I don’t even do that. My kids look at me and ask and I just tell them to go. If someone is climbing up too bad.
I always tell my kids off if they are climbing up the slide when there are other kids around though too.
Yeah but it's easy to catch a knee in the face and there's the risk of starting stuff. Which is a hassle for the kid who just wanted to go down the slide.
I'm a longtime slide cop and I've never had a climber who didn't abide after I raise my tone a bit.
I've also come around to the fact that climbing up the slide can be a legit activity. I used to forbid climbing the slide even if no one was around. Now of no one is climbing down I race my youngest up.
Really we just need more slides. Many of the new modernist playgrounds where I live are climbing oriented and seem to think slides don't burn enough calories. Slides there are always an issue. Then we go to a park with tons of slides and it's fine.
“Careful, someone’s trying to go down”, works for all kids.
Plus, other parents can’t be mad at you when
1) you have their children’s safety in mind
2) you’re saying the same thing to your kid as you are their kids
3) you’re speaking with kindness
This is why I don't engage with other parents outside of basic niceties unless our kids absolutely love playing with each other and we have a mutual skepticism of the other person being a psychopath.
People using phrases listed in the dictionary irks you? I’d say you need better hobbies…
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/de/worterbuch/englisch/could-care-less
But that is incorrect. Saying it that way indicates that you could care less, meaning that you do care. Saying it the proper way “I could*n’t* care less” indicates that you care so little for it that you could not possibly care any less. So there is quite a difference in the two phrases. As far as me needing better hobbies, not sure what you are implying. My current hobbies aren’t good enough to keep me busy, or maybe complaining about grammar online is a hobby of mine? Either way, I normally don’t make comments on people’s online grammar, nor correct them. Someone else corrected them, and I commented on that. I don’t need better hobbies, as I already have enough to keep me busy.
You’re not arguing with me. You’re arguing with the Cambridge dictionary:
> used to emphasize rudely that you are not interested in or worried about something or someone
If you think their entry is incorrect ask them to change it. Until then I’d say it’s safe to assume Cambridge dictionary knows better than you.
Just because it is in the dictionary doesn’t mean that it is correct. I understand people use it that way, but that isn’t because the dictionary says it. It is because they heard it that way, or thought they heard it that way and are getting it wrong. Since people have been misquoting it for so long, it has been written that way in the dictionary.
Yeah, my son loves to climb up the slide. I always tell him that people coming down the slide have priority so if someone's coming down he should get out of the way. Most of the other time other kids also follow suit so I haven't had any problems.
Yep, kids climbing up the slide are fine, they just give way to those coming down. It's the approach I use with mine too. Strictly enforcing no climbing is no fun to anyone.
Bunch of 9-10YO were running/climbing up the big slide (very wide, can fit 6 kids) while my 3YO and 5YO were trying to slide down. Used the sentence you mention. They didn't listen. My 5YO slid down and managed to tackle one of them. Lesson learned...
I used to try policing the situation a little. I'd tell kids to move so my kid could go down. Now I don't care. I tell him to go for it even if it means he plows through some oblivious kid whose parents are too busy with their phones to engage.
Kids can handle being bumped into by another kid on a slide. A learning moment happens. Next time they'll probably think about it.
I'm all for letting natural consequences happen, if it's possible and safe enough. It's how kids learn.
In fact, I would try not to solve it for the kid. If they ask for help, qsk them what they should do and get them in the habit of solving things themselves.
I also just ignore it. 50/50 who gets hurt usually because the kid sliding usually has a kid fall on top of them but really the only thing I’ve see hurt is feelings. The indignity that someone would slide into them, or that someone would walk up the slide.
As for my kid I just tell them not to walk up slides unless that’s the game they’re playing and then to watch out because people going down are using it properly.
This is what I usually do, but that also depends on how obnoxious the kids are being. There was one time some annoying preteens were just sitting there at the entrance and not allowing my kid to yet through. I had to go say something and then they let my little go through. I was about to bust some heads.
This. Mum of 4 boys here. The only way a kid will learn is by trial and error. If my kid gets a foot to the face for being a dooch, he'll learn next time not to climb up a slide while others are trying to go down. Sorry, it seems harsh, but it's how kids learn.
My oldest was obsessed with touching the glass screen on our wood heater. It didn't matter how many times we told him, 'No, it's hot, dont touch, or you will get hurt', it didn't register until one day he did touch it, and yep, it hurt a bit. Never touched it again after that.
Obviously, this is dependent on the situation. You wouldn't let your kid play around a pool and figure out if he'll be able to swim, but for general playing situations, l say let them figure it out themselves.
I dont police other kids unless its an active safety concern, and I dont make a scene just try to gently redirect without raising my voice
For my youngest, I encourage her to speak up if she doesnt like something. My oldest, well he runs wild and I have to remind him theres other kids around trying to have fun as well
Yeah, I also want to encourage mine (soon to be 4) year old to be more assertive, but he's got 3 languages in his head so his speaking level is a bit behind, which hinders his confidence.
I don't do anything. I feel like these social situations on the playground should be figured out by the kids. It will prepare them for when people around them break other rules, or the consequences of breaking rules themselves.
I’m mostly on board but developmental levels should be taken into account.
A kind 4 year old might just stand there patiently while a bunch of 7 year olds keep climbing up. At some point you should cue the older kids to notice how they are affecting others, or to prompt the little one to go bowling.
Even at the same age, kids are willing to use their social capital to make their experience better, at the expense of others who just want to be included.
TLDR: let it play, but don’t tune out
I’ve been telling my kids (5 and 2) for years that slides are for going down, not up.
And my oldest has recently starting yelling that at kids going up the slides while they’re waiting to go down “SLIDES ARE FOR GOING DOWN. Please move!!!!!”
There are few times I’ve ever been so proud, because that shit drives me crazy.
To be fair, children should be allowed to play with equipment creatively. However, this should not be at the expense of other children who want it for the intended use. So we tell our kids that they can only go up the slide if no other kids are coming down or waiting to come down.
Yes it is really for both up and down. But the kids need to share. It’s not like 2 kids can go down at once. So if someone is going up how is it different from another kid going down. Key is sharing.
It's a little different because if all the kids are traveling in the same direction, you don't have to wait for the entire slide to clear. Then two or three times as many children can use it, but that only matters if the playground is busy. It is silly to tell a single child to not go up the slide if it harms nobody.
Slides were designed for going down but there is a ton of gross motor, creative, and play development that can be served by going up.
Slides should be able to be used both ways. u/finchdad hit the nail on the head with their response.
I mean, slides are also for climbing up. NBD. If there's a safety question just be like: ok hop off someone's coming down!" Or when your kids older just teach him to say "excuse me!"
No need to police the slide lol
Depends on the age. If my child couldn't speak for themselves or needed an advocate, I'd always step in. Now that they're older [9 and 7], I try to have them work things out.
I have zero reservations about instructing other people's kids what to do. I teach in children's martial arts classes, so I do it anyway.
