Question about toddlers and the playground...

How old were your kids or how old will they be (do you think) when you let them go on things by themselves at the park?

I live in Queens, so this park may be different than parks in Long Island, but still the same idea.

I took Megan to the park today and realized I was the only mom who was running around with their kid. When she wanted to climb up the stairs, I went with her. There is a alot of cut out openings to slide down poles, climb down ladders, etc. and I know she is not ready to realize when she should be stepping off. Its almost like falling off a cliff. So I would go up with her. Help her down the slide.

Other parents just sat on the benches. Kids YOUNGER than Megan (who only just turned 2) were climbing these things, jumping off, falling all over the place. They were looking at me like I was nuts or neurotic.

Just looking for what others do?

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

we let Kaitee go on her own around 22 months. She hasn't tried to do something like slide down poles. I think she knows to be careful otherwise I am sure she would have hurt herself by now.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

I'm a Nervous Nelly! If I can't reach him, I go with him. I am really surprised when I watch some parents sitting on the bench.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

I stopped shadowing Robbie and Noah when Robbie turned 5 and Noah turned 3. But I still hovered close by and had a difficult time chatting with other mom's.

Now that they are 7 & 5 I actually can spend a good portion of the time sitting on the bench watching them... but I find myself having to jump up once in a while to switch positions if they go to another part of the equipment. I always like to have an eye on them.

My husband STILL shadows them. He actually climbs right on most of the equipment with them to this very day.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

It depends on the level of the playground but it was not until during her 3rd year that I let Kiera start doing some of the things on her own. If she goes on a playground that is for older kids I stay with her. If she's on one that's for like 2 year olds I sit on the bench or just stand nearby, unless she asks me to come with her.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

I think it depends on the child.

DS is a bit behind since he still does not walk so I shadow him even more. Some kids are just little monkeys, they are very agile and some are less agile.

I will shadow DS as long until I am comfortable leaving him alone. That mean if I feel some of the equipment is more "dangerous" than others, if he is not goofing around and my heart stop every 3 seconds.

Accidents can happen at anytime. I would not say that because you sit on a bench you are a bad mom.

But I am personally very paranoid also. I like to have an eye on my child all the time.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

Im a neurotic mom too when it comes to playgrounds. Im more comfortable being at the bottom though, I follow them but while im walking on the ground level, and direct him AWAY if he's near the edge/opening.

I think at like 3- 3 1/2 I finally let them go, because they know better not to go near the openings.
but then after that age, they start testing their limits and copying the big boys they see and start trying to come down the slide in all sorts of directions, jumping off and climbing anything they come across.
(did i mention that theyre monkeys?

so im super close by for the 2yr old, but I walk around the side of the playground where he is. this way, he builds confidence as he runs around freely, sits to go down the slide, etc, but Im still inches away.
and I have his big brothers there (Not always nearby though ) if I really needed it.

Noreen, once I was pushing my son on a swing, and a couple of moms were sipping coffee, while a child MAYBE 2yrs old, was standing at the EDGE so very preggo as I was, I DASHED to the edge and caught her fall
and her mom looked over as if it was nothing..didnt even say thank you. oh well, as long as that child wasnt hurt. and it was a good 5-6ft fall. it was definitely higher than my height because I could barely grab her comfortably.

Message edited 10/1/2008 7:33:53 AM.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

depending on what the level of difficulty of the jungle gym or whatever, that will decide if I am right on top of her...

Usually I let her do her own thing while I watch from the sidelines...

I probably started this around 18months or so when I was 7 months PG and couldn't run all over the place! She's very good on her feet though...

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

We also go to the toddler playground near us and it is gated in and rather small. I have been letting him do things on his own since before he was 2. I am the Mom on the bench relaxing

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

It depends on the playground. If it's the play area for little toddlers, where everything is much more safety oriented-- smaller slides, hardly any of those openings... I sit on the bench. If DS (2.5 yrs) wants to go on the bigger-kid equipment though, I am right there shadowing. Totally not worth a trip to the ER!

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

DD is only 15 months old, but she's a climber and I'm right there with her. She doesn't understand her boundaries yet and she loves to imitate what the older kids are doing, so when she starts climbing up the stairs..I'm truckin' right behind her.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

My son is two and a half, and I let him run around, I follow him and stay nearby (usually gabbing to a friend) but if he goes up a ladder, I stay very close by.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

Mine is a monkey. Many times I have been told by strangers that they are surprised he is so young...I don't know, he just knows...

I usually leave him alone...unless playing with him

I also have another little boy at park who is a different make up then Josh...so my hand is always on his rear end or underneath him.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

I was like this too until recently. I go to a realllly tall playground in Queens, and for that one I follow her, just from below so I am there if something happens. Regardless, I am always close by, I am never on the bench. I just don't feel comfortable.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

DD is still under the impression that she can fly so while I let her climb by herself I'm right underneath her in the event I need to catch her which I have had to do.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

i was thinking the exact same thing. i'm also in queens and i have the same type of playgrounds and i'm the only mom shadowing their child. josh is still young though (16+ months) but still the other kids just go by themselves. i think MAYBE when he's 2 1/2 -3 years old b/c josh is so active and unsafe still.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

I am the same way. I see some moms so laid back just sitting watching their children (parks, streets, block parties, etc) and here I am always 2 steps behind DS. The only place I can just sit and watch him is in my own yard and even then I always have an eye on him.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

Mine are 4 and 2 I I just let them play. It actually just depends on who else is at the park really. If its pretty empty and no big kids are running wild, I'll sit and watch. If its crowded or there is an evil kid on the playground I'll shadow my 2 year old.

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

Thank goodness I am not crazy!!!!!!!!! I feel so much better after reading these posts. It just amazed me! I mean, of course you can sit and chat, but be there for your kid too ya know??

I had this little girl, maybe 3 follow us around. She asked me to put her in the swing and to push her. Well obviously I wasnt about to pick her up, put her in a swing and push her. There was no mother or father in sight, I STILL dont know who she was there with. She was running and jumping all over the place...it got to the point where I took Megan out for a walk because she kept taking her baby doll and her juice box (had to throw that away) and NO ONE came over once to even check on her. This mommy stuff is HARD! LOL

Re: Question about toddlers and the playground...

DD is 28 mos and I still stay close by and watch her and follow her around each climber. I do not climb up with her but I watch for things like the openings like you described but I am constantly amazed how many moms don't. We were at the playground watching a toddler Ellie's age on the same climber with a balloon tied around his wrist waiting for him to choke himself or hang himself but hoping his mom would have the sense to remove the balloon