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Original poster

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

375 replies

rosie79 · 09/10/2006 17:28

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?

OP posts:
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TwigTwoolett · 09/10/2006 18:58

You will never convince me that you are right .. much as I will never convince you that I am

So I will probably continue to mutter under my breath / explain loudly to my children when I encounter your ilk in the park and my friends and I will probably discuss your bad manners behind your back

much as you will probably continue to feel right and complain about us

ne'er the twain shall meet

niceglasses · 09/10/2006 18:59

My God, this is such a perfect example of a MN thread. This and the grape one, just sum it up for me.

I let them climb up and I can do confrontation as well. In fact, after three of the buggers, I'm really good at it!!

Katymac · 09/10/2006 18:59

Child A climbs up slide
Child B enters playground totally engrossed in going on slide

Child B climbs slide, waves at top saying "look at me" and slides down without looking

Child A in crumpled heap on floor

Child B in tears because "i just didn't see..."

A's Mum saying B should have looked
B's mum saying A shouldn't have been on the slide
Child A's sister just sits and crys.......when she grew up.........

Evil Katymac now insists that when out with her all slide play is done in the established (time honoured) way......up the steps and down the slide

As my brother always was a daredevil.....mind you he was a regular at the hospital

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FarMARSWarrick · 09/10/2006 18:59

Yup! Very good for their leg muscles.

iota · 09/10/2006 18:59

niceglasses me too - but only 2 of the buggers

tigermoth · 09/10/2006 19:00

hate lots of park tiquette, hate it, hate it! Hate to parents who hover over their young children orchestrating their every move. Not saying anyone here is doing it, but have seen this many times at parks and it makes me cringe. Feel so sorry for the children.

beckybraAAARGHstraps · 09/10/2006 19:01

Do people really mind about the slide being dirty? What happens if they fall over?

TwigTwoolett · 09/10/2006 19:01
GeorginaA · 09/10/2006 19:01

"people who let their kids climb up slides IME tend to be the ones who 'don't do' confrontation with their children and think of a nice flowery excuse as to their behaviour as demonstarted here"

PMSL ... I'll be sure to tell the dses that I don't do confrontation... I'm sure they'll be relieved

iota · 09/10/2006 19:02

ds2 went down a wet slide today - I made him drop his trousers before he got in the car

mustcackleorsuckbloodmore · 09/10/2006 19:04

At first I thought 'cant believe there are mums who would think his is a problem'. Then after reading, I thought 'fair enough, they might have a point'. But you've just spoilt your advantage by saying its because theyy'll get the slide dirty. Do people really take kids to the park and expect them to keep clean???? God, I must be a slack parent.

Greensleeves · 09/10/2006 19:04

No, I have a bit of a thing about this . I have drummed it into mine that they are not allowed to climb up steps. To me it isn't just the fact that they might get kicked in the face by another child. It just seems to be such a good early example of the need to behave sociably, not cheat and take turns. I think it's one of the earliest encounters children have with the "rules" of social interaction. I don't know... it just pisses me off disproportionately when I see a child stomping up the slide the wrong way and a parent blithely letting it happen. It seems so ill-mannered and....wrong.

Original poster
rosie79 · 09/10/2006 19:04

lol Quadrophenia sorry but you're wrong. I do do confrontation with ds, I discipline him and he knows the boundaries. He doesn't get away with anything and I don't make up flowery excuses for his behaviour!

Saying that, he is well behaved. I am consistant and the rules are the rules. TBH he doesn't always climb up the slide, he will equally go up the conventional way, and maybe that's because it isn't something he has been stopped from doing so it doesn't have that forbidden fruit appeal.

sugarfLeewhileyoustillcan when my creative anarchy child is about to be slammed off slide by repressed out of patience child I am there to quickly whisk him away to safety and or apply lots of rescue remedy to calm him down if he's hurt lol

OP posts:
mustcackleorsuckbloodmore · 09/10/2006 19:05

ds1 has sat in Tescos cafe in nothing but a nappy having lunch, after a park visit

SSSandy · 09/10/2006 19:05

yes of course all the time

TwigTwoolett · 09/10/2006 19:06

GS just explained my feelings about this PERFECTLY

Well said greensleeves

GeorginaA · 09/10/2006 19:06

"I have drummed it into mine that they are not allowed to climb up steps."

What ... NEVER! ... you you ... ANARCHIST!

(I take it you mean the slide )

Lact8 · 09/10/2006 19:07

But the whole point is if you can get them to understand the correct way to behave in the park you can then sit on the bench and not hover around them

THe whole dirty thing doesn't bother me though, he's usually filthy by the time we get there anyway.

I'm with you twig, would you like to come and sit on my bench with me?

Greensleeves · 09/10/2006 19:08

Thanks Twig

Oh, and many happy returns

Greensleeves · 09/10/2006 19:09

Oh, slides, steps, bollocks.

lockets · 09/10/2006 19:09

This reply has been deleted

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niceglasses · 09/10/2006 19:09

I think I liked the fighting against the tide analogy. If I spent all my time getting my scruffy muddy 2 yr old off the slide and placing her at the btm of the stairs our trip to the park would be ruined and ill tempered. I just am too too slack and hippy lazy really. So tie me to the tree and whip me.

A Grandad stopped me in the playground at schl today and told me with grave concern that my 4 year old was covered in felt tip pen. I really struggled to find an answer. So what? What do you want me to do? Hes a kid, and we've got pens. They are kids. End of. Not mini-adults.

And no, I make sure they don't spoil anyone elses visit to the park. If they really don't like the mud, they shouldn't bloody be there.

pointyfangedWeredog · 09/10/2006 19:15

Have you ever slid down a muddy slide, especially when it's then been sunny and the mud has dried? It isn't fecking slidy any more!!

sorrell · 09/10/2006 19:17

Agree with Twiglett. If there are other children using the slide it is just not fair to let your child hog it. It takes much longer to climb up the slide than to go up the steps so the kids climbing have more than twice as much time on the actual slide and the other kids have to wait around for them. They should take turns. If you have a polite and/or easily intimidated child they find the boys (usually boys IME) climbing up the slide quite intimidating so wait forever at the top for them to finish their fun, or if they aren't easily intimidated they slide down and bump into them. If you are alone in the park, your kids can do what they like.

Lact8 · 09/10/2006 19:18

Its like Greensleeves said though, it's helping them to understand social interaction.

Would you let them sit on the table at playgroup when the other children are trying to do colouring niceglasses?

Same difference imo