Anxiety taking toddler to playground, help needed!

[GetMeToThePark]

NC as you do, and before anyone states the obvious, I know this isn’t normal hence posting.

I have a DD who’s 2yrs7mths. I’m a SAHM and just about getting used to this. It’s only just come to my attention through hypnotherapy that I have actually been holding onto to a lot (and I mean A WHOLE LOT) of parental anxiety and I’m working through it, slowly. Didn’t even start with DD. There’s a 15 year gap with my brothers and when they were babies/toddlers I was similar. Eased up as they grew.

Anyway, we have a park near us that is pretty perfect for little ones. Some equipment is for slightly older kids. BUT I find the whole experience terrifying. She’s super adventurous, energetic and a little chaotic at times, think leaps before she looks kinda thing. But nothing I’d deem unusual for her age and she’s pretty capable, brilliant at communicating but not always listening.

I just see danger everywhere, every wobble. I tried to ease up before and was doing ok, then she took a massive tumble down the side of a tall slide. She was fine and the thing is built so it’s not a straight fall, but my heart was in my throat.

I’d love to take her there every day, but I really struggle. I find it not just mentally but physically taxing because my heart is beating out of my chest the whole time and I’m holding myself together wandering around after her trying not to look worried and trying not to hover. When there’s lots of other children there it’s even worse.

She’s still little so I don’t expect to be the mum sitting at the benches whilst my kid gets on with it just yet. But I’d at least like to relax a little whilst we’re there so we could go more often. I know if we did she’d also learn how to navigate things better and maybe learn to take a beat before leaping.

Any tips? Any former playground anxious parents found a way through?

Thank you!

Some great suggestions @Letstaketotheskies , thank you!
Love the trike idea! Both for the helmet which might make me a little less fearful but also we have the standard issue of meltdowns trying to leave sometimes, which if I’m honest is an added stress to going. Having thought about your suggestion I’m wondering if having a more fun way to get there and back (I currently take her in a pram as it’s just a little too far and traffic-y for her to walk there herself) might be an incentive when leaving.

Good notes on taking a beat if/when she does fall. I actually used to be more like this when she started walking and would often wait to see her reaction when she would take an inevitable tumble. Frankly hardly any falls would bother her and she’d often just dust herself off and carry on. Not sure when I started to be so fearful again but I’ll be more mindful of this going forward.

That’s such a kind thing to say @theleavesfall , thank you ❤️
I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels that way about softplay 😂 Plus she seemed to catch something every time we went! Nature walk sounds much more appealing!

If you go to soft play, get there as it opens and it's quiet. Then you can go round with her or see her better.

I can only do soft play in the first hour. It's just too much after that!

Why don't you make a time for the playground so it becomes a routine that you go every day? Again, if it makes you anxious get it out of the way early. The more regular it becomes the less stressful it will feel, rather than building it up every time.

As she gets a bit bigger and you don't need to hover so much, I found taking a cup of tea in a thermal mug helped my park experience. It becomes a bit of something for you too. Maybe to start with take a little snack and a drink you can both have together at the end so you associate some comfortable feelings with it too.

@Optionally yes I’ve noticed a difference in her when we go! We’ve had some challenges with big emotions and standard toddler pushback and that big drive to be independent, but she seems less emotional (or at least less overflowing with it!) when we get out of the house and some fresh air and a run around in the morning. I think working up to it is a good call. I’ll take some of the very great advice from all the lovely posters and see what we can work up to :)

I also found a mini picnic a useful bribe to get mine to leave without having to do the toddler barrel carry to get them away!

@Calmdown14 lovely suggestion about making it an experience and taking a cuppa something for me as well. I always have snacks on hand because our other hurdle was getting her to leave and frankly I’d used them as bribery (fully appreciate this is not how to do it and can possibly cause associations with food etc so have kept it for extreme circumstances). But perhaps if it was part of a little routine of ours, she’s essentially going to have a morning snack anyway so why not do it there or on our way out. I love the thought of it!

@Calmdown14 oooh mini picnic even better! 😍 Love it

@Singleandproud same, would always be running home with scrapes and bruises!
Good call on having a first aid kit, I’ve always taken a nappy change to the park (not tackled potty training yet) and not once have I had to use it. Should definitely add a mini first aid kit, that should keep the scrapes away 😂