Do you let your kids go up the slide? - Page 9

[DBassett]

Originally Posted by honeybee

If there are other kids waiting their turn on the slide, I would say no going up, so the others can have a turn. Also, no going up if there are smaller kids playing on the slide. But, if it's just my kid, or another kid who is also running up and down the slide, then that's fine.

If you put too many rules on a child's toy, it's no longer a child's toy.

ITA!

[majikfaerie]

Originally Posted by kamilla626

shoes are for wearing, not for squishing earwigs
folded dishtowels are for drying dishes, not for carrying hot cake pans
yard sticks are for measuring things, not for fishing things out from under the couch
shoelaces are for tying shoes, not toy leashes for stuffed unicorns
potatoes are for eating, not for carving into shapes to make paint stamps
old papertowel rolls are garbage, they are not telescopes
macaroni is for eating, not for making jewelry
trees are not for climbing
the driveway is not for chalk drawings
ketchup is to put on hotdogs or fries, not plums and strawberries
wagons are for sitting and riding in, not for turning over and making a mermaid cave
pillows are for sleeping, not for bonking mommy on the head
...

oh man, am I gonna get in trouble

is it also bad to use string to hold my car together?
should we really be using animals for food?

[april77]

Originally Posted by majikfaerie

is it also bad to use string to hold my car together?

In my experience, duct tape works better.

I voted other, b/c it's fine with me unless the playground is really crowded, really muddy, or it becomes a huge issue with the other moms. Or unless dd starts sitting at the top of the slide waiting to take ds out when he starts to climb up, which is what is happening lately. :

[Izzy's Mom]

Yes, but only when other kids aren't around. The reason I say no sometimes is for safety reasons and teaching my children to be considerate of others they are playing with.

[angelpie545]

When we are in crowded playgrounds, I will not let my kids climb up the slide. It's too dangerous, too many kids are way too agressive, along with their moms who will yell and scream at any kid, no matter if the child is theirs or not. Honestly, I'd rather not deal with it, and I personally think it IS rude to climb up a slide when other kids are trying to go down the slide, especially the little ones. Now, when we are the only ones at the park, or there are very few kids and the slide is open, I won't make a huge issue of it. My main objective is to teach my kids to be respecful of others when they want to use the equipment the way it was meant to be used. When there isn't anyone around who wants to use the slide, then it's okay to climb up and around it. My kids have no issues following those rules.

[shelbean91]

I didn't read the thread yet, but I let the kids go up the slide, as long as there isn't a line of kids wanting to go down the slide. If there are lots of others, it's up the stairs, down the slide. If we're the only ones there- whatever they want to do, as long as it's not breaking bones, is fine with me. I used to LOVE climbing up the slides.

[majikfaerie]

Originally Posted by april77

In my experience, duct tape works better.

sorry mama, Duct Tape is for ducts ONLY

(We're ALL in big trouble )

[eclipse]

Originally Posted by majikfaerie

sorry mama, Duct Tape is for ducts ONLY

(We're ALL in big trouble )

And here I was thinking Duck Tape was for Ducks.

[majikfaerie]

no, Duck tape is for avoiding getting hit on the head - DUCK!-
:

[MtBikeLover]

Yes as long as no one is trying to come down.

[kaPOW!]

If it's crowded I'll say "it's too crowded to go up the slide today." Otherwise, he climbs right on up.

[genericmom]

Only if there isn't alot of kids around. Im always afraid another kid will come flying down the slide while she's at the bottom trying to go up and she'll get knocked off. So I only let her when there isn't anyone around the slide.

[lovingmommyhood]

Nope, I never let him. He knows the rule and he doesn't try. If it was our own slide at home it would be no problem but it's very crowded at the park at all times during the day. It's a pet peeve of mine when my son is waiting at the top and tons of big kids are climbing up and sitting in the tube slide. I don't say anything to them, I just take DS to a different area of the playground, but it's really irritating. I really don't want him getting stuck in the slide with big, strange (as in strangers) kids.

[dentmom3]

At home, where the environment is more controlled, then they can go up the slide. But at the playground, no, because I can't keep an eye on everyone's comings and goings and can't be sure than someone isn't going down right when mine is going up!

At least, that is my reasoning, but strangely enough I don't think the kids have tried to go up the slide at the park and yet they do it all the time at home!

[BusyMommy]

Originally Posted by clane

If we are there early and alone, but not when it's crowded.

:

[KMK_Mama]

Yes, I do, but my DD was put into time-out her first day of pre-school by the substitute for this and it nearly scarred her for the year. She was so excited to go to school, only to be scolded for going UP the slide.....something I have always let her do. She hated going to school for the rest of the year and cried every morning.

[kaPOW!]

Originally Posted by KMK_Mama

Yes, I do, but my DD was put into time-out her first day of pre-school by the substitute for this and it nearly scarred her for the year. She was so excited to go to school, only to be scolded for going UP the slide.....something I have always let her do. She hated going to school for the rest of the year and cried every morning.

[L&IsMama]

I'm honestly : that people are even debating this at all. It's a slide. Does it really matter if some mamas let their kids climb it and some mamas don't? Talk about Playground Politics.

[KimProbable]

This thread is way more entertaining than I thought it would be! I've read through half so far but I want to get my post in before DD wakes up...

I voted yes, but I'm of course in the "Only if nobody's coming down" camp. DS has been climbing up the slides for years and I think it's super. He actually makes up games in our backyard that incorporate him running across the yard and up the slide.

DD just learned to climb up the slide the other day and I'm so flipping proud of her. She's been watching her big brother do it and she's finally got enough strength and coordination to pull it off. I love how pleased she is with her accomplishment. I still make sure I'm standing there with her because she's slipped a few times, but to be honest I'm more confident in her ability to climb the slide than the ladder.

This thread has reminded me of an incident at a playground. The mall near our home has an indoor playground near the foodcourt and I took DS there one day. It was fairly quiet with only a few kids playing and he was climbing up the slides. I was keeping an eye on him to make sure he was being safe and considerate of others. A mom of a toddler went over to DS and insisted that he could NOT climb up the slide. The empty slide that nobody else was on. : It was one of those moments where I wish that I'd said something but I was too stunned at the time.

[RubyWild]

Originally Posted by onlyzombiecat

Using something in a way it isn't intended can cause damage and a different kind of wear and tear. That is what I mean by respect for equipment. I prefer to teach my child to use shared playground equipment in the way it is intended. Again, my reasons, for my kid- not imposed on everyone.

Slides are intended to be slid down and climbed up. That's their purpose. Many of the newer slides even have little grippy bumps on them to aide climbing.