Inappropriate playground behaviour?

> 10 years ago
Reply
Register to post, see what you've read, and subscribe to topics.
mick14
mick14
SA
343 posts
SA, 343 posts
12 Jul 2014 11:04am
I was told-off for "inappropriate behaviour" by another parent while supervising my 2 young children at an indoor play cafe this week. Apparently this is what I did wrong:
1. Entering the play equipment
2. Sitting down inside the play equipment
3. Talking to another child.

in my defense, here were the circumstances...

1. My 4 year old asked for help retrieving a toy car that he had dropped through a gap and he couldn't reach.
2. The equipment is cramped... I can't stand up in there, and in any case I needed to almost lie down to reach the car.
3. I returned polite conversation with a small child who asked me a question, within sight and earshot of his mum.

It is good and right for parents to be vigilant, but I thought the reaction was a bit over the top. I never went out of sight or earshot of the parents area and was accompanied by my kids the whole time.

What do people think?
FormulaNova
FormulaNova
WA
15101 posts
WA, 15101 posts
12 Jul 2014 9:46am
Sounds pretty normal. I think normal human behavior these days is to want to be the one that sees something bad happen so that you can tell everyone about it, and thus make themselves feel important.

Similar to this, people now seem to want to film everything with their phones instead of running away or helping. Why do they film it? So they can be important and the centre of attention.

Don't worry about it. What you did was fine, its just the other person that has the problem.

cRAZY Canuk
cRAZY Canuk
NSW
2528 posts
NSW, 2528 posts
12 Jul 2014 11:53am
If you where sitting in there for a long period in a small space I could see her point.

If it was a quick in and out then what ever.

On speaking to kids my little girl talks to everyone and everyone talks to her teaching her stranger danger is high on the list because she thinks everyone's her friend. If your only replying to the kid and not drumming up a conversation I don't see the harm. But every parent will do what they think is right and if they feel something is inappropriate or threatening I think you need to respect that even if your left scratching your head.
Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23678 posts
WA, 23678 posts
12 Jul 2014 9:59am
A stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet
Beaglebuddy
Beaglebuddy
1595 posts
1595 posts
12 Jul 2014 3:18pm
Sad I blame the lawyers, and TV.
wintortree
wintortree
NSW
194 posts
NSW, 194 posts
12 Jul 2014 6:31pm
Were you wearing a I love kiteboarding shirt because that may be where you went wrong.
ka43
ka43
NSW
3105 posts
NSW, 3105 posts
12 Jul 2014 6:31pm
Yeah but don't forget that parents who act like the above have no problems with their kids running wild in most places and taking no responsibility for such.
Windsurfing example: how many times have you seen kids climb all over gear on the beach, shore etc, you politely ask them to stop and hop off only to have peanut parent say "They are just playing".
smicko
smicko
WA
2503 posts
WA, 2503 posts
12 Jul 2014 5:15pm
mick14 said..
I was told-off for "inappropriate behaviour" by another parent while supervising my 2 young children at an indoor play cafe this week. Apparently this is what I did wrong:
1. Entering the play equipment
2. Sitting down inside the play equipment
3. Talking to another child.

in my defense, here were the circumstances...

1. My 4 year old asked for help retrieving a toy car that he had dropped through a gap and he couldn't reach.
2. The equipment is cramped... I can't stand up in there, and in any case I needed to almost lie down to reach the car.
3. I returned polite conversation with a small child who asked me a question, within sight and earshot of his mum.

It is good and right for parents to be vigilant, but I thought the reaction was a bit over the top. I never went out of sight or earshot of the parents area and was accompanied by my kids the whole time.

What do people think?

I'd have got stuck into her and told her she's an ignorant pratt for not getting involved and playing with her child/ren and to mind her own bloody business and take her bratt back to it's bubble where it will be safe from the clutches of pedo Dad.

mineral1
mineral1
WA
4564 posts
WA, 4564 posts
12 Jul 2014 5:52pm
Watched a movie a while back called "Bad Words" All about a spelling bee.
Anyway, those who have watched it, will recall a disgruntled mother, approaching the main actor in a restaurant, to give him a piece of her mind.

