1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice

Teens at tot lots

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by smheese, Mar 8, 2010.

  1. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2004
    Messages:
    1,311
    Likes Received:
    0
    The tennis courts, the BBcourts, the swimming pools, the walking trails, the Community Center - all places where adults can play and teens and kids should be able to as well!
     
  2. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    As others have said, there are appropriate places for teens other than tot lots. And as far a the behaviour towards children, I should have been more specific and stated those children who are not accompanied by an adult. There are plenty of tweener aged kids who are allowed to play without constant adult supervision.
     
  3. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,929
    Likes Received:
    69
    mine is such a tweener at 11. he and his friends DO avoid places where they see teens congregating in case they turn out to be jerks or bullies. he is ALSO too old to play on playground equipment and by the arguments here- shouldn't be on the tot lot either. :)
     
  4. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    But even those teens with no malice can cause harm if they simply play on the equipment. Much of it is not designed for larger/heavier children. One of the lots near us frequented by teens developed a crack in the slide, I am not saying it was necessarily (yeah, right) a teen but their constant playing on it probably weakened it significantly.
     
  5. fidothedog

    fidothedog Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2004
    Messages:
    313
    Likes Received:
    21
    The only time that I "hung-out" at a tot lot when I was a teenager was when I was up to no good (drinking, smoking, drugs or girls). Why? Because it was cleared space usually out of sight of the public with cover to ditch whatever you were doing.

    If I wanted to just "talk" with my friends, we would hang out around the house. The only reason to go to the tot lot was to be away from parents eyes.
     
  6. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    I am not 100% sure but the lot I mostly refer to near us has a sign stating the equipment is intended for 5-12 year olds.
     
  7. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,929
    Likes Received:
    69
    THIS i agree with 100%. the nearby benches and picnic tables are really where they should hang, not on the equipment made for smaller people. signs likely wouldn't change anything unless the sign said

    "this playground is monitored by video surveillance and you will be prosecuted for damaging equipment. your texting privileges will be taken away and we will tell your parents who you were here making out with. STAY OFF THE TEETER TOTTERS."
     
  8. Audrey

    Audrey Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2004
    Messages:
    906
    Likes Received:
    11
    There's a definite slant toward amenities around here for the preschool and elementary age groups, and all those kids grow to become preteens/teenagers. So while they're little, they get nice tot lots for playing outside and socializing, but when they cross that magical line you think they should stay in their house and yard. I think law-abiding teens visiting on tot lots should be tolerated. Maybe if you strike up a conversation you'll get to know them. Maybe they'll be your child's sitter or swim coach in a few years.
     
  9. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    But they are not using the tot lot for it's intended purpose. If no one is around, sure hang out, but if children show up, then leave. On the flip side, if there were a bunch of young kids playing (not basketball) on an empty basketball court and teeangers showed up wanting to play hoop, then THEY should leave.
     
  10. marielaveau

    marielaveau Voodoo Queen

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2004
    Messages:
    243
    Likes Received:
    2
    OK ... the folks that have a fair amount of dislike for "those damn teens hanging out" seem to have smaller children. I have a 16 year old daughter who likes to hang in the parks with her friends. They are respectful (even engage the smaller children) do not cause trouble. They like the swings and ARE CHILDREN. They are home by dinner and don't drink, do drugs or are engaging in vandalism. They have as much right to swing on the swings as anyone else. It's a public park, for EVERYONE.

    Remember, your little sweet darlings are going to be stinky teenagers someday and other parents of sweet little darlings are going to complain about your kids, calling them a menace, due to their age. What would be your position at that time.
     
  11. fidothedog

    fidothedog Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2004
    Messages:
    313
    Likes Received:
    21
    I have five kids with a 17, 15, 13 and 12 year old. My kids don't hang out on the tot lots. Period. There is no reason for them to be there. There are plenty of things for them to do.

    Now if they truly want to swing and that is all they are doing then I don't see a problem with it. None of my kids are really into swinging in their teen years.
     
  12. marielaveau

    marielaveau Voodoo Queen

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2004
    Messages:
    243
    Likes Received:
    2
    Soooo... older children have no right to hang out in a public playgound? If they are not harassing or being menacing, why can they be there?

    Full disclosure: My daughter is a member of the National Honor Society, takes dance classes and is very active in the School Of Rock. Neither she nor her friends are a public menace. They just meet each other in the MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE here in "THE BROADLANDS"*. *sounds snobby ... and is

    Fidothedog .. so what do your children do?
     
