Etiquette in public play areas

Thanks ladies! The info has been useful, and I react the same way that most of u do. My LG starts creche next year, which is the next challenge I face.

I must say I get very pissed off with parents who dont watch what their children are doing in the play area. Children can be rough, and we have taught Em from day one to be careful when other children are around.

I will take her out of the play area if I see things are getting out of hand. - And quietly seeth in my seat. One day I will gather up the nerve to go and crap the parents of the rough child out..

I often take the boys out and while I do not hang out with them, I can (almost) always see them when playing.

Generally, like Julz, i leave them to sort out their own little tiffs, unless I see it getting out of hand. If another child knowingly hurts one of mine, I do go down to their level and tell them it is not nice behaviour to hurt someone else - I do it calmly. If it is one of my children that started, I make them apologise, and if the other parent is nearby, I apologise to them as well

Basically I treat all children as I do my own. Okay to be honest, I am actually harsher on my own. But if I see a child crying I will go offer comfort and take their hand to find their mom/ dad. If another child does something that deserves a "well done" I give them one, and if another child misbehaves, i let them know it is not acceptable behaviour

Dylan will be three so he is at the age where I will watch from a distance. If he insists on jumping on the trampoline and I can't see, I will go and stand near it.

Dylan was standing on the chair at one of the games at the spur and a boy, older than him, went up to Dylan and pushed him backwards off the chair. I saw it and most certainly told the boy off.

Usually I tend to let kids sort themselves out. Dylan is small for his age, but very strong willed and will try to take other children's toys. I do tell him to give the toy back though, but again without getting too involved.

I guess a bit of tug and war is fine and kids need to sort themselves out, but I will step in and remove my child if I see another child being too rough. I won't say anything to the other child unless he does something really dangerous.

1st time mom - this is tricky. My LO is only 15 months, so at this point I still have to be with her ALL the time, so I just remove her from the area if children are playing wildly. Sad, but it's the only thing I can do really even though she sometimes kicks and screams. I am not one who will reprimand other peoples children.

Yesterday, a little girl ran into EMily and knocked her over, I picked her up and she carried on playing. When she saw the LG again, she went over and hit her and said: "bad, bad". I was mortified and could not stop apologising!

Hi ladies

I'm sure most of you do frequent the public play areas at restaurants, parks, etc and wanted to know whether you have observed the following, and the best way to handle such situations:

- undisciplined kids/kids behaving selfishly and badly with or without parent supervision

- parents who are obsessive over their children's safety thus reprimands other kids playing in the common area even though they are well behaved.


I'm just curious as my husband and I always ensure that we are watching our child whenever she plays in these areas, and also monitors her behaviour. I'm also not sure that parents, especially strangers, will take kindly if someone does disagree with either their behaviour or their kids, and some could take it personally, hence the question.