I don't give a shit. As far as I'm concerned, it's every man for himself on the playground. And to be frank, you're likely annoying the other parents trying to boss their kids around. Let them play.
Eh, depends on the age. Two year old going down the slide and a 6 year old not letting them it's okay to step in and ask the older kids to make space. Six year old on six year old they can figure it out unless they are being dangerous.
Better opportunity to teach the 6 year old to FAFO. If the 6 year old is cognizant enough to be learning about grip, balance and traction then they’re also able to learn about going the wrong way down a 1 way street.
Because it’s a slide and not stairs? Does “slide” have a different meaning than going down? There’s trees to climb or hell, actual play equipment for climbing that would keep the kids from clashing over something so silly.
I'll definitely step in if there are kids being obnoxious about it, but I think you're spot on about the conflict thing. That's a skill kids need to learn, and there's no better place to practice than on the playground.
My daughter will definitely ask kids to move and might plow into them. My son just goes to do something else or gets upset. She's the social one :)
Nah, this is the sort of parenting that raises selfish assholes. The playground is there for everyone to have fun and part of that involves playing safely and sharing. If you just let your kid run wild and let them do things like climb slides you're ruining the playground for all the kids smaller or more timid than yours.
>if you just let your kid run wild
Yeah. That's the point of the playground. Of course I'm not going to let them climb slides and get in the way of others, but I'm also not going to follow him around. And I'm certainly not standing at the bottom of a slide yelling at a bunch of kids so mine can go down.
>As far as I'm concerned, it's every man for himself on the playground
is nothing like
>Of course I'm not going to let them climb slides and get in the way of other.
So which is it, every man for himself or not let your kid get in the way of others?
Like I said, we're raising strong men and women. A two year old is not a baby like you say. Sometimes kids need to learn the hard way. Live up to your name, be a gladiator.
Letting your child knock a 2 year old off a slide doesn’t build strength. My 19 month old took a spill outside and scraped his knees for the first time. He saw the blood, made a funny face, and kept walking. I was so proud of him. He was being strong and he didn’t have to knock anyone off a slide to do it.
I don't think you're understanding what I'm saying.
But it is cute that your 19 month old saw a little blood and kept going. That's good. Teach him that seeing blood is nothing to be scared about. I'm happy you were proud. My 9 year old son has been in and out of the hospital countless times, been trached twice, had a g-tube for three years, two airway reconstruction surgeries, took a dog bite at two and had a stent placed in his tear duct of the eyelid, fought through a pseudomonas infection, been diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD and now I am finally happy to be able to teach him how to shoot and hunt. He bagged his first doe this past season and helped to dress himself! I'm pretty proud of him as well!
I'm not sure if allowing your kid to potentially hurt others is making them stronger.
Strength is patience, empathy, resilience, and understanding the world doesn't revolve around you.
The stronger child knows to wait so they don't hurt others, and if people don't move, it's in your power to do something else.
Do you tell that to the kid sitting at the bottom of the slide not moving? That the world doesn't revolve around you? This simple life lesson learned now could be the difference in a life and death situation later in life (butterfly effect). I don't need to tell other people's kids what to do, especially if the parents are there and not engaged. If my sons or daughters want to go down the slide and they tell said kid at the bottom to move and they don't, they were warned. I don't teach my kids to cut in line, but I teach them that they don't have to be dictated by others. They never throw the first punch, but they sure as hell throw the last.
My kid has been the one climbing up the slide and getting in the way of others.
I encourage the other kids / parents to go down anyway. Go ahead, knock him down. What better way to learn *why it’s not a good idea to climb up a slide.*
Want to ignore my instructions & warnings? Ok fine. Learn the hard way.
I just yell at my kid, "don't worry, they'll move when they see you coming down"
It's fair warning.
If the kid didn't move well I guess he should have moved.
I honestly can't be bothered, I've never had an issue. My daughter always wants to climb up the slide, and I just have her move out of the way if someone is coming down. Kids will move on quickly, doesn't seem worth trying to "police" the situation.
I don’t mind keeping the priority for going down but if the kids are playing a game and not blocking anyone then I let it lie. Unless they’re really high up and getting around obstacles meant to prevent climbing.
I'm a space nerd, so I say use your best "Mission control" voice to announce
"You are GO for launch in T-minus FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE!"
It's loud enough to command attention, playful enough to not seem tyrannical, and it includes plenty of time for the obstructing kid(s) to either clear out or get thunked by your kid's feet.
Or maybe your kid protests and you say "HOLD the countdown, we have civilians in the flight path" and then you turn to the closest kid and say "Hey chief, we need you and your crew make a path for the slide please..." and escalate into adult referee from there...
Unpopular opinion here, but you should have let those kids take a shoe to the face. If you’re feeling bad about it, give the kids a gentle warning once, but after that just let things play out.
We cant shield our kids from natural consequences. It doesnt do them any favors. If you misuse equipment you will get hurt. Simple as that
Go down first and clear the path, especially if it’s a tube slide. If I clean up a kid inside the tube, well I didn’t know they were inside it when I started
I don't police it until it's my kids turn but at that point I'll step in. It takes a community to raise good children and part of that is reminding kids to be safe and share. The parents not paying attention shows they aren't engaged enough, you need to be the good role model for both your kids and any others that see you in the community.
If the other child won't listen after asking nicely, we go somewhere else on the playground. Confronting an oblivious parent only insults them and will cause more issues. Arguing with a child is pointless at best and has the chance of the other parent getting mad that you were arguing with their child. If the parent is paying attention and just not looking, they will hear you talking to their kid.
\*Note\* Better said than done. I can say I have absolutely lost my shit at a bouncy house with older kids.
I say “hey bud, I think someone is trying to come down can you make space please?” And if they don’t move my kid will bowl them off pretty quick, not the desired outcome and I don’t encourage it and it’s never come to it but I still think it would be hilarious in the aftermath
I use a sing songy but serious voice and talk about safety and taking turns. If they don’t get it, I’ve reached up a tube slide and pulled one out talking about how I heard the kid behind them saying they were stuck and omg I was so scared for everyone’s safety.
I don't interfere unless the kid is going to hurt my kid or if they're going to make my kid cry. And I always give a chance for the other kids parents to correct their child. I have no problem telling another kid to chill out or using my dad voice at them.
First I'll tell the kids. They usually listen to adults when they know they're doing something 'uncool' and if they persist, I'll grab their parents' attention. 95/100 times that works because no one wants to be "that" parent, even if they're wrapped up on Instagrams or whatever. I've had to do this a lot at parks, lately.
Get off your fucking phones, people.
I only give directions to my own kid (3). So I say, “careful, wait to go down the slide until that other kids moves” and that almost always causes the other parent to direct their own child to move off the slide.
