Mall Playground Etiquette

[beachmamaof2]

Today I faced one of my fears...the mall playground.  It's raining, will be all night and all day tomorrow and the kids needed out of this house!  So reluctantly off to the mall we went.

My issue with the mall playground (and most playgrounds in general) is {everyone say it with me} the LACK OF PARENTAL SUPERVISION.  I don't want to be a helicopter mom; I really don't.  But all I can see is someone getting hurt; so follow them around to keep an eye on them I do.  What are the other parents doing?  Reading; talking; drinking their latte; or like today watching their child do inappropriate things and yet not say a word...

Sooo; I thought I'd give a little advice as to some common courtesy type etiquette rules for playgrounds to both parents and (if I'm lucky) the people running the things.

Parents:
1.) Most play areas have a sign that either designates age range or height requirements to play.  PLEASE take a moment to check that your 4ft tall 10yr old 'Johnny' should really be running around with a bunch of toddlers on foam play equipment.

2.) I'm not a cold hearted always by the book strict meanie; if your child is right at the boarder of said limits; I'm all for being flexible; but please; please; please if you see your child standing on or jumping off of play equipment over the tops of toddlers heads; SAY SOMETHING to them; because I'm going to when it's my child they're jumping over or almost landing on!!!  And when you get pissy cause I "yelled" at your child; I'll tell you exactly what I think of your parenting skills too.  IMO they shouldn't be standing on or jumping off anything inside in the first place.

3.) When the parent sitting area is ringing the play area:
If you have a beverage or your childs' other toys and a curious toddler is attempting to check your stuff out; please have the common courtesy to move said items once the parent has attempted to remove their child from your area; say oh I don't know, five times!  This woman insisted on having her whipped cream topped iced coffee on the ground between her feet with a straw just beckoning to my 2 yr old...five times and a tantrum later to get my DD away from said woman and she's looking at me like I'm the jack off!??  How hard is it to move your cup til my kid loses interest?  You have a child, one would assume you are familiar with their behaviours.

4.) There is no official babysitter on duty.  So you can not just leave your child at the playground and continue shopping.  That's a no-no unless your child is like 12 or older and at that point they really shouldn't be playing on foam kiddie equipment; ya' dig?

5.) That whole take your shoes off at the entrance bit isn't an optional suggestion.  It's for safety reasons; so if it creeps you out; perhaps you should find an outdoors playground where your child can keep their shoes on.  I'm a little tired of my kids fingers being stepped on by sneakers.

 

To those in charge:
1.) You could make those age & height limit signs a little more noticable.  When you use the "mall mascot" most people just assume he's decoration and don't notice that his hand is sticking out as a height measurement device.

2.) The shoe rack really should be on the outside of the entrance not inside the play area; I'm willing to bet I'm not the only mom who's LO has tried to take off with other kids shoes! lol

3.) The entrance to the play area:
This is a big one...now where I used to live outside of Orlando there were two 'corners' you had to turn to get to the entrance/exit...so while yes if no one was paying attention a child could still theoretically get out; but it was much less likely because they couldn't "see" the way out.  At my current local mall; the play area is an oval; with a section missing...a big wide gaping hole that invites any child 2 & under to make a break for it; and it's too wide for just one person to block; so you're either playing goalie with babies or multiple parents must guard the pass.

4.) Unless someone vomits; spills a beverage that shouldn't have been there; or has a bathroom accident - there is NO reason for you to ask children to pack up and leave for 20 mins at 2pm on a Saturday so you can wipe down the equipment; that should have been done before the mall opened and again at the end of the day.

 

Feel free to add on ladies; I'm sure there are plenty I left off! lol  

[officerjoeys]

Sep. 12, 2009 at 8:56 PM

I actually have to disagree with #3 in your first list because it's your job to make sure your child isn't taking anyone's stuff regardless if they have it out or not. At our mall there isn't any food aloud except young babies bottles. So, if my baby is drinking his bottle on the floor, it's up to the other child's parent to distract them from taking it away. Sorry. This all ties up with the supervision point, if you are watching  your kids, then this situation won't happen.  And also with the entrance part. Again, if people are watching then the children cannot leave on their own. Other than that I think it's a great list of things to think about.

[beachmamaof2]

Sep. 13, 2009 at 9:45 AM

officerjoeys - I have no problem making sure she isn't taking other kids drinks; although IMO those should be drank sitting down on the bench not all over the play equipment where they could be set down and tripped over; however our mall also has a no outside food & drink "rule" and yet this woman still thought it was ok to have her iced coffee beverage on the ground in between her feet...sorry that ticks me off...esp since all she'd had to do was pick it up and set it next to her on the bench for a few mins...it's just common courtesy to me...

And yes I'm watching her at the entrance; watching her make a break for it! lol  Along with a bunch of other kids; I can only stand in the entrance way and catch mine.  First they could design it so it wasn't so enticing and second just because I'm there to keep my kid inside doesn't mean I should have to stop everyone else's child from running off as well.

(Original Poster)