https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 10 May 2026 22:12:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/4#post-2483933 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 22:41:17 +0000 QueensBee 2483933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't read through this whole thread so this may have been mentioned earlier but...<br /> The question reminds me of a parenting book that's on my Amazon wishlist, "It's Okay to Go Up the Slide."</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Its-OK-Go-Slide-Confident/dp/0399172009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1457062493&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=up+the+slide" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Its-OK-Go-Slide-Confident/dp/0399172009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1457062493&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=up+the+slide</a></p> <p>It hasn't been released yet so I can't summarize the author's reasoning right now, but I will report back on March 8th!</p> <p>In the meantime, I'm a believer that my kid should know when it's okay and when it's not okay to go up the slide. If the playground is busy and lots of kids are using the slide, don't go up it. If there are a handful of kids in the playground and no one is using the slide, sure, climb up it. I think it's good for him to learn to assess a situation and make a smart decision. He'll be 3 in a few weeks and I think he's completely capable of this type of reasoning. </p> <p>In practice, it hasn't actually come up. He's never tried to go up the slide in the playground when I'm around! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/4#post-2483911 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 22:06:07 +0000 Finfan 2483911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/4#post-2483856 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 20:53:11 +0000 FannyMae 2483856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I do this type of "reverse helicopter" parenting too! Its not about making sure your kid is alright, its making sure they don't annoy other kids haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/4#post-2483246 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:52:44 +0000 Anagram 2483246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to come back to this thread and say that yesterday there was a boy at our local park that was being annoying to all the other kids around him--and his mom was sitting and chatting with another mom, and frequently would glance over at him and did nothing.</p> <p>But he didn't climb up the slide. No....Instead, he went up the steps, and sat at the slide. And sat. And sat. And sat. When other kids tried to go around him to slide down, he swatted them away and continued to sit. And sit. When another mom asked him to go on down the slide, he shouted NO! and refused to go down.</p> <p>My point is that, there's a lot of ways to teach a kid respect and they don't necessarily involve the simplicity of "don't go up the slide". And then, call me a helicopter parent if you please, but that's why I shadow my kid playing. She can do or play where she wants, but I'm nearby, so I can make sure she's not being annoying to other people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482529 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 08:30:20 +0000 hilsy85 2482529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: @Ajsmommy: as @catomd00: pointed out I have actually never seen this rule posted at the park. The only rules involve things like wearing shoes, no adults without kids allowed, no smoking/littering, etc...our park has no rules about how the equipment can/should be used. If we were at a playspace where there was a posted rule about not using the equipment in a particular way, we would obey of course!</p> <p>Anyway, don't want to belabor the point--to each their own! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482456 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 07:12:42 +0000 Ajsmommy 2482456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: I agree 100% </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482359 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:28:28 +0000 meganmp 2482359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's cool to hear different perspectives! I think it is interesting that people are saying that they would say no to climbing up the slide just because that is not what the intended use is. I'm curious if this rule applies to trees, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482356 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:26:22 +0000 catomd00 2482356@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: where is this supposed rule written? It's not a law! Sure, if it's a posted rule by all means everyone should follow it, but I have a real issue being told something is a rule that must be followed by everyone when there's no origination or formal enforcement of said rule. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482347 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:10:55 +0000 Greentea 2482347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting thread. No way. I am all about free spirits and letting kids use things creatively and freedom, but I think proper use of equipment is important and respectful. I don't find it safe or respectful to use equipment for anything other than the intended purpose. My DD 2, it is usually older kids going up a slide.</p> <p>Perhaps (people who allow this), you are referring to smaller slides (ours are humongous). I also broke my arm falling off the top of a slide (as an adult- just kidding!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482343 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 23:03:42 +0000 catomd00 2482343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This isn't a parenting battle I choose to try and win. It's playing and supposed to be fun! As long as no other kid is around and the slide isn't super slippery, she is free to play and explore however she wants. If she gets run into while doing it, well there's a natural consequence for you! It's not harming anyone. We have been to specific playground with posted rules that say no climbing up the slides and in those instances we follow the rules. She just turned 2 and has no issue distinguishing at which places she can and cannot do it when I tell her: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482331 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 22:53:43 +0000 Mrs.ThinMint 2482331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely. If other kids want to go down the slide then I make him move. He's only 19 months, so he doesn't understand to move on his own, but I feel like it's something he could eventually differentiate the difference between. I try to be as hands off as possible at the playground. But if he is in the way of other kids I will definitely intervene. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482293 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:54:13 +0000 Mrs. D 2482293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs.shinerbock: I've always said no, because it's not called a climb.</p> <p>However I've loosened the rules and let her do it. At McDonalds playland it's the only way she can get up, she can't figure out how to pull herself up the stairs, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482283 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:42:26 +0000 Happygal 2482283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sketchbook: I see your angle here, but your kid with the smashed head may not be the only one hurt in that crash. The crasher doesn't just plow on unscathed, unless you've got some mega slides our parks do not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482263 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:27:07 +0000 Mrs. Pink 2482263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I'm so over protective- having her even in the enclosed play place at McD's has me on edge when there are any other kids around.... it's really bad </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482253 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 21:21:40 +0000 Mrs. Pink 2482253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. I mean- she has, because she's seen other kids doing it at play places (those are the only slide's she's encountered so far) but if I catch her I make her come out *or* go in/up after her and remove her if she won't come. It's not really safe to me-- but usually when she's doing it, there are other kids around and it's more or less me being paranoid that my pipsqueek is going to get hurt by a bigger kid falling or sliding down and knocking her down.