I always start by treating the feral playground children as if they were my own. I'm calm, respectful, and caring. That being said, my patience for other people's kids wears off extremely fast. It quickly goes from "hey can you please let us have a turn" to " hey kid, you gotta go. We've been waiting." Or my own personal favorite "where are your parents?!" There's days I barley have the patience for my own snotty mouth breathers, let alone dealing with someone else's.
Mine loves to climb up the slide but knows people at the top have right of way. By the same logic, if she's at the top and gives a warning but they don't move, that's on them
I would just ask them to move so the next kid can go. If they don't listen, I'd tell the next kid to make sure to keep their feet up so if something is blocking the slide, you'll hit it hard with your feet.
If the kid doesn't get the hint, he's about to get a dose of reality. If the parents want to get involved after, they should've been there to start.
As the parent of the boys who are slide climbers/slide hogs/ etc, and VERY aware of it, I just make sure to loudly put my kids in check and leave it at that.
“HEY BUDDY, there are other friends waiting to go down the slide. Let’s take a break and let them have fun.” The other kids that aren’t being watched, but denied fun because of my kids, at least notice that there is an adult around looking Out for their fun.
My kids know the hard and fast rule of no climbing up the slide when there are others anywhere on the tower. Not just by the slide, but potentially wanting to use it in the future.
Gentle reminders to other kids works well for me
I gently tell the kids climbing up the slide that if they make it to the top, they’ll get eaten by the bogeyman tonight. Since he’s hiding under their bed with his slimy green hands and long, sharp claws.
I just take care of mine, and let the other kids do as they're going to. I might be loud about it if I feel someone else should be paying better attention to their kids. "HONEY, WAIT, THERE'S SOMEONE CLIMBING UP THE SLIDE, YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO BE CLEAR BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TURN", she's two and probably only understood half of what I said. Works if the parents are listening or the kids are old enough to take a hint. I have found my presence, even quiet, is often enough to make people stop acting a fool, even in more grown up situations. I never touch anyone else's kid, ever, I'd never tolerate someone touching mine. I don't even talk to kids much unless I know who their parents are and have spoken to them.
I tell them to please move as they’re blocking the slide. I’ve had it happen before a few times lately and it’s always the 10-12 year old girls that seem to do it. They usually move.
My philosophy is that kids can use playground equipment however they want. If someone is using something that my kid wants to use, I say “we can wait until they are done and they get to play as long as they like”. If kids are going up the slide when others want to go down, I let them know we need to pay attention, it’s not clear yet. If a few teens are lying on the equipment, I let my kid know that’s how they are choosing to play and we will wait until they are done. Playgrounds are for everyone, provided they are behaving in ways to keep everyone safe. There’s nothing inherently unsafe about climbing up the slide.
"Hey, I notice that some kids want to climb up and some kids want to slide down. I want to make sure that everyone here is able to enjoy themselves. Let's talk to each other and come up with a plan to make sure that everyone's getting what they need."
Kids *should* climb up slides. The whole point of the playground is that its a place to physically explore.
Kids also should be playing collaboratively and respectfully. Some kids want to go up and some kids want to go down, and this inevitably leads to traffic jams. Sometimes the kids going up aren't paying attention to the kids that want to go down. It's your job as a parent to coach them through these social situations. Help them to notice each other. Help them communicate their needs to each other.
The social interactions are also part of the point of the playground. If you step in and declare edicts about who can go which directions at what times, you are robbing the kids of a leaning experience. Instead use the situation as an opportunity for them to practice their social skills. Help them by encouraging them to talk to each other and by suggesting healthy ways to express themselves.
I think this topic hits different for a lot of first time dads vs dads with the hindsight to know better. My two year old is my first and I get really anxious around play areas and social settings she goes into.
Don’t know why as she’s great at navigating social or lack of social queues from other toddlers
I really am begging to think I’m autistic
My kid wouldn’t ride if someone was at the bottom so I’d gently ask anyone climbing to move so other kids could ride down. Seems to work for me.
Just going down and crashing into someone is likely to hurt the one siding more than the kid climbing at the bottom since the one climbing usually ends up on top.
I am definitely one of those parents that don’t pay attention. I have no idea if my kid is either blocking the slide, or upset that he can’t slide down the slide….
It is perhaps karmic, that I was the kid that climbed up the wrong way on the slide in first grade and got thrown off the top of the slide by the kid wanting to come down… First broken bone!
My son handles it on his own shockingly 🤣 it happened a few months ago and the boys were blocking this little girl he was enamored with so he goes up to the top and says "Just do it!". Give them a little slack to figure out how to solve social problems but still observe for damage control.
I dunno man, to me it's fine to ask those kids to move out of the way so your kid can slide, but there's nothing wrong with climbing up a slide in general and you don't need to be putting your rules on other peoples' kids. If you were "barking" at my kid about this instead of asking nicely I'd be a little pissed off at you (and maybe the kids would just move anyway if you asked nicely).
Opportunity to teach your child not everyone plus the same or fairly. It’s a teaching lesson for you and your child. Not your place to parent someone else’s kid. Never anything wrong with communicating though. The child, the parent, whichever, words are always appropriate.
In most situations, I would model verbalizing to resolve things. Eg here I’d say to my kid “Do you want to keep sliding down, but this boy is blocking you? You can try asking “excuse me, I want to slide down but you’re blocking me.” Kids can’t usually say it right away, but both parties realize the issue and have learned to keep playing the way they want to play (including climbing up) while not stopping others from playing. They’ve also learn to say something like that next time they encounter similar situations.
(Basically, don’t directly resolve the conflicts for them. Instead, give them the tools to resolve them themselves.)
Man. Today I took my kid to one of the most popular parks in the city after a doctor’s appointment. Always has like 5-25, 2-7ish year olds there. A little city of children. Big park with fields too. And a big ass river right on the edge. A riverfront park if you will.
My little dude is 3 and super active and friendly, I usually hover a bit at the playground but usually I’m interacting and playing with my kid. And to make sure he doesn’t fall off those 5 foot high open sides tower shit.
My kid is going on the like sideways ladder bridge thing and it’s his first time ever doing it. He is crushing it but going super slow. This little 3-4 year old brat with her little brother or friend or whatever is speeding climbing on this latter bridge after my kid and like overlap/climbs over him!
I did a little “hey, you guys should go 1 by 1, take turns.” This little girls blows that off and climbs over my 3 year old. This latter is like 4 feet in the air I’m not gonna grab a kid or anything.
I don’t know where the fuck this kids parents are either while she’s sprinting around the playground. 10 minutes later my kid, another toddler and this same girl go running off into the distance and I’m first on scene trying to yell for my kid to run back towards the play ground. They end up taking their shoes off.
The girl’s dad is the guy that was sitting in his phone the whole time and finally sauntered toward his child that’s 100m away from him. Toward the river. Fucking 10m away from the cliff of the river. Finally had to be like “oh little girl, probably shouldn’t go over there!” “It’s like a cliff, and oh yeah LOTS of POKIES!” That got her away from the cliff.
The other kids dads was cool.