His response to the mother would have been fitting as a reply in this case I believe.
sn
sn
WA
2775 posts
sn sn
WA, 2775 posts
12 Jul 2014 7:51pm
B.I.G.M., I used to take my nieces and nephews to the jungle gym thingo's all the time,

Awesome places for a bit of fun

Until till they dobbed on me and told my sister and brother about the mums that were chatting me up

Apparently I was supposed to be supervising the offspring


stephen

slammin
slammin
QLD
998 posts
QLD, 998 posts
13 Jul 2014 12:31am
Judging by your experience I must be a freak for pulling faces at a 2yo to stop her screaming in a supermarket queue. However she did stop screaming and yes the checkout ch-loke got a laugh out of it bcoz 1)the mum didn't realise what I was doing 2)it stopped her screaming.
fingerbone
fingerbone
NSW
921 posts
NSW, 921 posts
13 Jul 2014 8:20am
I think unless you had your dick in your other hand you did nothing wrong...
E T
E T
QLD
2286 posts
E T E T
QLD, 2286 posts
13 Jul 2014 8:26am
Society is becoming more buggered all the time.

Some people are so restrained and worried they must be constipated.

IMHO it is perfectly normal to engage with children as they discover things and ask questions.

Some of these parents are frightened of everything.

You did nothing wrong that I can see.

Keep it up.

ET.
Rails
Rails
QLD
1371 posts
QLD, 1371 posts
13 Jul 2014 8:56am
cRAZY Canuk said..
If you where sitting in there for a long period in a small space I could see her point.

If it was a quick in and out then what ever.

On speaking to kids my little girl talks to everyone and everyone talks to her teaching her stranger danger is high on the list because she thinks everyone's her friend. If your only replying to the kid and not drumming up a conversation I don't see the harm. But every parent will do what they think is right and if they feel something is inappropriate or threatening I think you need to respect that even if your left scratching your head.


sorry mate but if we spend all our time letting idiots set the agenda then we are farked and needing blue cards to go to the supermarket
given the proportion of actual fiddlers this is just another media scare campaign that has gotten out of hand due to mechanisms like those Nova listed
NoBS
NoBS
WA
908 posts
WA, 908 posts
13 Jul 2014 7:43am
wintortree said..
Were you wearing a I love kiteboarding shirt because that may be where you went wrong.


Or possibly that bag of lollies and wearing a hoodie with 'Trust Me' embroidered on the back may have set off alarm bells ????
NoBS
NoBS
WA
908 posts
WA, 908 posts
13 Jul 2014 7:45am
slammin said..
Judging by your experience I must be a freak for pulling faces at a 2yo to stop her screaming in a supermarket queue. However she did stop screaming and yes the checkout ch-loke got a laugh out of it bcoz 1)the mum didn't realise what I was doing 2)it stopped her screaming.


I also do this at the shops, however it doesnt end well. The Kid usually goes ape s**t and I then get strange looks from the mother.
Scoob
Scoob
WA
88 posts
WA, 88 posts
13 Jul 2014 10:32am
mick14 said...
What do people think?

Were you wearing a Community Protection Act tracking device on your ankle
landyacht
landyacht
WA
5921 posts
WA, 5921 posts
13 Jul 2014 8:32pm
I love pulling faces at kids in the supermarket. or a great burp. and if we're getting on well a good fart can be fun
dusta
dusta
WA
2940 posts
WA, 2940 posts
14 Jul 2014 11:41am
i go climbing through the indoor jungle gym all the time with my 3 year old and interact with other kids . Luckily i have never had anyone come up and tell me off . I love going down the slides
TurtleHunter
TurtleHunter
WA
1675 posts
WA, 1675 posts
14 Jul 2014 7:01pm
wow society is f#%^&ed up.
Maybe I could use this as an excuse not to change my daughters nappies.
myusernam
myusernam
QLD
6158 posts
QLD, 6158 posts
14 Jul 2014 9:11pm
over the top. wouldn't have happened if you were female. Just because you are a bloke doesn't mean you are a paedo. you were their with your own kid FFS. What does she want you to do ignore her kid? teach him rudeness? stupid bxtch
latedropeddy
latedropeddy
VIC
417 posts
VIC, 417 posts
15 Jul 2014 5:10pm
I'm amazed the other parent even noticed you, most parents eyes these days are on their phones and not their kids.

I don't think you did the wrong thing.


moohan
moohan
WA
147 posts
WA, 147 posts
15 Jul 2014 9:07pm
I wouldn't have fared much better, I'm usually looking for an excuse to go down the slide with my kids, and they love me for it. I can't see anything wrong with what you've done.

www.smh.com.au/opinion/why-men-must-not-be-terrorists-of-the-playground-20131109-2x8bo.html
Please Register, or first...
Topics Subscribe Reply