OT: little kids on the play ground

[jaycns]

BUT the HUGE difference is I didn't expect the older kids to accommodate my younger child. I always told mine if you play with the big kids you have to be willing to take your knocks and not complain or stay out of their way. that is all I am saying. anyone is welcome to play anywhere but don't expect special treatment, your child is no more special than mine and if they are playing appropriately and not being malicious or bullying then they do not have to go out of their way to accommodate your child.

I agree with this totally. Just normally treatment, as every other child. That is all. I don't expect accommodations, if they needed them they would not be allowed on the equipment; as it would not be fair to the other children. My child often hears "That is what happens sometimes..."

Well said!

 

[littlbugmom]

This is how I see it:

If my toddler isn't safe in a particular area of the playground, it's my job to protect her or remove her. The responsibility of my child's safety can not be shifted to the 10yr olds at the playground. It's mine.

When my kids were toddlers, they played on playgrounds that were obviously intended for older kids. I stayed right with them. If older kids showed up or started playing rougher than my toddler could handle, I took my child to another area of the park. I did that because imo, it's common sense. Staying would have been unsafe for my child and unfair to the older kids.


One of my kids is an "older" now and the other is in the middle. I remind them to be careful if there are younger ones around but they are running and playing and a toddler could get knocked down or hurt. It's gonna happen. That toddler's safety is not my child's responsibility and it bothers me when another parent seems to think it is.

I don't know how many times I've seen an older child upset because a toddler popped up out of nowhere and got knocked over. Now the older kid is feeling guilty for hurting a little baby when it wasn't his fault and could have been avoided if the toddler's parent had simply recognized the danger and taken her to the toddler area of the park.