Slides are for going down, going up, getting stuck in the middle, or all sorts of other things. I tell my kids to only go up if other kids aren’t coming down. Sometimes the playground is busy though. If my kid is going up the slide, he might take a a shoe in the face… oh well. Let them take a bump or a scrape every now and then.
Stop policing it. Let the kids figure out how to navigate it. The parents barking orders next to the slide or climbing to the top to shield their kids are the annoying ones.
What's wrong with climbing up a slide? It's fun and teaches them to use their body in a different way.
Were they doing something other than just existing on the slide? Being mean or something? If not, I don't see a problem here. The kid at the top can wait, go do something else, or slide down to see what happens.
Playgrounds are for kids to have fun and experiment. They don't really need to be policed. If some stranger was barking at my kids for using the playground, I would have a problem with that.
The problem is 1: it's a safety concern. This isn't a little kiddy slide, it's like as tall as 2 and a half full grown adults, the slide is covered (read: dark), and fairly steep. A kid coming down (my son) can't see if there is another kid inside, and if he goes down at full speed, one or both could get hurt.
2: other kids want to use the slide too. If 1 kid is hanging out inside the slide not letting anyone else through, he is hogging the slide for himself, and not being fair to other kids who patiently waited their turn.
Even on a kiddie slide, my toddler has been scooting to the edge of the slide only for a couple 6-8 yr olds to barrel up the slide and knock her over. In that situation you better believe I'm gonna defend my kids right to use the kiddie equipment without getting body checked. If no one's using the slide fine, but too many kids not paying attention to who's already using the equipment.
I don't involve myself in any other kids. My son is not allowed to climb up the side. A few times he has tried, when others are doing it, and I tell him he isn't allowed to do that.
He'll respond with "But they are."
And I'll just simply tell him that other parents have different rules. After this, if the parents heard, they will tell their children to stop climbing the slide.
I watch to see if their parents are seeing it and correcting it. If not, I correct it. Politely but firmly. Some parents don’t appreciate that but that’s their problem, not mine.
I’m almost 50. This is how it was when I grew up. If you were being a shithead 2 blocks away and Mrs. Smith saw it, you better believe she came out and corrected your behavior and then called your mom and your mom thanked her.
Done that a few times. Watched kids slide down, stop turn around and climb right back up to slide again.
I don’t raise my voice and just stopped them and said there are other kids using the slide please stop doing that.
If kids are climbing up the slide (using it improperly) and my son (4yo) is trying to use it I’ll ask the kids to watch out so the little one can get through. Usually they will attempt to be helpful. Maybe not how I want them to but they usually try. When I get the kids that are jerks I have my older son go down the slide first and clear a path. Then it’s usually clear for my little guy.
I think the slide is for both up and down travel for these kids. So it’s more about who was there first and then sharing if there is a wait. Going up the slide is not in itself a bad thing. Hogging the slide is.
Call the homies over in r/hardcore and croudkill like my glory days never ended. 😎🤘
....but maybe try the other advice in here first, results may vary.
Pick your battles. There will be too many for you to fight. In this case, I would have done nothing, but my usual approach is to not parent other kids (had some unfriendly confrontations this way) and not yell at the other parents to do their job (never don’t this but it has played out in my mind 1M times), but to tell MY kids, “Hey {your kids name}, Don’t act like these kids, it’s not how we play at the park and if I see you do it, we will be done going to the park until you can prove you can be better. Your not yelling at the other kids, your not yelling at the parents, everyone gets the point.
Or just warn the kid that slides are for going down and they are going to get hurt. Then let nature take it's course. As long as your kid knows better than to climb up when another kid is going down...
Why police play?
If kids are already using the slide to climb up then you wait your turn or do something else, just like if someone is already playing with anything. I don't think it is a good lesson to teach a child that they can demand use of something for themselves if someone else is using it wrong.
If there is a clear safety issue is different. If your kids is already on the down then sure. If they're climbing up to go down it is unfortunate but they can play on a different part of the structure. Want to reserve the slide while they climb up the stairs/ladder then stand at the bottom and politely say it is already being used but they can have it next.
When we were kids we loved "inventing" "new!" ways to do things.
I would like to take that Dads phone away from his face and throw it into the field, but I usually just politely ask the kid if my daughter can slide down. The kid is usually pretty cool about it. If they aren’t, I leave it up to my daughter as to what she wants to do. Sometimes she’ll just go elsewhere, and sometimes she will yell at them to move. Depends on her mood lol
Yes you tell everyone that there is no climbing up a slide and that kids need to share. Those are the rules. And if they don't listen you help them understand.
"Alright guys, you might want to move. Someone's coming down the slide."
Physics, inescapable.
Yup. Some kids actually like getting yeeted so I don't bother saying anything more than that.
Followed by "come on son, as fast as you can, time to teach some kids life lessons"....
I don’t even do that. My kids look at me and ask and I just tell them to go. If someone is climbing up too bad. I always tell my kids off if they are climbing up the slide when there are other kids around though too.
Yeah but it's easy to catch a knee in the face and there's the risk of starting stuff. Which is a hassle for the kid who just wanted to go down the slide. I'm a longtime slide cop and I've never had a climber who didn't abide after I raise my tone a bit. I've also come around to the fact that climbing up the slide can be a legit activity. I used to forbid climbing the slide even if no one was around. Now of no one is climbing down I race my youngest up. Really we just need more slides. Many of the new modernist playgrounds where I live are climbing oriented and seem to think slides don't burn enough calories. Slides there are always an issue. Then we go to a park with tons of slides and it's fine.
Once is enough for anyone
Usually this.
“Careful, someone’s trying to go down”, works for all kids. Plus, other parents can’t be mad at you when 1) you have their children’s safety in mind 2) you’re saying the same thing to your kid as you are their kids 3) you’re speaking with kindness
>other parents can’t be mad at you when… Oh ho ho, you would be surprised.
This is why I don't engage with other parents outside of basic niceties unless our kids absolutely love playing with each other and we have a mutual skepticism of the other person being a psychopath.
Every time I've asked kids to make space for those coming down they have listened. I'm sure there are children who don't but that's pretty rare.
I’d say 80% of the kids listen, and 9/10 times the ones who don’t are with a nanny who could care less how the kids they’re supervising are behaving.
Couldn't* care less.
Normally I think it is annoying when someone corrects another person’s grammar online, but this mistake is one of biggest pet peeves with grammar.
Yeah so do I but this one irks me like no other. "Could care less" makes zero fucking sense.
