she also tries to pick up and eat old chewing gum, leaves, sticks, wrappers...pretty much anything really

Probably would try poop if i let her near it [barf]

It doesn't really bother me much, I'm a smoker and I don't generally light up in the playground. Some people take the piss though, was at the park last week and we went on the little train, a woman then sparked up and blew smoke into my dc's faces for the whole way round. Thats just stupid it last for about 5 minutes, she could have waited.

I cannot believe people are defending smoking in a childrens park! So what if it is outdoors it is a space designed for children. People smoking around kids wherever they might be I find highly insensitive, rude and am always annoyed if someone smokes near my children.

Hmm it's difficult, I smoke sometimes not usually around my children cos they nag me too much.
It's usually the older generation that do this and I find a few dirty looks moves them along.

Well, I just found out my dad started SMOKING again and has wound up in hospital with pneumonia.

But it's legal for him to kill himself and he has no one to blame but himself.

He knows that.

And DH smokes still even though both his parents have diabetes from hell.

I can't control everything my kids do or come into contact with anymore than I can control what other people do. It's a hard pill to swallow sometimes as my child has special needs.

What they come into contact with in the outdoors is one of many of those things I can't control.

There will be a liftetime of such things. I guess that's why I don't get too worked up about stuff like this - DD1's life is going to be compromised by a lot scarier stuff, to be quite honest.

Is it cool to smoke in children's play areas? No. But I wouldn't tell someone to put it out in a public place because it's just going to piss people off here, and I have to live here.

If I want to go someplace where it's not allowed or where people think it's okay to get in someone's face about things like smoking in public or swearing and it's illegal to drink in public I'll move to California.

I don't live there. I live here.

As for people who continue to smoke, they're going to probably get what is coming if they keep on doing it. Just like my dad and my mother, too.

Btw, I thought it was illegal to smoke in a bus shelter?

No?

sorry about your dad.

YANBU. I hate smoking, especially around children. Sure it's outside, but it doesn't mean the rest of us can't smell your stinky cigarettes.

No, I don't think it was made illegal to smoke in a bus shelter. There was some talk that it might be but it didn't happen.