Toddler Playgrounds As Meeting Places

[emma'smom]

Last week, my dd1 and I were playing in the "Laughing Place" playground while we waited for my dd4 and dh to do Splash and BTMRR. There were a few other small children playing about as well. While we waited, a tour group of about 50 teenagers (who were all speaking Spanish-but this isn't the issue at all) started congregating in the area. First they were sitting on the wall outside of the play area, but as the group grew larger, they gravitated inside first sitting on the wall and then on the ground within the play area taking up about half of the area, including spreading out their backpacks.

I thought, "Oh, we'll they'll be leaving soon", but they were there for over a half-hour waiting for their entire group to arrive. In the mean time, the toddlers were tripping over their things and, more importantly, it was hard to see and keept track the little ones (even though I was trailing behind her the whole time, but having to pick my own way between the teenagers).

The tour group leader didn't seem to notice and/or care. Since they didn't seem to speak English, I didn't say anything. They stayed for a long time though!

Just wanted to share my experience....not much that anyone could have done though! Any one else have this happen?

 

[alloyd1170]

Sounds like the group that another lady posted about. She said she was in line to order food and one kid gave a signal and they all pushed in front of her. Then the cashier dropped her change and one kid put it in his pocket. She said they spoke Spanish-course that doesnt mean that was the same group. It was posted on the theme parks board I believe.

alison

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would consider writing in a suggestion that maybe they have a CM in that area to keep things moving along.

I would have considered speaking to a CM that day--but I"m sure they would have told you you couldn't do anything.

I get irritated when BIG kids start playing on it.

My thought is why have rules if noone will honor them and in that space--including the walls...it is not meant to be a waiting area for anyone without a toddler. IMHO.

 

[slbeaute]

Oh yeah! We had a problem not with the groups there but bigger kids on the toddler play areas. One night in toontown, this group of four big kids, youngest had to be at least 8, was running, climbing, jumping over things on the playground. They made three little kids cry by either running over them or bumping into them and knocking them over. We didn't see parents anywhere close. I fussed at them several times, and they finally left after I think they had enough of me not letting them get away with it, especially when I asked them where their parents were. We spotted them at Donald's Boat as we left, again causing havoc with no parents around. I just don't understand how some parents dump their kids without any supervision. If they were around, certainly they could see that their children's behavior was endangering little kids. I do wish they would post a CM at the entrance to these areas and make sure only toddlers or kids under a certain height were allowed in or at least ask those not playing by the rules to leave.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Ugh! These things drive me crazy too!

One time I was watching my DD (24 months) play on a playground while waiting for HDR. There were older boys on the playground acting crazy. Using no manors at all. One started punching the other hard, not playfully. I can't remember what I said but I basically told him there was no hitting allowed here. He laughed at me and said, "You aren't my mother" and kept running crazy.

If a stranger had ever come up to me and reprimanded me as a child I would have died of embarrassment, I definitely wouldn't have been cocky.

His parents were sitting not too far away. Makes me mad that THEY wouldn't think to step in and control their child. And where are manors these days? A lot of kids just don't seem to have them anymore.

 

[emma'smom]

My children are both young enough to be in the toddler/preschool play areas. However, what I don't mind is when older children from the same family play nicely with their younger siblings. In other words, I don't mind if families with young children want to play together. A CM doesn't need to block older children who clearly have a right to be there. Maybe the rule should be "no entry unless accompanied by a young child and play should be appropriate to the developmental level of young children.".

 

[slbeaute]

My children are both young enough to be in the toddler/preschool play areas. However, what I don't mind is when older children from the same family play nicely with their younger siblings. In other words, I don't mind if families with young children want to play together. A CM doesn't need to block older children who clearly have a right to be there. Maybe the rule should be "no entry unless accompanied by a young child and play should be appropriate to the developmental level of young children.".

You're absolutely right! I should have clarified that. I don't have any problem with caring older siblings and families playing nicely with toddlers. It's the older ones that have no business being there, or in your case large groups, that seem to spoil the fun for everyone. You know, if parents all around would just watch their kids and hold them accountable for stuff, a lot of this wouldn't happen anymore. I know when I was an older child, I certainly didn't get to run around amusement parks by myself; that didn't happen until high school. You would think with things being much more dangerous in these times that parents would keep a watchful eye on their kids for their own safety. Scary!