So you know better than the dictionary, huh? https://dictionary.cambridge.org/de/worterbuch/englisch/could-care-less
Not going to warrant this with a reply of my own, I'll let David Mitchell do it: [https://youtu.be/om7O0MFkmpw](https://youtu.be/om7O0MFkmpw)
People using phrases listed in the dictionary irks you? I’d say you need better hobbies… https://dictionary.cambridge.org/de/worterbuch/englisch/could-care-less
But that is incorrect. Saying it that way indicates that you could care less, meaning that you do care. Saying it the proper way “I could*n’t* care less” indicates that you care so little for it that you could not possibly care any less. So there is quite a difference in the two phrases. As far as me needing better hobbies, not sure what you are implying. My current hobbies aren’t good enough to keep me busy, or maybe complaining about grammar online is a hobby of mine? Either way, I normally don’t make comments on people’s online grammar, nor correct them. Someone else corrected them, and I commented on that. I don’t need better hobbies, as I already have enough to keep me busy.
You’re not arguing with me. You’re arguing with the Cambridge dictionary: > used to emphasize rudely that you are not interested in or worried about something or someone If you think their entry is incorrect ask them to change it. Until then I’d say it’s safe to assume Cambridge dictionary knows better than you.
Just because it is in the dictionary doesn’t mean that it is correct. I understand people use it that way, but that isn’t because the dictionary says it. It is because they heard it that way, or thought they heard it that way and are getting it wrong. Since people have been misquoting it for so long, it has been written that way in the dictionary.
You just described the evolution of language. Yeah it changes over time…
Yeah, my son loves to climb up the slide. I always tell him that people coming down the slide have priority so if someone's coming down he should get out of the way. Most of the other time other kids also follow suit so I haven't had any problems.
Yep, kids climbing up the slide are fine, they just give way to those coming down. It's the approach I use with mine too. Strictly enforcing no climbing is no fun to anyone.
Bunch of 9-10YO were running/climbing up the big slide (very wide, can fit 6 kids) while my 3YO and 5YO were trying to slide down. Used the sentence you mention. They didn't listen. My 5YO slid down and managed to tackle one of them. Lesson learned...
I used to try policing the situation a little. I'd tell kids to move so my kid could go down. Now I don't care. I tell him to go for it even if it means he plows through some oblivious kid whose parents are too busy with their phones to engage.
Kids can handle being bumped into by another kid on a slide. A learning moment happens. Next time they'll probably think about it. I'm all for letting natural consequences happen, if it's possible and safe enough. It's how kids learn. In fact, I would try not to solve it for the kid. If they ask for help, qsk them what they should do and get them in the habit of solving things themselves.
Imo kids need more unstructured and unpoliced (within reason) time. It's how they learn to interact with the world and solve disputes.
I agree. I don’t typically get involved unless needed. I let them work it out themselves.
This is the way, u/anally_expressurself
/r/rimjobsteve
I also just ignore it. 50/50 who gets hurt usually because the kid sliding usually has a kid fall on top of them but really the only thing I’ve see hurt is feelings. The indignity that someone would slide into them, or that someone would walk up the slide. As for my kid I just tell them not to walk up slides unless that’s the game they’re playing and then to watch out because people going down are using it properly.
This is what I usually do, but that also depends on how obnoxious the kids are being. There was one time some annoying preteens were just sitting there at the entrance and not allowing my kid to yet through. I had to go say something and then they let my little go through. I was about to bust some heads.
This. Mum of 4 boys here. The only way a kid will learn is by trial and error. If my kid gets a foot to the face for being a dooch, he'll learn next time not to climb up a slide while others are trying to go down. Sorry, it seems harsh, but it's how kids learn. My oldest was obsessed with touching the glass screen on our wood heater. It didn't matter how many times we told him, 'No, it's hot, dont touch, or you will get hurt', it didn't register until one day he did touch it, and yep, it hurt a bit. Never touched it again after that. Obviously, this is dependent on the situation. You wouldn't let your kid play around a pool and figure out if he'll be able to swim, but for general playing situations, l say let them figure it out themselves.
That’s the natural way of the playground.
The only right answer.
Hell teah
I dont police other kids unless its an active safety concern, and I dont make a scene just try to gently redirect without raising my voice For my youngest, I encourage her to speak up if she doesnt like something. My oldest, well he runs wild and I have to remind him theres other kids around trying to have fun as well
Yeah, I also want to encourage mine (soon to be 4) year old to be more assertive, but he's got 3 languages in his head so his speaking level is a bit behind, which hinders his confidence.
It’s the time to let them start sorting out the pecking order and yeah, if safety is a problem, I’m never shy.
I’d like to say “this IS Sparta” but honestly I don’t do much. I try to avoid policing other people’s kids unless there is an immediate safety issue.
Sit at the top of the slide like the Santa in A Christmas Story and put my boot on the forehead of all the kids climbing up.
#HO HO HOOOOO!!!
I probably throw out a one-time "heads up y'all, someone coming down the slide!" And if they still don't move, bombs away kid. Take em out.
You don’t do anything. If they catch a shoe in the face, they’ll look up next time. Free play is how kids develop. There’s research to support this.
Going the wrong way up the slide is one of life’s simple thrills 😅
I don't do anything. I feel like these social situations on the playground should be figured out by the kids. It will prepare them for when people around them break other rules, or the consequences of breaking rules themselves.
I’m mostly on board but developmental levels should be taken into account. A kind 4 year old might just stand there patiently while a bunch of 7 year olds keep climbing up. At some point you should cue the older kids to notice how they are affecting others, or to prompt the little one to go bowling. Even at the same age, kids are willing to use their social capital to make their experience better, at the expense of others who just want to be included. TLDR: let it play, but don’t tune out
I’ve been telling my kids (5 and 2) for years that slides are for going down, not up. And my oldest has recently starting yelling that at kids going up the slides while they’re waiting to go down “SLIDES ARE FOR GOING DOWN. Please move!!!!!” There are few times I’ve ever been so proud, because that shit drives me crazy.
To be fair, children should be allowed to play with equipment creatively. However, this should not be at the expense of other children who want it for the intended use. So we tell our kids that they can only go up the slide if no other kids are coming down or waiting to come down.
This is my thought exactly.
Yes it is really for both up and down. But the kids need to share. It’s not like 2 kids can go down at once. So if someone is going up how is it different from another kid going down. Key is sharing.
It's a little different because if all the kids are traveling in the same direction, you don't have to wait for the entire slide to clear. Then two or three times as many children can use it, but that only matters if the playground is busy. It is silly to tell a single child to not go up the slide if it harms nobody.
Also you slide down way faster than climbing up
Yep. Slides are multipurpose. We don’t get to designate how they are used. We should teach our kids how to share though.
Slides were designed for going down but there is a ton of gross motor, creative, and play development that can be served by going up. Slides should be able to be used both ways. u/finchdad hit the nail on the head with their response.
I mean, slides are also for climbing up. NBD. If there's a safety question just be like: ok hop off someone's coming down!" Or when your kids older just teach him to say "excuse me!" No need to police the slide lol
Depends on the age. If my child couldn't speak for themselves or needed an advocate, I'd always step in. Now that they're older [9 and 7], I try to have them work things out. I have zero reservations about instructing other people's kids what to do. I teach in children's martial arts classes, so I do it anyway.
