Those signs that say "For Ages 5 - 12" or "Recommended for children over 5" are there for a reason. I'm not saying that you shouldn't allow your 2 year old on the playground. I did it with my kids all the time! I'm also not saying that your kids shouldn't be there. Bring them out! Have a ball. But you cannot, in the same breath, condemn children for being overweight and lazy and then rant and rave over how your toddler isn't safe on the playground because of all of the Obnoxious Big Kids "taking it over." You just can't.
Just wait until your own little guy is a pre-teen. Pre-teen basically equates to Little Kid in a Big Kid body. Same amount of energy and same misconcepts of body space and surroundings but too old for playing make-believe in the backyard. So it's off to the park they go to play Cherry Bomb and Color Tag and Lord knows what else but they all require RUNNING on the equipment. Yes, RUNNING. Can you believe it? American pre-teens RUN.NING. Shouldn't they be playing video games or something?!?
I'm not saying that they shouldn't be looking down when running on the equipment. They should and, actually, they DO! But your little guy is just SO LITTLE that he's bound to get knocked down on the equipment. His balance just isn't capable of climbing those stairs for FIVE YEAR OLDS and holding onto the railing AND withstanding the wind tunnels that the older children create with their PLAY. He will most likely receive the standard playground apology of "Oh! Sorry, man!" as they run to the next game.That is obviously not the BEST apology in the world, but it is what all the kids tend to do. It's kind of the Law of the Playground; Every Man for Himself. Again, if you have a problem with that? Then the playground that is recommended for ages 5 and UP probably isn't the best spot for your child.
Want to help fight childhood obesity? Then encourage them to run around and be wild on the damn playgrounds. That's what they're THERE FOR.
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10 comments:
amen to that sister! lol I totally agree with you and hope my guy runs like hell on said equipment in a few years with the other kids!
That's why we have a swing set in our backyard! When the park is crowded we come home and play (my boy is almost 3)!
http://stilettosanddiaperbags.blogspot.com/
ditto!
Woot! well said.
Well said. While my boys were always attempting to get on the equipment meant for the big kids, I was fully aware we were the interlopers, and tried to make sure my boys weren't getting in the way.
This issue I have is when those big kids think it's fun to go racing through the toddler equipment. I've told off more than one pre-teen for knocking my child over in the 2-5 age area.
Oh, I know! The little playgrounds are for the LITTLE KIDS. It is obvious to look at and, if not obvious for everyone, then it has those helpful signs POSTED ON THEM. :) Everyone is welcome to join everyone else, it's just that the rules are different on different sets.
I always thought the same thing when I was in the playground years. It's great when playgrounds have those age guidelines. And I was not about to take my older kids off of the equipment.
Amen, mama! I don't run into this issue too much because the city parks are filled with lots of kids under age five, but I totally agree that the signs are there for a reason.
As a parent of two teenage boys. Anytime they are OUTSIDE, running, having fun and being kids (again) I am ecstatic!
I think the little kids get a great message when they see the "big kids" running around, they get the message that says "you are never too big to play in the playground".
Which is why you will find me swinging from my knees from the monkey bars, every chance I get :)
And if children were meant to be out in the world and protected from everything they would have come with a bubble....
The post is absolutely fantastic! Lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need!b Keep 'em coming... you all do such a great job at such Concepts... can't tell you how much I, for one appreciate all you do!
Respect to the all the posts here!!
Definitely a blog I would visit again
Cheers! and keep posting
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