A whip on the playground?

Question

I just got back from the playground. School is out so there was a mix of ages...from little babies to 9 and 10 year olds. I noticed two moms who were there had their hands quite full with (between the two of them) 1 toddler, 1 baby, 1 prek and 3 grade school boys I would guess to be no more than 9. At one point I notice the boys are playing with a whip and whipping it at the preschooler. I looked at the moms. They didn't notice. Should say something? Then I saw them look over at the boys, smile and wave. So, they knew the boys had a whip and didn't mind. Hmm. I made sure to keep my kid away from them, and so did every other parent, I noticed. Should I tell them that a whip isn't appropriate for a playground? I overheard them tell someone yes, it's leather and a real grown-up whip, not a toy. We get a lot of lectures from other parents for letting them play with it. Okay, so it'd be no good saying anything. And I know they have their hands full, but WTF. I just left.

Answer 1

I agree with you that is not appropriat i dont know what the moms were thinking

Answer 2

I believe there are many mothers out there who do not discipline their children, simply because they do not care and they don't know how to take control of their children. It is pretty frustrating when you're children are playing in the same playground as their children. Sometimes I cannot help but to say something these careless mothers !!

Answer 3

How about, "I am not comfortable with my kids being around the whip play.  Would you mind putting it away while we are here?"

Answer 4

That is completely innappropriate. You should say something if you see it again. Just tell them that you feel they are endangering your child by letting their kid use a weapon on the play ground...because in reality thats what a whip is. A weapon. It is used to cause serious physical harm to others. You should not have to leave a location because a child is playing with something that could harm you...not to mention the poor toddler that was getting the whip lashed at him! That thing could take out an eye or something! Wow im really suprised to hear that parents (regardless of how full their hands may be this is a serious error in judgment) actually allow this to happen.

Answer 5

I'd tell them exactly what you think, and say it dangerous and this should of thing should be kept in the privacy of their home away from harm of other people children. If they say no call the police that orta stop them!

Answer 6

i think you should say something, i mean a WHIP!, the kids could get hurt, you know you should so do it. don't worry about what the think.

Answer 7

I'd say something.. but that's just me.  Some people are idiots.

Answer 8

If this were to happen again, I would contact the police immediatly. A whip is a weapon, and it is NEGLECT to allow a child to play with a weapon like that. They could serious harm themselves or others.

Answer 9

call the police this could be considered a deadly wepon!

now a 9 yo. will not likely be able to do much damage, but what if that got wrapped around the neck and he began to pull to untangle it...making matters worse.....

not to mention it can break the skin.

also what if he tried to do the swinging thing whiped it on a tree branch and not being strong or skilled tried to swing it slipped and fell and got hurt (really he is 9 he doesn't think that far in advance)

a whip is a deadly wepon (and the parent would be facing charges not the child at all)

i get a toy so he can be like "indy" but even that can hurt, and indy uses his to hurt others and grab things and get himself around. even a a toy it is a toy that would be made to hurt people (other children), it is bery unlike a nerf gun (that shoots soft foam balls or darts (still shouldn't be aimed at people as the packaging says)

granted mom said to him don't hit people with it, but that kid had his eye on his mom like a hawk...he was watching her better then she him, that is how he knew when to stop attacking a small child

if the police were called they may order him to court for harming a small child or attacking a small child, but not nessisariily for use of a deadly wepon.....and he may be ordered to seek counsling (or his parents for him)

if you see it again, call the police it is being used as a wepon and can be classified as a deadly wepon (the police may even confinscate it)

and hoorah to all the parents who kept their children from this boy!

Answer 10

Hmmm. That is a tough one, if they/the children's parents allow them to play with the whip that's their problem but allowing it to be taken to the park it becomes everyone's. You could suggest to them that they get a toy whip. I know that an "Indiana Jones" one is on the market that is just a narrow, hollow sleeve of cotton with a soft end weighted by stuffing beans- you could suggest this.

Answer 11

Lord, yes. What's it going to take, the big kids putting out the little kid's eye, or slicing his face, to make you feel like it's okay to object?

These women, hands full or not, were not being responsible, and every parent has the right to speak to them so they may take the dangerous item away.

If it happens again, start by saying to another parent, "Geez, those kids are swinging a whip around. Somebody could get really hurt." If she agrees, add, "Would you come with me to talk to the moms?" If two or more parents approach and object, it's more likely to be taken seriously.

You could also call 911. Seriously. The police are not going to tolerate a leather whip being swung on a playground with little babies present. If you can't stand up to the other moms, they can.

Answer 12

If they had come near my Son, I would have flipped. Even without I think I would have said something to the parents. What were they thinking?

Answer 13

THOSE MOTHERS ARE STUPID AND THEY DON'T DESERVE CHILDREN. SHOULD CALLED THE POLICE.

Answer 14

Thats really friggin bad parenting . horrible . that many kids too youd think they would know that one of them can get hurt . . disgusting . . after all those lectures too youd think at least ONE of them would make them think . .hmm maybe i shouldnt let them play with that real leather whip . ..

edit : and im just thinking about it now , what kind of people are these! why do they even own a whip . thats sick!

Answer 15

that's weird. why would a parent ever let their elementary school kid even play with a whip, especially at a playground? that's absurd. bad parenting

Answer 16

I only would have said something if they were playing with it close to the other kids.