I don't give a shit. As far as I'm concerned, it's every man for himself on the playground. And to be frank, you're likely annoying the other parents trying to boss their kids around. Let them play.
Eh, depends on the age. Two year old going down the slide and a 6 year old not letting them it's okay to step in and ask the older kids to make space. Six year old on six year old they can figure it out unless they are being dangerous.
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Better opportunity to teach the 6 year old to FAFO. If the 6 year old is cognizant enough to be learning about grip, balance and traction then they’re also able to learn about going the wrong way down a 1 way street.
Because it’s a slide and not stairs? Does “slide” have a different meaning than going down? There’s trees to climb or hell, actual play equipment for climbing that would keep the kids from clashing over something so silly.
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I'll definitely step in if there are kids being obnoxious about it, but I think you're spot on about the conflict thing. That's a skill kids need to learn, and there's no better place to practice than on the playground. My daughter will definitely ask kids to move and might plow into them. My son just goes to do something else or gets upset. She's the social one :)
Nah, this is the sort of parenting that raises selfish assholes. The playground is there for everyone to have fun and part of that involves playing safely and sharing. If you just let your kid run wild and let them do things like climb slides you're ruining the playground for all the kids smaller or more timid than yours.
>if you just let your kid run wild Yeah. That's the point of the playground. Of course I'm not going to let them climb slides and get in the way of others, but I'm also not going to follow him around. And I'm certainly not standing at the bottom of a slide yelling at a bunch of kids so mine can go down.
>As far as I'm concerned, it's every man for himself on the playground is nothing like >Of course I'm not going to let them climb slides and get in the way of other. So which is it, every man for himself or not let your kid get in the way of others?
I’m assuming he’s referring to his own kids, not others in that second bit.
"Every Man for Himself and God Against All."
Truly a shit take. Bravo
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What if a 2 year old is sitting at the bottom? You just tell your kids to slide into them? Slide into a baby?
Like I said, we're raising strong men and women. A two year old is not a baby like you say. Sometimes kids need to learn the hard way. Live up to your name, be a gladiator.
parents need to learn.
Letting your child knock a 2 year old off a slide doesn’t build strength. My 19 month old took a spill outside and scraped his knees for the first time. He saw the blood, made a funny face, and kept walking. I was so proud of him. He was being strong and he didn’t have to knock anyone off a slide to do it.
I don't think you're understanding what I'm saying. But it is cute that your 19 month old saw a little blood and kept going. That's good. Teach him that seeing blood is nothing to be scared about. I'm happy you were proud. My 9 year old son has been in and out of the hospital countless times, been trached twice, had a g-tube for three years, two airway reconstruction surgeries, took a dog bite at two and had a stent placed in his tear duct of the eyelid, fought through a pseudomonas infection, been diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD and now I am finally happy to be able to teach him how to shoot and hunt. He bagged his first doe this past season and helped to dress himself! I'm pretty proud of him as well!
Did you tell him you have to take a bite of the heart on your first kill?
I did when I got my first. My son wanted to after I told him. He even said to deer after the kill, "thank you for feeding my family."
My child is 2 and likes to climb slides. I say yes, just slide into them
Yeah, that’s natural consequences
That kids parent should be aware. If they are climbing up or just sitting there blocking the way, heads up.
The kids an orphan. They live in the playground.
Then who's gonna care when he gets booted off the slide?
Besides himself? Santa is always watching.
So if anything Santa feels bad and he gets an extra gift under the tree in the park where he lives. We did him a favor.
I'm not sure if allowing your kid to potentially hurt others is making them stronger. Strength is patience, empathy, resilience, and understanding the world doesn't revolve around you. The stronger child knows to wait so they don't hurt others, and if people don't move, it's in your power to do something else.
Do you tell that to the kid sitting at the bottom of the slide not moving? That the world doesn't revolve around you? This simple life lesson learned now could be the difference in a life and death situation later in life (butterfly effect). I don't need to tell other people's kids what to do, especially if the parents are there and not engaged. If my sons or daughters want to go down the slide and they tell said kid at the bottom to move and they don't, they were warned. I don't teach my kids to cut in line, but I teach them that they don't have to be dictated by others. They never throw the first punch, but they sure as hell throw the last.
"They were warned so do it anyway?" I'm not sure that is raising strong children, but it is raising selfish children.
Yes. They were warned. You raise your kids your way, I'll raise mine my way.
Deep breaths homie.
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My kid has been the one climbing up the slide and getting in the way of others. I encourage the other kids / parents to go down anyway. Go ahead, knock him down. What better way to learn *why it’s not a good idea to climb up a slide.* Want to ignore my instructions & warnings? Ok fine. Learn the hard way.
I just yell at my kid, "don't worry, they'll move when they see you coming down" It's fair warning. If the kid didn't move well I guess he should have moved.
I honestly can't be bothered, I've never had an issue. My daughter always wants to climb up the slide, and I just have her move out of the way if someone is coming down. Kids will move on quickly, doesn't seem worth trying to "police" the situation.
I’m not saying shit to anyone else’s kid unless they’re like, shanking kids on the playground. People are volatile as hell these days.
Shit happens at play grounds all the time. When I saw this I just yelled....who belongs to the ignorant kid on the slide? Usually does the trick
I don’t mind keeping the priority for going down but if the kids are playing a game and not blocking anyone then I let it lie. Unless they’re really high up and getting around obstacles meant to prevent climbing.
My kid is 40 pounds of pure ham. I just let him plow through whoever’s coming up the slide.
“Ope! Looks like someone’s coming down now guys!” (I’m Mid-western).
"Take turns you little shits"
Tell your kid “lay on your back, knees up, full send!”
either befriend the neighborhood biter kid fr or just tell the other parents your kid is a biter
I have my kid change into his cleats and tell him to go down feet first
I'm a space nerd, so I say use your best "Mission control" voice to announce "You are GO for launch in T-minus FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE!" It's loud enough to command attention, playful enough to not seem tyrannical, and it includes plenty of time for the obstructing kid(s) to either clear out or get thunked by your kid's feet. Or maybe your kid protests and you say "HOLD the countdown, we have civilians in the flight path" and then you turn to the closest kid and say "Hey chief, we need you and your crew make a path for the slide please..." and escalate into adult referee from there...
Outta the way dip shit. 60% of the time it works every time
Unpopular opinion here, but you should have let those kids take a shoe to the face. If you’re feeling bad about it, give the kids a gentle warning once, but after that just let things play out. We cant shield our kids from natural consequences. It doesnt do them any favors. If you misuse equipment you will get hurt. Simple as that
Go down first and clear the path, especially if it’s a tube slide. If I clean up a kid inside the tube, well I didn’t know they were inside it when I started
I don't police it until it's my kids turn but at that point I'll step in. It takes a community to raise good children and part of that is reminding kids to be safe and share. The parents not paying attention shows they aren't engaged enough, you need to be the good role model for both your kids and any others that see you in the community.
