Adventure playgrounds and leaving children without their parents

[ReallyTired]

Our local authority has 4 adventure playgrounds. They are fenced and run by playworkers. They have fanastic facilites, appartus for climbing, painting activites, lots of toys, dens to play in and programme of activites for the children in the school holidays.

It is completely free and you can leave your children there to be looked after by playworkers provided they are between the ages of 6 and 12. The idea is that the children can gain in independence and get the advantages of playing out on the street without the dangers.

I think its brilliant, but a friend of mine accused me of being a bad parent. She thinks its child neglet not to stay with your child even if the child is 12 years old because the children are able to walk out the playground if they choose to.

My son loves playing with his friends and I think its better for him than watching TV. He is six years old, but a very sensible 6 year old. I am confident that I trust him not to leave the playground without me.

Wow, where is this? Sounds fantastic! Our local council is going to try and bring in something similar soon - park-keepers and the like to try and encourage children to play in the park without their parents. Brilliant idea

your friend isn't up to date. adventure playgrounds are the way forward. they allow children to just get on with playing alone, sorting out their own battles etc.

OMG it sounds marvellous

do you care what your friend says? she obviously is a bit barmy

What a great idea.

Your friend is being slightly nobbish ott.

Message withdrawn

I wish we had something like that near us.

wow what a fab idea. where is this? would love this for dd when she is 6!

Your friend is a dimwit who reads too many tabloids and/or crappy parenting books. CHildren today spend far too little time not being watched over by their parents, yet the danger to children from evil-minded strangers is no greater than it has been at any time in the last 100 years or so.

TBH I would be concerned about young children being allowed to just leave the playground with no one checking who they are going with and where too. I wouldn't leave a 6 year old with such relaxed "supervision".

Not sure what age I would be comfortable with this - but would probably from about 10y if child was sensible.

playworkers have to be trained and why would they just let a child in their care to walk out?

they're also trained to help out if a child needs help in anything physical or emotional.

Our local council run these playschemes - they are great for bored kids in holidays, but are NOT replacements for daycare, so they have to stress the "Kids can leave" bit. You have to know your own kids, and agree to meet them at a particular time. The staff DO try and get them to wait for you though - never heard of any problems.

The website says "Easter and Summer. Playschemes are a FREE 'DROP-IN' facility for 8 to 13 year olds, open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed at lunchtime. Places are filled on a 'first come, first served basis'. 'DROP-IN' means there are NOT full childcare facilities and children are able to leave unaccompanied. Playschemes offer a full range of activities for children. On site activities there are 12 children to 1 member of staff, if the children are taken to the park then the ratio is 8 children to 1 member of staff. All staff wear ID badges and uniforms to make them easy to recognise."

Isn't there a playground like this in Holland Park? I've never used it, beut hav a feeling there is.

Can't parent's sit nearby to watch if their kids come out or need something?

If your children are in the habit of just wandering off from places without you, better make sure they are never out of earshot

what is to stop them from just wandering out of your house and down the street while you're in the loo or something?

All the playworkers are CRB checked, I think the children are safe from evil minded strangers in the playground as it is well supervised. The adventure playground employs 5 playworkers at peak times.

I have to admit I felt a bit nervous that my son would be tempted to go off and explore the streets. Its not evil minded strangers that worry me as so much traffic.

However he was good and did exactly as he was told. Its a real balance between supervision and allowing children the chance to explore and develop independence.

ditto school
the gates aren't usually locked are they?
does your friend think it's ok to leave a 12 year old at school?

TBH DD isn't the type to wander off or anything, but as she is only just 6y I do tend to have her either supervised or in a safe play area where she can't just leave without someone knowing about it. She doesn't play out on the street or par alone for example. Maybe I am overprotective, but it doesn't seem to be doing her any harm. It certainly didn't do me any harm.

As she gets older she can and will have more independence and freedom, but at 6yo I persoanlly thing it is too young.

I would let DD use such a playground, but I would be supervising. At the only similar kind of thing I know of locally children HAVE to be supervised, albeit from a picnic or cafe area.

but they can do this if they choose to at school, or at home Kerry

at times when you are not in the same room as them

I think this is a fantastic idea too. Wish their was something like this where I lived. I think your friend is being a bit ott.
Kerrymum - I can understand your concern but ultimately it's down to knowing your own child. If they are confident and sensible enough not to wander off on their on or to leave with a stranger then where's the problem. Difficult though it is we all have to let go and give them a bit of freedom sometime. I do appreciate that all childre are different and while some 6 year old are capable of this others aren't.

they ahv this in Richmond (Marble Hill) with toddler play area beside it. Never thought dd was old enough......don't like idea that she could leave on her own though

At DD's school they cannot just walk out of school unnoticed. All the year groups are supervised at play times.

surely if you tell them you don't want you son to leave they'd adhere to it anyway.

'open' play areas allow children to come and go when they want, it's meant to also provide a safe place for children who do wander the street alot, alone - somewhere to gather.

we're closing enough youth centers.