Home › Forums › Open Discussion › To All Parents that Accompany their Children to Parks
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August 28, 2014 at 2:55 am #612478
Molly Gras-UsryParticipantThe lazy afternoon of August 27th I was catching up with fellow parents while our four 10 year old boys played tag with abandon at the north playground at Lincoln Park. They were sharing the playground with smaller children as well as it has been since the beginning of public park space. Suddenly our boys shifted gears and left the playground heading down a trail. One of my parent friends wandered after them to check on their plans for the trail. She learned the boys had been yelled at by another Mother sitting on a bench and this stranger Mother had told the boys they had to leave the public playground!
I saw my friend talking to the Mom on the bench but had no idea why and then my friend wandered back to where the boys were hanging out, under a tree, off the playground. I followed her and heard what was going on. I turned around to talk to the Mom on the bench about other possible ways she might have dealt with the situation but she had left. Since I didn’t get my opportunity to discuss alternate ways to handle 10 year old boys playing tag on a playground – GASP! I hope to share them here in the West Seattle Blog.
My first reaction to hearing that a stranger mom is telling 10 year old boys they have to leave the playground is “Hello! Those boys have parents standing right across the way from you! Get up and go talk to them if you think the boys behavior is out of hand!” Secondly, it’s public space, we share it. Third. Our boys were all little once too and had to share the playground with older kids. You can always politely remind the kids to watch for the little ones as I have often done. I have also asked teenagers to watch their language. If done respectfully and politely, teenagers are obliging. I certainly don’t mind my kids being reminded of such things as long it’s done politely and it’s appropriate. And lastly, 4 boys were having a grand time playing, being 10 – which doesn’t last long, I might add – when suddenly they were made to feel like they were doing something wrong when they were not.
My hope is not only that this Mom who took it upon herself to kick four 10 year old boys off a playground reads this and is able to think about how she will behave differently next time. But that all parents will read this and remind themselves that when we do see kids being rowdy or even being disrespectful or mean, those kids have parents who don’t want them behaving that way anymore than you do. Go talk to those parents. We are all in this together folks.
August 28, 2014 at 4:04 am #812703
kayoParticipantWell said. I play lava tag with my kids with wild abandon at that playground (because they beg me to every time we go there). I guess I should be banned, too? That is ridiculous that she felt like she could order them to leave like she is a playground cop. Well, someday as you said, she will have a 10 year old and then maybe she will understand. They are still kids and they need to play, too. And they are also capable of being careful of the little ones even if they need an occasional reminder to do so (which I do with my kids when we are there if things get a little too crazy). But banning them? No. That is just silly.
August 28, 2014 at 1:35 pm #812704
QSMemberYou saw your friend talking to the mom on the bench. What did the mom say?
August 28, 2014 at 1:37 pm #812705
QSMemberYou saw your friend talking to the mom on the bench. What did the mom say?
August 28, 2014 at 3:21 pm #812706
Spring ChickenMemberSeems odd to me that a group of 10 year old boys would suddenly stop playing tag and leave a playground just because a strange lady sitting on a park bench told them to.
August 28, 2014 at 3:33 pm #812707
pattileaParticipantMolly Gras-Usry, and Kayo, as a parent of 5 grown boys (men), we have encountered the same sort of reactions. I agree they will understand when their children are older.
August 28, 2014 at 6:39 pm #812708
auParticipantWhen I am at the park and see kids misbehaving I just talk to them and say,’whatcha doin?’. Usually that’s enough. The one time it wasn’t enough the adult saw a stranger talking to their kid and paid attention. I introduced myself and we chatted. It wasn’t a big deal that the kid was misbehaving. (but if the kid wasn’t redirected it could have been a problem) The situation played out as two families talking in the park with said kid now playing safely.
The attitude that we are all in this together is just perfect. If we can hold that commonality then its much easier to get past the difficulties and challenges that come up in our day to day lives.
August 29, 2014 at 5:47 am #812709
CaitParticipantTelling them to behave I can see, but telling them to leave the playground? That seems kinda shady to me, honestly…
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