Rocks at the park

[jkg]

My 14 month old DS loves going to the park, and now that it's getting warmer out, we've been spending much more time there. One of the things he loves to do most is pick up the little pebbles that cover the play area and drop them onto the slide to hear the sound that they make. I never saw any problem with this as we have usually been the only ones at the park in the cooler weather. Before we leave or he wants to go on the swings, I tell him I have to clean off the slide so it will be ready for the other children. Well, now that the weather is better and there are more kids playing at the park, I don't really think it is a good idea for DS to drop rocks onto the slide--I don't want anyone getting hurt. Yesterday that is all he wanted to do--but there were little ones waiting to go down the slide, so I was able to distract him with the swings. The issue is, how can I tell him that we shouldn't drop rocks on the slide when other kids are there, but it's ok when we're alone at the park? I'm being really inconsistent and have no idea how he could understand that. Thanks!

[4evermom]

I used to bring a ball for ds to roll down the slide, because he would want to use woodchips. I would actually bring a few balls, so we could share. I'd get those softball sized foam balls that cost $1 so they fit in my bag easily. I was fine with the woodchips if we were alone but other kids wouldn't like to get their clothes dirty and I would explain that to ds. He was older than your ds, though, probably closer to 20 months. I would encourage ds to drop the ball, then slide down, so the next kid could have a turn. I didn't feel it was a problem to have different rules when there were more kids, like it is ok to go up the slide if there is no one waiting at the top.

[abac]

The issue is, how can I tell him that we shouldn't drop rocks on the slide when other kids are there, but it's ok when we're alone at the park? I'm being really inconsistent and have no idea how he could understand that.

I think he could understand just fine if you said, "The other kids want to come down the slide, so we can't put rocks on it right now. Let's go play on the swings." Distraction works really well at that age. Good luck!