Do you let your dc climb "up" the slide? - Page 6

[octobermom]

Originally Posted by PumpkinSeeds

I thought all kids knew that if you were climbing up the slide and a little one wanted to come down you were supposed to put your feet to the sides and make a tunnel with your body.

Okay you know my feelign from the past few posts but this did make me chuckle .. Though when its a 3 year old climbing up and a 10 year old comming down... :

[Aeress]

I believe all parks should have an "upslide" and a "downslide" marked with arrows. At our favorite park, there are multiple slides, so I ask the girls to use one as an up only and the others as down. Of course, if there are alot of children there, we find upslides to cause more confusion so then we only go down.

We don't slide head first on slides due to head injury concerns but really, that is the only "rule."

[juju's mom]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

For those of you who are getting the hairy eyeball, has it occurred to you that parents are being forced to keep their kids away from the slide while your child goes haywire on it?

Haywire? As long as nobody else is using the slide my dd likes to go UP the slide and I have NEVER seen her go HAYWIRE! :

[charmander]

I think I started this very same post about a year ago (although I didn't have a poll in mine)!

It was because I got dirty looks from a mama who saw my child walking up the slide, and she said very loudly so I'd be sure to get the point, to her daughter " Slides are for going down, NOT up." There were two slides next to each other, and so my daughter wasn't blocking this other girl from using a slide or anything.

I was thinking WTF? - but I ignored her. I let my child play almost any way she wants to at the park unless she is in immediate danger or is preventing other kids from playing. And that means climbing on things, and up things, and using the equipment any dang well she pleases (within reason).

Also, I just hate having to force so many rules on a small child. They're going to be restricted in so many ways when they are grown up - why not let childhood play be free and unencumbered if at all possible??

[phoenixmama]

I voted no, and just wanted to add something for the mamas who say, "I don't let my child climb up the slide if it is preventing another child from playing." Here's my problem with this logic. My daughter, who is 2.5 years old is very laid back...she isn't likely to show that she wants to go down the slide if someone else is on it using it the "wrong way". To other park patrons...she would look as if she isn't interested in the slide while their child is climbing up the slide over and over. However, I can see that sad little look in her eye when all she wants to do is try the slide, but is unsure of the child using the slide "the other way". And she starts twirling her hair (she does this when she is anxious). She NEVER gets this look when other children are going up the stairs, or up the rock-climbing wall part to get to the slide where they get to go down. She will just go up to the slide and take her turn going down at this point. Do not assume that another child doesn't want to use the slide just because they aren't standing there waiting...they may just be cautious like my little one. There have been numerous times that I have had to go up to another child to say, "Excuse me, may my daughter take a turn going down the slide?" This is why I do not let my child go up the slide. There are many other ways to go up...the stairs, the ladder, the rock climbing wall, etc.

[mammal_mama]

Originally Posted by phoenixmama

There have been numerous times that I have had to go up to another child to say, "Excuse me, may my daughter take a turn going down the slide?" This is why I do not let my child go up the slide.

You seem to see this (speaking up in your dd's behalf) as a tragic thing -- but I actually see it as very pro-active, and great modeling for your dd on how to assertively pursue the things she wants. If no one ever climbed up the slide, that'd be one less growth opportunity for your dd and for children everywhere.

I forsee a time when your dd will be more verbal, and, thanks to your example, she'll know she has more options than looking sad and twirling her hair, when confronted with frustrating circumstances.

There's a reason children have parents, and I think the above example is one of them. My 2 1/2 yo also needs active parenting at the park -- but I don't see it as tragic, I see it as an investment in her future.

And yes, I let my children go up the slide, while helping them to stay safe and to consider the feelings and safety of others.

[lizabird]

I think this is a great question. So often I see parents at the playground scolding their kids from climbing up the slide. I personally come to the playground for ds to play, climb, slide, run, scream, etc., and if he wants to climb up the slide, that's quite okay with me. I do encourage him to let the kid coming down go first, though, and then they usually climb back up together.