I recently took my son to a playground near our home. While there, we met a mom and two kids who inspired this post. They were very nice, very friendly, but very lacking in playground etiquette. It occured to me that what seem to me to be common-sense rules may not be so common afterall. So, without further ado, here are my Top 10 Rules of Etiquette for the Playground.
- Do not drink from someone else’s cup. (this applies to all of life)
- Do not use your cellphone to the point of distraction. (while your child drinks from MY CUP two feet away from you…)
- Do not push other kids down the slide. (especially giant 10+ foot slides)
- Ladders are for going up; slides are for going down. (confusing these two leads to blood)
- Do not throw sand or wood chips at other children. (more blood)
- Do not destroy another kid’s sandcastle. (this can only end in tears)
- Ask before pushing another kid on the swing. (screams, tears, possible broken things)
- Make sure all kids know the rules before you start a game of “Tag”. (confusion, tears, riotous behavior)
- Bring snacks for your own children so they don’t hover awkwardly while other kids eat. (awk.ward.)
- Introduce yourself and your children to the other people playing on the playground. Make friends!
What did I miss? Have you had some hilarious or traumatic learning experiences at the park? Do tell!
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