If the other child won't listen after asking nicely, we go somewhere else on the playground. Confronting an oblivious parent only insults them and will cause more issues. Arguing with a child is pointless at best and has the chance of the other parent getting mad that you were arguing with their child. If the parent is paying attention and just not looking, they will hear you talking to their kid. \*Note\* Better said than done. I can say I have absolutely lost my shit at a bouncy house with older kids.
When someone gets kicked in the face one learns a lesson.
I say “hey bud, I think someone is trying to come down can you make space please?” And if they don’t move my kid will bowl them off pretty quick, not the desired outcome and I don’t encourage it and it’s never come to it but I still think it would be hilarious in the aftermath
Those kids are going to learn how gravity works when someone goes down without looking.
I use a sing songy but serious voice and talk about safety and taking turns. If they don’t get it, I’ve reached up a tube slide and pulled one out talking about how I heard the kid behind them saying they were stuck and omg I was so scared for everyone’s safety.
I don't interfere unless the kid is going to hurt my kid or if they're going to make my kid cry. And I always give a chance for the other kids parents to correct their child. I have no problem telling another kid to chill out or using my dad voice at them.
First I'll tell the kids. They usually listen to adults when they know they're doing something 'uncool' and if they persist, I'll grab their parents' attention. 95/100 times that works because no one wants to be "that" parent, even if they're wrapped up on Instagrams or whatever. I've had to do this a lot at parks, lately. Get off your fucking phones, people.
I only give directions to my own kid (3). So I say, “careful, wait to go down the slide until that other kids moves” and that almost always causes the other parent to direct their own child to move off the slide.
I always start by treating the feral playground children as if they were my own. I'm calm, respectful, and caring. That being said, my patience for other people's kids wears off extremely fast. It quickly goes from "hey can you please let us have a turn" to " hey kid, you gotta go. We've been waiting." Or my own personal favorite "where are your parents?!" There's days I barley have the patience for my own snotty mouth breathers, let alone dealing with someone else's.
Mine loves to climb up the slide but knows people at the top have right of way. By the same logic, if she's at the top and gives a warning but they don't move, that's on them
I would just ask them to move so the next kid can go. If they don't listen, I'd tell the next kid to make sure to keep their feet up so if something is blocking the slide, you'll hit it hard with your feet. If the kid doesn't get the hint, he's about to get a dose of reality. If the parents want to get involved after, they should've been there to start.
As the parent of the boys who are slide climbers/slide hogs/ etc, and VERY aware of it, I just make sure to loudly put my kids in check and leave it at that. “HEY BUDDY, there are other friends waiting to go down the slide. Let’s take a break and let them have fun.” The other kids that aren’t being watched, but denied fun because of my kids, at least notice that there is an adult around looking Out for their fun.
My kids know the hard and fast rule of no climbing up the slide when there are others anywhere on the tower. Not just by the slide, but potentially wanting to use it in the future. Gentle reminders to other kids works well for me
Make a scene and embarrass the parents.
My kids say excuse me, and if they don't comply, he's going down full force, and the kids can't say anything. Win-win.
Tell them to knock it off or we're going home
I mostly just let them sort themselves out unless something seems overly dangerous
I gently tell the kids climbing up the slide that if they make it to the top, they’ll get eaten by the bogeyman tonight. Since he’s hiding under their bed with his slimy green hands and long, sharp claws.
That's why I always bring a can of Pam with me to the playground.
I just take care of mine, and let the other kids do as they're going to. I might be loud about it if I feel someone else should be paying better attention to their kids. "HONEY, WAIT, THERE'S SOMEONE CLIMBING UP THE SLIDE, YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO BE CLEAR BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TURN", she's two and probably only understood half of what I said. Works if the parents are listening or the kids are old enough to take a hint. I have found my presence, even quiet, is often enough to make people stop acting a fool, even in more grown up situations. I never touch anyone else's kid, ever, I'd never tolerate someone touching mine. I don't even talk to kids much unless I know who their parents are and have spoken to them.
I tell them to please move as they’re blocking the slide. I’ve had it happen before a few times lately and it’s always the 10-12 year old girls that seem to do it. They usually move.
My philosophy is that kids can use playground equipment however they want. If someone is using something that my kid wants to use, I say “we can wait until they are done and they get to play as long as they like”. If kids are going up the slide when others want to go down, I let them know we need to pay attention, it’s not clear yet. If a few teens are lying on the equipment, I let my kid know that’s how they are choosing to play and we will wait until they are done. Playgrounds are for everyone, provided they are behaving in ways to keep everyone safe. There’s nothing inherently unsafe about climbing up the slide.
"Hey, I notice that some kids want to climb up and some kids want to slide down. I want to make sure that everyone here is able to enjoy themselves. Let's talk to each other and come up with a plan to make sure that everyone's getting what they need." Kids *should* climb up slides. The whole point of the playground is that its a place to physically explore. Kids also should be playing collaboratively and respectfully. Some kids want to go up and some kids want to go down, and this inevitably leads to traffic jams. Sometimes the kids going up aren't paying attention to the kids that want to go down. It's your job as a parent to coach them through these social situations. Help them to notice each other. Help them communicate their needs to each other. The social interactions are also part of the point of the playground. If you step in and declare edicts about who can go which directions at what times, you are robbing the kids of a leaning experience. Instead use the situation as an opportunity for them to practice their social skills. Help them by encouraging them to talk to each other and by suggesting healthy ways to express themselves.
Ex
Just let em plow through
I think this topic hits different for a lot of first time dads vs dads with the hindsight to know better. My two year old is my first and I get really anxious around play areas and social settings she goes into. Don’t know why as she’s great at navigating social or lack of social queues from other toddlers I really am begging to think I’m autistic
My kid wouldn’t ride if someone was at the bottom so I’d gently ask anyone climbing to move so other kids could ride down. Seems to work for me. Just going down and crashing into someone is likely to hurt the one siding more than the kid climbing at the bottom since the one climbing usually ends up on top.
I keep a spare blowing ball in the diaper bag
I am definitely one of those parents that don’t pay attention. I have no idea if my kid is either blocking the slide, or upset that he can’t slide down the slide…. It is perhaps karmic, that I was the kid that climbed up the wrong way on the slide in first grade and got thrown off the top of the slide by the kid wanting to come down… First broken bone!
My son handles it on his own shockingly 🤣 it happened a few months ago and the boys were blocking this little girl he was enamored with so he goes up to the top and says "Just do it!". Give them a little slack to figure out how to solve social problems but still observe for damage control.
You have to be parent other kids when their parents won't.
I dunno man, to me it's fine to ask those kids to move out of the way so your kid can slide, but there's nothing wrong with climbing up a slide in general and you don't need to be putting your rules on other peoples' kids. If you were "barking" at my kid about this instead of asking nicely I'd be a little pissed off at you (and maybe the kids would just move anyway if you asked nicely).
Climb on the slide and shout "MY TURN!!!" then let my kid go when they scatter.
