Do you let your DC climb up slides in the park?

[rosie79]

My ds who's 3 has always been really into climbing (like most kids this age!) and for as long as he has been able to has climbed up slides in parks as well as sliding down them. He always waits his turn if it's busy and doesn't climb up if someone is about to slide down. I have always let him do this as I know that he knows his own limits and has yet to have any accidents, he is careful. Our parks are rarely very busy either. However, I have often heard other mums say to their kids as they try to climb up the slide "no dear, go up the normal way" or the "proper way" or similar words to this effect, or worse "you'll get the slide dirty" !! So their shoes doen't make it dirty if they slide down?! .
It doesn't bother me what other parents let and don't let their kids do, that's their choice, but to imply that my child is doing something wrong or abnormal and give me funny looks or say stuff extra loud so I hear them, that's annoying!! surely in playgrounds children should be able to use the equipment however they choose to, exploring and being adventurous? Isn't this what childhood is all about? With a bit of adult supervision it isn't dangerous. Am I on my own in feeling like this?

yes they should use the equipment in whatever way they fancy! though if there is a queue or extra muddy i make my son go up the 'normal' way.

i agree with you and both my dd's found that climbing up was almost more fun than going down. dd2 is only 18 months but climbs up our little plastic cube type thing with a slide on

Not if there's anyone else in the park using the slide

My children are allowed to climb up the slide if they're the only ones there

If there's other chilren there I insist that they walk around and use the stairs .. it teaches them manners and the ability to take turns and other kids bums don't get dirty because of their feet

I think you're wrong to allow your child to do this .. and I'd be one of the other mums saying exactly that kind of thing if you were in the park we were in

I agree with you Rosie. I don't let Ds do it if there are younger children wanting to come down, though.

lol

I knew you'd post on this Blu

havent we done this before

"There is a theory of the mobius where time becomes a loop"

Depends on the slide and how busy the park is. If lots of children about then no, al;ways queue at the top for a slide down, likewise if slide very high, I think there is more risk of falling when they climb up. Otherwise, yes ,let my 2 climb up the slide, they enjoy it.

i do tell them not to climb up the slides

cos kids can just run up the other end and come careering into them; kids don't look all the time, and sometimes your child has come nicely up the climbing frame bit and can't get down cos of some child pratting about trying to climb up the thing

this happened to me some 30 years ago and there was blood and icecream everywhere

i do think it's important for kids to learn not to hog equipment (ie sliding down and then spending another age climbing up) and be sensitive to others. and while I don't expect my children to return from the playground in pristine condition, of course it makes it more dirty!

if kids want to climb there are climbing frames for that, surely?

I let them as long as there's no other kids using the slide. Kids shouldn't have too many lists of rules when presented toys/playing equipment - they should be just allowed to play as they see fit not constrained by adult ideas of the "proper way", as long as they are not preventing anyone else to do the same.

Live and let live, is my motto

twig did you just tut at me?

"no other kids using the slide"

I agree with you far too often georgina

that was a general tut directed at all those who allow their kids to climb up the slide when other children are around

Yes, DS1 can climb the slide. He's two. He doesn't know that playground equipment must only be played on in a very specific way otherwise it is Wrong.

I don't let him if he's muddy or if there are children wanting to use the slide.

ooh goody twiglett

um .. when do you think he's going to learn hunker? is there a cut off when they learn the right way to do things then?

No. I shall go "Oh, he's only 31" when he wants to drive his car the wrong way up a one way street and fluff my hair in a twittery fashion.

I knew that would annoy you, btw

I shift dd2 from climbing up and have done since she started using it at about 14 ms

hunkers kids are obviously less repressed than mine. I am grooming them to be very anal and have absolutely no creativity at all, so they won't go into the arts sector and earn a pittance like me and their dad

i used to love climbing up the big 30ft slides that we used to have. just let them play with it how they want to. fiofio's method if there are more than 3 children.

and for my part I knew you knew it would annoy me

Ah, I knew that too [knowing]

God I can't be arsed. They can parachute with green spotty underpants on their head as long as they are safe and not annoying anyone else.

"I agree with you far too often georgina "

(this is probably a very sad admission that my life is very very boring, but that made my day ... yes, you can pity me now).