Maybe I am overthinking all of this, but the situation made me feel rather awkward and I really don't know the best way to respond, so I was wondering what others would say...
So dd is 4.5 (5 in October). We have a playground down the street from us where we go just about everyday. There is one of those rock climbing structures which dd likes to climb up, then jump off (less than 4 feet off the ground, landing covered in wood chips). Lots of kids climb it, the smaller ones with parents' help, the bigger ones--including dd--climb it independently. Dd has been climbing this thing since she was three and is more than capable of doing it.
Anyway, there is one of those general warning signs at the playground that says something to the effect that the playground was designed for children from ages 5 to 12.
So today dd was doing her rock climbing, when a boy (looked about 5-6 years old, just a little bit older to dd) came up to me and asked me how old dd was. I said 4 and a half. He became quite angry and pointed to the sign, informing that she was "not allowed" on this rock, that she is too young.
Strangely enough, about 5 minutes later a girl (also about 5 or 6) came up to me, and said the same thing.
To be honest, my first reaction was to tell the kids to mind their own darn business, but I refrained. So what does one say? I didn't want to be rude to them and I didn't want to send a message that one should break playground rules, but the whole thing rather upset dd. She's been climbing this thing for while now and this playground almost her second home--and some kids who we've never seen there before were telling what she's allowed and not allowed to dd.
I told dd not to worry and that was free to climb the rock, and the kids seemed rather angered by that response. And to them I just sort of mumbled "It's ok, she knows how to climb"--but that response didn't satisfy them--they just kept pointing out the sign to me.
So what should I say to the kids when this happens? What should I say to dd?
I'm not even sure why they were complaining in the first place. I mean, I could see if dd had been there alone and they had just sort of wanted to warn her that the rock is meant for older kids and that she should be careful. But that wasn't the tone at all--they were angry that we were, in their opinion apparently, breaking the rules and they were complaining about it, apparently with the expectation that we would leave.
Their parents were well out of earshot, so I was on my own to respond to them.
So what do you say to them?
Or am I just way overthinking all of this? For some reason the whole thing left me feeling a bit icky.
So dd is 4.5 (5 in October). We have a playground down the street from us where we go just about everyday. There is one of those rock climbing structures which dd likes to climb up, then jump off (less than 4 feet off the ground, landing covered in wood chips). Lots of kids climb it, the smaller ones with parents' help, the bigger ones--including dd--climb it independently. Dd has been climbing this thing since she was three and is more than capable of doing it.
Anyway, there is one of those general warning signs at the playground that says something to the effect that the playground was designed for children from ages 5 to 12.
So today dd was doing her rock climbing, when a boy (looked about 5-6 years old, just a little bit older to dd) came up to me and asked me how old dd was. I said 4 and a half. He became quite angry and pointed to the sign, informing that she was "not allowed" on this rock, that she is too young.
Strangely enough, about 5 minutes later a girl (also about 5 or 6) came up to me, and said the same thing.
To be honest, my first reaction was to tell the kids to mind their own darn business, but I refrained. So what does one say? I didn't want to be rude to them and I didn't want to send a message that one should break playground rules, but the whole thing rather upset dd. She's been climbing this thing for while now and this playground almost her second home--and some kids who we've never seen there before were telling what she's allowed and not allowed to dd.
I told dd not to worry and that was free to climb the rock, and the kids seemed rather angered by that response. And to them I just sort of mumbled "It's ok, she knows how to climb"--but that response didn't satisfy them--they just kept pointing out the sign to me.
So what should I say to the kids when this happens? What should I say to dd?
I'm not even sure why they were complaining in the first place. I mean, I could see if dd had been there alone and they had just sort of wanted to warn her that the rock is meant for older kids and that she should be careful. But that wasn't the tone at all--they were angry that we were, in their opinion apparently, breaking the rules and they were complaining about it, apparently with the expectation that we would leave.
Their parents were well out of earshot, so I was on my own to respond to them.
So what do you say to them?
Or am I just way overthinking all of this? For some reason the whole thing left me feeling a bit icky.
You are over thinking the situation.
I think you did fine.
