Comments on: When Teens Take Over the Playground

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:28:34 +0000

See, now if I had been paying attention I would have noticed you were from here. Maybe I can get my kids involved with your activities?

Disrespectful behavior should not be tolerated, at any age. As a kid, also back in the stone age, I remember not having any place to go. We snuck into discos believe it or not or the horseshoe park. Times have changed but have still stayed the same.

By: CGabriel

CGabriel — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:44:55 +0000

Hi Jennifer. You make some very interesting points. Allow me to share a thought or two back in kind…

I’ve been to parks in England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland and France. You’re absolutely spot-on when you say no one gives young lovers a double-take. Different strokes for different cultures. However, here’s where I change course from you: In Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village (as an example), no one looks twice at the lovers, the pot smokers and the people doing much worse, either. But whether we’re in Europe, NYC or Wichita, the age a particular park is geared to, and not geared to, is generally pretty clear.

Also, if kids over 14 don’t have anywhere to go, I say get involved with activities through school or in the community. That’s what I did when I was that age back in the 1800′s. Sports, the school newspaper, language clubs, music…there were tons of things available to me other than hanging out at a neighborhood park. Besides my primary professional life in media, I also teach voice and acting at a children’s theatre company here in the Twin Cities to…12-17 year olds. Almost every one of them arrives at the theatre from other activities they’re involved in.

Finally, you said “Let the kids enjoy themselves as long as they don’t intimidate or bully the little ones.” Exactly. When the kids I mentioned came to the park, the loud, obnoxious behavior was completely out of line. And you’re right when you say they’re kids, too. But loud, boorish and yes, often disrespectful behavior isn’t fair to the little ones no matter what country we’re in.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 01:03:56 +0000

In our neighborhood parks there is an age limit posted. Children over 14 are not allowed to play in the park and they most certainly are not allowed to loiter there. I think this is sad. These kids really don’t have anywhere to go. My son is 15 and he and his friends spend most of their spare time in my home. It is horribly expensive to feed a bunch of 220lb, 6 footers. They are all very nice, respectful and I don’t mind them here at all. However it would be nice if there was some place they could go where they were welcomed.
As for their behavior at the park…they are still kids themselves, full of energy and hormones. Have you ever been to a park in Europe? Young lovers all over the place. No one looks twice at them. We are a bit more prudish here in the US. Let the kids enjoy themselves as long as they don’t intimidate or bully the little ones. In full disclosure I have a 5 year old as well and my son is very protective of her so he may act differently around her than other teens might.

By: Paulie Black

Paulie Black — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:01:17 +0000

My kids are somewhere in between playing at a park and vandalizing it. (8 and 11). I’ve always tried to teach them “Do onto others” and be (overly?) aware of your surroundings. We’ll see.

The park near my house is newly built this year and it has “suggested ages” on a sign posted at the entrance of the park. 6 to 12 on the bigger part and up to 5 on the smaller part. Does it make a difference? Suggestively…..