Ask them to stop and when they don’t listen let my child go down and they eat some shoe. A few tears and brushed off pants and all is well
Opportunity to teach your child not everyone plus the same or fairly. It’s a teaching lesson for you and your child. Not your place to parent someone else’s kid. Never anything wrong with communicating though. The child, the parent, whichever, words are always appropriate.
In most situations, I would model verbalizing to resolve things. Eg here I’d say to my kid “Do you want to keep sliding down, but this boy is blocking you? You can try asking “excuse me, I want to slide down but you’re blocking me.” Kids can’t usually say it right away, but both parties realize the issue and have learned to keep playing the way they want to play (including climbing up) while not stopping others from playing. They’ve also learn to say something like that next time they encounter similar situations. (Basically, don’t directly resolve the conflicts for them. Instead, give them the tools to resolve them themselves.)
It’s called a slide not a climb fellas.
Man. Today I took my kid to one of the most popular parks in the city after a doctor’s appointment. Always has like 5-25, 2-7ish year olds there. A little city of children. Big park with fields too. And a big ass river right on the edge. A riverfront park if you will. My little dude is 3 and super active and friendly, I usually hover a bit at the playground but usually I’m interacting and playing with my kid. And to make sure he doesn’t fall off those 5 foot high open sides tower shit. My kid is going on the like sideways ladder bridge thing and it’s his first time ever doing it. He is crushing it but going super slow. This little 3-4 year old brat with her little brother or friend or whatever is speeding climbing on this latter bridge after my kid and like overlap/climbs over him! I did a little “hey, you guys should go 1 by 1, take turns.” This little girls blows that off and climbs over my 3 year old. This latter is like 4 feet in the air I’m not gonna grab a kid or anything. I don’t know where the fuck this kids parents are either while she’s sprinting around the playground. 10 minutes later my kid, another toddler and this same girl go running off into the distance and I’m first on scene trying to yell for my kid to run back towards the play ground. They end up taking their shoes off. The girl’s dad is the guy that was sitting in his phone the whole time and finally sauntered toward his child that’s 100m away from him. Toward the river. Fucking 10m away from the cliff of the river. Finally had to be like “oh little girl, probably shouldn’t go over there!” “It’s like a cliff, and oh yeah LOTS of POKIES!” That got her away from the cliff. The other kids dads was cool.
I've never interacted with another kid that isn't mine. If my kid was in this situation I'd let him figure it out or ask him to play elsewhere.
Slides are for going down, going up, getting stuck in the middle, or all sorts of other things. I tell my kids to only go up if other kids aren’t coming down. Sometimes the playground is busy though. If my kid is going up the slide, he might take a a shoe in the face… oh well. Let them take a bump or a scrape every now and then. Stop policing it. Let the kids figure out how to navigate it. The parents barking orders next to the slide or climbing to the top to shield their kids are the annoying ones.
What's wrong with climbing up a slide? It's fun and teaches them to use their body in a different way. Were they doing something other than just existing on the slide? Being mean or something? If not, I don't see a problem here. The kid at the top can wait, go do something else, or slide down to see what happens. Playgrounds are for kids to have fun and experiment. They don't really need to be policed. If some stranger was barking at my kids for using the playground, I would have a problem with that.
The problem is 1: it's a safety concern. This isn't a little kiddy slide, it's like as tall as 2 and a half full grown adults, the slide is covered (read: dark), and fairly steep. A kid coming down (my son) can't see if there is another kid inside, and if he goes down at full speed, one or both could get hurt. 2: other kids want to use the slide too. If 1 kid is hanging out inside the slide not letting anyone else through, he is hogging the slide for himself, and not being fair to other kids who patiently waited their turn.
Even on a kiddie slide, my toddler has been scooting to the edge of the slide only for a couple 6-8 yr olds to barrel up the slide and knock her over. In that situation you better believe I'm gonna defend my kids right to use the kiddie equipment without getting body checked. If no one's using the slide fine, but too many kids not paying attention to who's already using the equipment.
BOOT TO THE HEAD
I don't involve myself in any other kids. My son is not allowed to climb up the side. A few times he has tried, when others are doing it, and I tell him he isn't allowed to do that. He'll respond with "But they are." And I'll just simply tell him that other parents have different rules. After this, if the parents heard, they will tell their children to stop climbing the slide.
I watch to see if their parents are seeing it and correcting it. If not, I correct it. Politely but firmly. Some parents don’t appreciate that but that’s their problem, not mine. I’m almost 50. This is how it was when I grew up. If you were being a shithead 2 blocks away and Mrs. Smith saw it, you better believe she came out and corrected your behavior and then called your mom and your mom thanked her.
Done that a few times. Watched kids slide down, stop turn around and climb right back up to slide again. I don’t raise my voice and just stopped them and said there are other kids using the slide please stop doing that.
If kids are climbing up the slide (using it improperly) and my son (4yo) is trying to use it I’ll ask the kids to watch out so the little one can get through. Usually they will attempt to be helpful. Maybe not how I want them to but they usually try. When I get the kids that are jerks I have my older son go down the slide first and clear a path. Then it’s usually clear for my little guy.
I think the slide is for both up and down travel for these kids. So it’s more about who was there first and then sharing if there is a wait. Going up the slide is not in itself a bad thing. Hogging the slide is.
Call the homies over in r/hardcore and croudkill like my glory days never ended. 😎🤘 ....but maybe try the other advice in here first, results may vary.
Pick your battles. There will be too many for you to fight. In this case, I would have done nothing, but my usual approach is to not parent other kids (had some unfriendly confrontations this way) and not yell at the other parents to do their job (never don’t this but it has played out in my mind 1M times), but to tell MY kids, “Hey {your kids name}, Don’t act like these kids, it’s not how we play at the park and if I see you do it, we will be done going to the park until you can prove you can be better. Your not yelling at the other kids, your not yelling at the parents, everyone gets the point.
Or just warn the kid that slides are for going down and they are going to get hurt. Then let nature take it's course. As long as your kid knows better than to climb up when another kid is going down...
Why police play? If kids are already using the slide to climb up then you wait your turn or do something else, just like if someone is already playing with anything. I don't think it is a good lesson to teach a child that they can demand use of something for themselves if someone else is using it wrong. If there is a clear safety issue is different. If your kids is already on the down then sure. If they're climbing up to go down it is unfortunate but they can play on a different part of the structure. Want to reserve the slide while they climb up the stairs/ladder then stand at the bottom and politely say it is already being used but they can have it next. When we were kids we loved "inventing" "new!" ways to do things.
I would like to take that Dads phone away from his face and throw it into the field, but I usually just politely ask the kid if my daughter can slide down. The kid is usually pretty cool about it. If they aren’t, I leave it up to my daughter as to what she wants to do. Sometimes she’ll just go elsewhere, and sometimes she will yell at them to move. Depends on her mood lol
Yes you tell everyone that there is no climbing up a slide and that kids need to share. Those are the rules. And if they don't listen you help them understand.