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482167 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 20:28:53 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 2482167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a crowded thread so why contribute? Lol! Nevertheless.... I think it is good for my kid to get his head smashed a few times at the playground. Truly I think that kids learn from experience and I try to have boundaries not rules so what better way for him to learn than from experience? So far it hasn't been an issue. I've noticed a lot of times other kids say "get out of the way!" To each other and the kids learn to regulate their physical behavior from each other. I don't think my kid will truly understand WHY it is a rule until he finds out for himself. But he is not a very aggressive playground kid. Maybe if it were a repeated problem I'd feel differently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2482026 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:45:42 +0000 NavyRN2012 2482026@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: Haha, I guess so! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481986 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:04:16 +0000 Happygal 2481986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NavyRN2012: ha! I think we're seeing two things: parenting styles and rule followers versus rule benders/breakers at play. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481934 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:17:56 +0000 Maysprout 2481934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: I think they were being silly. It's not against the rules at my dd preschool or the elementary school she'll go to. I donno, it seems more random to enforce an arbitrary rule on her that isn't really against the rules. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481923 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:09:06 +0000 Ajsmommy 2481923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: that link even says it's against the "rules"</p> <p>My issue isn't safety and isn't about trying to hamper a kids sense of adventure...for me it's about the trend.i see with many things where parents aren't enforcing rules just bc they don't agree with them. I just feel it's a slippery slope..... </p> <p>Trust me I'm not at the playground yelling at kids who are climbing the slide..however my dd will know the rule and will abide by it (when in my presence) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481920 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:05:52 +0000 deerylou 2481920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: +1! I've worked with OT's who encourage this for muscle strengthening. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481915 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 17:01:52 +0000 Maysprout 2481915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: yup, slides are multipurpose. IVe talked to a few people who teach going up slides in physical therapy.<br /> <a href="http://www.potsot.com/7-reason-to-climb-up-the-slide.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.potsot.com/7-reason-to-climb-up-the-slide.html</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481902 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:52:27 +0000 sarac 2481902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NavyRN2012: it totally is! I think the really issue is what does 'safety' mean. My parents were obsessed with it, to the point where I was actively discouraged from being active and taking risks. As an adult, I'm totally risk adverse, and I'm not very fit, despite lots of hard work. And I hate that. </p> <p>So it is very, very important to me that no one tries to hassle my daughter about their concept of safety that I don't share. I want her to be brave and strong in the ways that I was discouraged from being. She needs to be polite, too. But I'll never tell her not to climb something just because someone else thinks it isn't safe. And no one else gets to either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481877 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:33:16 +0000 misolee 2481877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No I don't. </p> <p>Also, as a preschool teacher, I say "up the stairs, down the slide" like 3000 times to 3-4 year olds who I'm sure has good judgment on when it's okay to go up and when it's not. Apparently at school, their judgement bar is set pretty low bc literally a teacher has to stand there to prevent it from happening. I've seen way too many accidents-bloodied nose, black eye, even stitches. I even had one student tell me her mom lets her do it so why not at school? That was a tough one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481832 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:04:16 +0000 NavyRN2012 2481832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Who knew whether or not we allow our kids to climb the slide was such a controversial topic? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481825 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:59:21 +0000 mrsjyw 2481825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think he's only ever tried once or twice and it was when we were alone? Just told him to be careful and that slides are for going down, especially when there are other kids playing too.</p> <p>I don't think it's a big deal either way as long as the kids are playing safely and they're not endangering other kids' safety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481824 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:59:17 +0000 deerylou 2481824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm, I guess I'm liberal when it comes to play. I encourage it to be open-ended and dual-purpose. I mean, I know some parents who don't permit their children to jump in rain puddles because of the potential mess. I'm the exact opposite, in that regard. </p> <p>Climbing a slide is DD's way of being an explorer on a mountain, bases on the baseball diamond are dinosaur dig sites, and the drinking fountain is a watering hole for her ponies. Obviously, if someone is waiting for the slide, wanting to play baseball, or get a sip of water, DD is expected to be polite and move over. We mostly play at a pretty deserted park. We do our best to foster awareness and manners and haven't run into issues with others. I was unaware this was such a hot topic. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481823 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:59:15 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 2481823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes I do. I've taught early childhood for a long time, so the "down the slide" rule is really ingrained in me, but I switched viewpoints recently. I agree with others about teaching kids how to be aware and respectful by yielding to kids going down the slide. But climbing the slide is creative and physically unique, so I think kids should be able to explore that way. Plus, I think its mostly a made-up "rule" (more like a social norm). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481820 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:57:22 +0000 hilsy85 2481820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ajsmommy: my son would probably love that :silly: might be difficult to do while carrying groceries though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-let-your-los-climb-up-the-slide/page/3#post-2481819 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:56:38 +0000 Ajsmommy 2481819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This thread is making me wonder why we have front steps.... They should be a front slide since so many people think that's proper use for a slide. Lol </p>