Yes always make sure you watch your little one/s.

I think there is a difference between keeping an eye on your child or watching them closely. I think it is good to keep an eye on kids, but I do think parents can hover and not let their kids experiment or play how they want to do so. I do think sharing is good practice but the problem becomes how long on a swing is long enough? What if your child waited then just got on the swing then a line formed? Shouldn’t your child get a few minutes on the swing too? I guess I let my child spend up to 5 mins on the swing once they hop on, then let others have a go. I don’t think your child should have to rush off equipment just because other people are waiting. They should get a decent turn too.

I agree with this article but the last one if there is no other children in the smaller playground i think its fine for an older child to go in as long as they’re taken out if a younger child arrives.

Some good tips

thanks for posting this article! i agree that many children don’t get supervised at the playground. i have seen mothers let their children roam and they are having big convos. our playground is dangerous. a carpark and main road on one side and a beach on the other and less than 30 seconds of a child running either way would’nt be good.

it is also awkward when you have a stranger’s child come up to you and ask you questions because they don’t see their mother ANYWHERE.

SUPERVISION!

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  • • mom94125 replied
    • 06 Mar 2015 , 1:51 pm

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  also thanks for pointing this out for people

Yes it can be a place of frustration also. I have been at parties and playgrounds where other parents let me look after their kids while they sit back and relax. They should be looking after their own children and not relying on someone else to keep an eye on their child. There is a lot of great pointers in this article.

I have seen a few instances of teenagers swinging on small childrens’ swings which puts strain on the equipment. Often they aren’t content to sit on the seats, they often stand on them.

Great advice. Keeping a close eye on them is so important and you see so many who don’t watch them!

If only all parents followed these common sense guidelines. I’m amazed at the parents who look the other way when their kids are doing inappropriate things in the playground!

Some great advice here, thankyou

I don’t know about a break but it gives my 2 year old to use up her energy and great for her to catch up with her little friends.I look at it has a great time to enjoy your coffee

Good article and good advice there! Thank You.

I love taking the girl’s to the park they play for hours

We have been at the park when older kids have been there we had to stop playing because they didn’t want to move so the little kids could play and the language was despicable and to top it all off they started smoking and that’s fine but not around a lot of little ones apart from a couple of those little troubles our trips are normally great I never take my eyes off him not for a second I trust no one even when he says he need to go to the toilet it is the female ones and I go with him

Thats true, a little distraction can cost alot. I remember we took our little boy to church, he said he wanted to ease himself, there was a guard by the door, he went the first time and came back, but when he went the second time, he never did. We were confident he was going to come, but we had to look for him for almost 30 minutes, before we found him. Thanks for these tips.

What a great story its just a shame people forget these things when at the park. Nothing worse than tears cause people forget there manners at the park

I think these are great tips. I have had experiences at playgrounds that made me want to pack up and go home. I go there so my children can get some fresh air and exercise, and meet other kids, but I don’t want to be supervising everyone else’s kids while the au pair sips her latte and texts her friends under a distant tree.

Also, if your child is throwing sand, pushing people, and so on, it is up to you as the parent to take action. Don’t wait for society to parent your child.

Having said that, I find most people are courteous and respectful. My children have met some great kids in the playground and had an absolute ball with them.

I agree, there has been many times when my young child has been at the park then older school children arrive and terrorise the entire area and forget that there are still younger children in the area. I find the swing issue a bit awkward, because I do believe that if a child is having fun then another child should learn to wait or find something else to play on. However, I do understand the frustration if one child just never leaves..Be considerate and take care.

Great common sense tips that anyone can follow, pity that common sense isn’t so common…

Playground etiquette? I suppose it makes sense :). I suppose you ‘do’ learn something new every day