The 13 Rudest Playground Behaviours You Or Your Kid May Be Guilty Of

"If you've got a restless child on your hands, getting to a playground can be a welcome relief. Your kid can run off some steam and find other kids to play with, and you may even get a moment to yourself to sit on a bench and relax. But the peace of playgrounds depends on a delicate ecosystem in which all the adults tacitly agree to the same codes of conduct, both for their children and themselves. One person's rude behaviour can sour the experience for everybody - and no one wants to be that parent."

"Too many times I've seen collisions between kids going down while another is climbing up. It's also just not fun for kids trying to use the slide how it's supposed to be used! I established the rule of 'go up the stairs and down the slide' at an early age with all my kiddos! - Jessica Baker, Oregon"

"My 2-year-old was going down the slide and someone allowed their very large and very friendly dog off-leash. The dog ran up the slide, charging in my daughter's face. She was startled, fell back and cried. We told the woman the dog needed to be leashed. Her response was that fear is a learned behaviour and we shouldn't be upset. Unleashed dogs, regardless of how big or small or how friendly, do not belong at a children's park. No dogs belong on park equipment. I am a dog owner. I have multiple large and friendly dogs that are on leash in public because it is the law, and it is the responsible and considerate thing pet owners need to do."

Playgrounds offer children a place to burn energy and caregivers a chance to relax, but rely on shared adult etiquette to remain safe and pleasant. Common rude behaviours include climbing up slides, allowing unleashed dogs on equipment, and older children using areas intended for toddlers. These actions create collisions, fear, and undermine the purpose of age-separated play zones. Simple, responsible practices—teaching slide rules, keeping dogs leashed and off equipment, and guiding older children to appropriate structures—preserve safety and enjoyment for all users.

Read at HuffPost