Going up the slide is okay, actually. (Sometimes.) On a recent afternoon at our neighbourhood playground, three scenes unfolded simultaneously: At the slide, a group of 4-year-olds were launching Hot Wheels cars up the metal ramp, sending them soaring through the air like a Fast & Furious scene in miniature (Fun! Creative! Definitely unsafe!).
By the swing set, my 6-year-old was twirling a swing so the ropes tightly coiled, then watching as it spun back to its natural state - while another kid waited for a turn to actually, you know, swing. On nearby climbing equipment, a little boy called out for his parent; he wanted help to reach the fireman’s pole. A playground is a place where kids figure things out, which means parents have to figure things out, too.
Do we spring into action if someone’s about to get hurt? We do. Do we insist that swings are only for swinging? We do not. But do we insist that our kids share the swings? Yes.
Often, though, the answers can feel murkier - especially in a communal, sometimes chaotic space where kids of all ages are meant to play, explore and build a sense of independence. So how should parents conduct themselves and guide their kids? A playground designer, a prominent parenting expert and a mum weighed in on a few common - and potentially tense - scenarios..