  13. SevenZero3

    SevenZero3 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2009
    Messages:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    Wow! I love living here! When did Broadlands become a 55 and older community!?!? I'll make sure that I do not follow my 2 year old down the slide because the equipment wasn't built specifically for me. Next time I see a teen out in the wild accessorizing one of our public parks for a few minutes out of their day, one they have every right to use, I will respectfully tell them to go home. The Board should hold an emergency meeting on this subject! This is anarchy. We need more signage! Maybe we can get the security company that we hired to enforce the rules! Boohoo.

    Three words to live by that will drastically change your life, the way you live it, and the impact you have on others: LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS. You are not that important. What you think doesn't matter. How you feel is irrelevant. Don't waste your time worrying about others, only worry about what is within your control.
     
  14. BigDog

    BigDog Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2003
    Messages:
    172
    Likes Received:
    9
    :rolleyes3:Totally agree.

    The park equipment needs to be clearly marked:
    - Slide ages 2-5
    - Swings ages 3-6
    - Tunnels ages 2-6
    - Seesaw ages 4-6
    etc...

    Maybe our homeowner budget can accommodate an armed guard to verify the ages!:pofl:
     
  15. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    You forgot, Ignore the advice of others.

    And FWIW, if you want to live YOUR life thinking you and your family are less important and irrelevant, don't try to drag others down to your aspirations!

    Look, it is not about a teen's legal right to go to a public tot lot, it is about WHAT IS APPROPRIATE.
    GENERALIZATION ALERT! If teens constantly play on the equipment, it will break sooner. If teens constantly hang out at a lot, parents and younger children will avoid it. If children do go to a lot when teens presently there and decide to stay, they will eventually hear language they shouldn't. Kids may try to emulate what the teens do, possibly trying some stunt where they get hurt.
     
  16. Audrey

    Audrey Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2004
    Messages:
    906
    Likes Received:
    11
    I think the key is respectful communication. I think everyone is important - you, your little kids, me, the teens, and the 55+ folks. I don't think everyone is right, but having this dialog may be opening some people's eyes...
     
  17. Thunderchild

    Thunderchild New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2008
    Messages:
    324
    Likes Received:
    2
    OK, let me get this straight, my son and his friends should not take my 6 year old daughter to the playground and chase her around on the equipment, as it is not appropriate. But, will they be allowed to sit and watch her play? And when they talk, the language needs to be approved by whom? I worry more about the parents and thier cell phone conversations, than I do with my son and his friends. Some of the conversations overheard while on the trails, store, etc.in the Broadlands include "Can you believe Shelia got a b**b job? Yeah, I know they don't look real at all!" Also, Tom has been running around with some woman from his office and Mary threw his @ss out!" I could go on and on, but it would be of no use.

    As for the teens at the BB courts, I agree the language there is bad, as I have had to tell the boys (some men) to watch what they say as there are too many young kids around. Most of the time I only have to ask once, but I have had to be more persistent in asking a couple of times.

    I have not had the pleasure of correcting anyone on the tennis courts yet, but I will be checking them out this summer as the wife and I start playing. I will let you know about the language there if warranted.

    As for trying to emulate the older kids, I know of 3 kids so far who while trying to use the monkey bars as designed have fallen and broken an arm or wrist. What really has me puzzeled is how the parents of appropriate age children let their kids climb all over the outside of the equipment, which I know is not how it was designed to be used.

    The playground areas for the most part are back in the wooded areas, I say let the HOA close all of these and move them out into open spaces and the teens won't want to hang out there as they could be seen by parents and neighbors. (just kidding)

    Shall we get into the debate regarding the walking/biking paths as the teens use these as well, not as designed. I have seen teens on roller blades, skate boards all the time.

    This whole thing is sad, when I was a teen and we hung out on the street corners talking well into the night. We were a bunch of long haired boys and some of us were not as well behaved as others but you know what? The adults had no problem talking to us and we were respectable of them and their property. So try talking to the teens and just maybe we can all get along.
     
  18. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2003
    Messages:
    5,236
    Likes Received:
    249
    I didn't say that. If they are there with a child than of course it is approriate.
     
  19. PDILLM

    PDILLM Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2009
    Messages:
    692
    Likes Received:
    60
    Shelia who? :)
     
  20. ayayagirl

    ayayagirl New Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Messages:
    329
    Likes Received:
    2
    I thought they did, right off Broadlands Blvd.......it's called Clyde's LOL!!!
     

Share This Page