Do some parents really avoid parks and playgrounds with young children?

[MintyElephant]

Just a curious on this - I was at a family gathering on my husbands side. One of his cousins has 2 young children (we have 2 also) we were at a restaurant that had a play area outside and my children were on it, one of hers was on the climbing frame, we were chatting for a bit then she said ‘god I hate climbing frames, I hate parks, I never take my boys, they would just get dirty and climb like this, I’m going to get him off in a bit’
I didn’t have time to answer her or react as she then just changed the subject and started talking about something else.

I have never met a parent who’s said they ‘don’t like parks’ and don’t take their children to them.

We are playground lovers, as are our children, always at our local one.

just curious, any other parents who also don’t like them and so simply don’t take their children? What is it you don’t like? I honestly think she is being a bit selfish just because she doesn’t like them doesn’t mean her sons wouldn’t. What child doesn’t love a playground?

I’ve never met any parenrs like that - but given we spend a lot of time at the park; they wouldn’t be there to meet!! I honestly don’t know what to do most days apart from parks, thats free. I don’t care about dirt though, and I would rather my child was dirty and outside in the fresh air. Obviously I don’t love being there all the time but I find it far easier than entertaining my toddler at home. And she sleeps better if she’s had lots of running around

I take my children to them, but I don’t like them 😂

Me. I agree with your cousin.
Playgrounds and parks are very overrated and I found them boring.

The people I know who hates parks tend to hate people generally. (Half the time including their kids!)

What they really hate is meeting someone that might have to chit chat with.

I hate hate hate playgrounds and soft play areas. I took him once or twice but he wasn’t arsed either thankfully. He preferred playing with his toys with his friends at home, he loved a theme park or a water park abroad but swings and climbing frames bored him!

I mean, no parent exactly loves hanging round the park for hours but wtf to her complaining about it being dirty. Her poor kids, what other normal childhood stuff will they not get to do because of dirt?

I take mine to parks and playgrounds all the time. I don’t enjoy it though 😂. We all do things we don’t enjoy for the sake of our kids though.

Do your children enjoy them?

They’re not aimed at adults 😂

Honestly, I know the parents of toddlers who only seem to leave the house on special occasions or to visit family at their homes, so I’m not totally surprised.

I speak as someone with a 2 year old that needs exercising twice a day like a dog, so we’re often at the park. I find it tedious while I still have to follow him round making sure he’s safe, but if like your friend I could relax and chat with an eye on him then I think the park would be my favourite place on earth.

We didn't go very often. We had quite a lot of stuff in the garden (swing, playhouse, toys in the garage) and so we were all happy to play at home. I had no issue with them when we did go, usually with friends.

I don’t like parks. We go to them but I don’t enjoy it. I don’t mind them getting muddy or grubby or falling over but we live somewhere with lots of outdoor spaces and I’d rather a walk than the park. My DC insist on imaginary play in the park which usually involves one of them standing at the top of the slide doing pretend pizza shops or something. They can do that just as well at home or elsewhere. DS hates swings, roundabouts and seesaws (motion sickness made) so he prefers the idea of parks to the reality.

Boring to us yes as they’re made for children 😅

Do some people genuinely find it hard to understand that other people are allowed to have different opinions?

I hate going to play areas, not proper parks with lakes, field, trees etc, the children's playground type. I tolerate them for DS , but I can't think of much worse as an adult than standing around a playground making small talk while ds charges around. Quite happy to go for a long walk, play cricket etc, or cycle, but can't wait for DS to age out of play parks. They get all the exercise while you just stand around bored

I am not fond of most parks because most are not truly accessible so there is very little my child can play on. We need wheelchair accessible equipment and that is sadly lacking in many areas.

I took mine but never really fancy the park. The park with a guy selling coffee from a small van was better than the other parks.

Hated standing around cold parks but dc loved them. They are free and an easy place to meet friends because your house is kept clean.

Gross motor skills are so important for developing fine motor skills and the playground was the easiest place to support this.

Fucking loathe parks. God they’re so boring for adults. I do take them, but yes I avoid them if I can.

SIL. She dressed her sons in matching outfits, didn’t want them getting dirty. Never even kicked a ball…

This is me, I can't think of anything worse than making small talk with other parents 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Agree with this so much. And drives me mad when I see the equipment locked away or abused. Was in one recently where loads of equipment was adapted (a roundabout with a wheelchair space and a huge seesaw a wheelchair could be rolled onto) was fabulous because the children could play with those that did not actually need the equipment.

I hated parks and avoided taking my young children. Dog shit, pushy kids, rubbish and boring AF for me. We had a fairly big garden so filled it with much better stuff.

Don't mind the park now they're old enough to do everything themselves and I can read my book/ignore them for half an hour. So relieved to be out of the pushing swing years. So dull.

When mine were little, if I could find something ANYTHING to do rather than go to the park I would. But as a last resort I would take them!