Playground Etiquette Question

Lots of playground equipment. Move on and come back. Asking parents to get their kids of the swings is ridiculous.

I have never seen a line at the swings. I would just go and play somewhere else until I see them get off. I don't think you should say anything. It's a public park and anyone can use anything for as long as they would like.

Hmm, I don't think I ever stood in line for a swing. It seems like if the swings are full you move on to something else. Isn't it easier to distract a child with another activity rather than stand around? I would just watch for an opening out of the corner of my eye.
In elementary school (where I did yard duty) the kids were given a time limit (usually two minutes) if other kids were waiting but that's because recess was only 15 or 20 minutes long.

Waiting your turn means waiting until the person before you is finished. If the swing is the ONLY thing your child wants to do, then stand there and make sure your child gets to be the next one on... otherwise, if the swings are full, you just go play something else, and head back to the swings if one frees up.

It's a swing... at a playground... no one has paid to be there, no one loses out on anything if they don't get on the swing. The "reasonable amount of time to continue to swing" is however long you're still enjoying it. In terms of how long you should wait before approaching another parent who's child is on the swing is forever. Seriously.

HTH
T.

If my daughter had been swinging for five minutes and you approached me to say her "turn" was up.... You actually might render me speechless. Or I would think there was something wrong with you- like a disability or an anxiety or social disorder. I'm not kidding.

I've been at my share of playgrounds all over the country. I've never seen a line or a time limit for playground equipment.

I have never asked anyone to get off the swings so my child could have a turn. I think proper etiquette is to simply wait until they are free.

My experience has been that if other children are using the swings, you play somewhere else until swings are available. If the swings keep being unavailable, you swing the next time you come.

Most children don't swing for a half-hour - it only seems that way. The trouble is that even a couple of minutes seem like forever when you're the one waiting. Happily, swings *don't* come with parking meters - put a nickel in and sit in the swing for five minutes....

There is not a real time limit for this. Generally when a parent shows up and my child has been on the swing for a bit I make it clear to my child that we should let someone else have a turn. Yet if I finally got on the swing and the person shows up around the same time I do think it is super annoying if they loiter around the swing.

At my kids' preschool there is a rule that when the child is using the item (toy/swing/tri-cycle) it is theirs until they put is down. The idea is that they will eventually put it down. They are not good at sharing or taking turns. I think this rule helps the teachers who may not be able to keep time of all items with all kids.

Wait your turn. That happens when it frees up.

I would never, ever approach a parent to tell them "hey, I'm waiting".

Here's the thing-- I rarely ever see a 'line' for the swings at our parks. Usually it's just catch as catch can. When I take my son to the playground or park, if something is occupied, I tell him "well, let's find something else to do for now and we'll check on it later". No problem. When they are little, I don't think we need a marathon swing session-- I would push them for about five minutes maximum... but not because of other people. I'd just get really bored standing there pushing!

Wouldn't wait in line, we'd go find something else to do. They got there first they can stay in the swings as long as they want. When they left we'd go see if we could get on before someone else got on.

Honestly this may sound really selfish but I don't make my DD (she just turned 3) get off the swing even if there is a line. Normally she has waited her turn and trust me we have stood there waiting for 20 minutes, so when its her turn she can swing as long as she wants. Normally its no more than 10-15 minutes because that's all the pushing my arms can handle :)

I think if a parent approached me about it I wouldn't really care. I would more than likely tell you if it just so happened that when my DD was ready to get off you were standing near by I would wait to take her out of the swing until you came back over with your kid.

You just wait your turn. Kids swing and then run off. I would not stand and wait. Just go to something else.

I personally just wouldn't even bother getting in line. I mean, playgrounds are a place for kids to run around, burn up some energy, and be social. If all everyone's doing is standing in a line, being passive-aggressive with other parents, then what's the benefit for the kids? 14-month-olds are easy to redirect: just say, "Oooh, look -- the slide's free! Wheee!" If swings are a hot item for whatever reason, then come to the playground when it's not so crowded.

If someone is on the swing I say you need to find somethign else to do. The person on the swing is not going to get off for you. I've seen kids who will purposely stay onthe swing because they are not swinging just because anohter kid wants it. So if my child is on it she can stay on it until she is done using it. If someone else starts trouble I say we are using it now why not try again later. I will not be bullied by some pushy moms who think their kids can stay on for a half hour but my kid needs to get off in ten minutes

Try sighing loudly.

Or say, to no one in particular, "Wow, the chain on that swing looks like it is about to break...sure would hate to be on that swing when it crashes to the ground...."

Swing should clear out soon enough.

If my kids have already been on the swing for several minutes when someone comes up to wait, I usually have them off within 1-2 minutes. But, if they have only been on for a couple of minutes, I usually will give them another five or so, and I will tell the other mom that we just got on.

Some parents would think that, but that doesn't mean that they would be "right". Playgrounds have a lot going on, especially with the different developmental stages floating around. Sometimes there are lessons being taught. Sometimes that is the only reason they came and the only toy they'll play with. It's nice when this can happen at an off peak time, but...first come, first served. It's nice of you to want to be more sharing, but I don't think that it's necessary, and I wouldn't expect it.

I have three little ones and if someone else is on the swing, I tell my kids to find something else to do and we'll check back later. If my kids are the ones on the swing and someone else is waiting, I will tell them to count to a certain number and they swing and then they'll get off when they reach it.

I don't mean to judge, but I have to disagree with a previous poster - Chacha. I strongly dislike passive aggressive behavior. If you want a turn on the swing, speak up and ask how long the person will be.

I'm a very courteous person. If I notice other kiddos waiting for the swing, I'll give my little guy a few more pushes and then move on.

When my kids were that young they would swing until I got bored with pushing. There was never a line because that would mean standing there with a really bored baby. Ya play, a swing opens up you swing, arms get tired, brain gets bored, you play somewhere else.

5 min seems appropriate. However, my son is typically good for 20-50 swings and wants off ... 3 min max.

You don't expect people to get off for you or your kid, no matter what the age. You want your turn, they wait their turn. I wouldn't leave my kid on the swing for half an hour, regardless of their age, so there shouldn't be a problem.

Interesting question I don't think I've ever really thought about it. If the swings were occupied we just did other things. If one opened up then we would head over, but I have never seen a line for swings before. If there was...I don't think there's be a time limit. They had it first and when they are done, they are done...

I remember there being a line in school, but not at a public park. When I'm with my kids, if a swing opens up, we run over there. Sometimes another child beats them to it, but then we just find other things to do.

M.
Moms Helping Moms Work at Home
www.homeisgreat.com

I don't have a set number of minutes in mind, but honestly, I don't love pushing my kids on the swing. It defeats the purpose of taking my kids to the park if I'm the one physically exerting myself while they just sit on a swing. I am happy to have any excuse to make them go do something else.