I wish parents would explain principles of basic civility to their children when sending themwhen sending theim to our parks. The language (and other forms of rudeness) on display at Reeves Park daily is insufferable.

I was reading a Facebook post from another new mom/personal friend yesterday who made the same observation about a mom who sat on a bench essentially yelling and cursing at her own children at the top of her lungs without ever actually getting up and going over to her child. This is something I have observed first-hand over and over again over many years of taking my three children to playgrounds.

I think the "Golden Rule" should be a blanket, baseline for playground etiquette for not only children but for parents too. As a single parent there is usually no one else who can take the kids to the playground (outside of school or nanny time).

As a dad and a man it is a different experience than for a mom or a woman (nanny). It was never a time for me to socialize on the sideline . Keeping an eye on three kids at a crowded playground, especially when they are young and full of energy was not a relaxing part of my day. It was 'push me on the swings,' 'help cross the monkey bars,' 'catch me at the bottom of the slide' all at once.

Very often other parents' kids would ask me to push THEM on the swings at the same time. While I was happy to do it when I could, I am always astounded by parents who just sit and watch.. every time. Often the same parents would tell me how much their kids loved it when "I was there to play too!" I often came home exhausted, but I never looked at playground time as a chance to relax and socialize. I often wished other parents wouldn't either.

I wish the parents would get off of their phones and actually interact with their kids. I see texting, talking, Facebook, etc. being done by the parent as their kids play. Drives me crazy.

How about Mom's and Dad's talk? I was very active in my son's life, taking him to the park all by my male self. In fact, a significant portion of the parents at the park (usually Pretzel or Gorgas) were men, though not a majority. The parents you criticize for not playing with their kids are the parents actually doing the right thing - taking them to the park to socialize! Too many kids are shelved in day care or hidden from the light of the sun while their parents watch television. At least these parents get their kids out of the house, and the occasional squabble is simply those kids learning the skills of real life, one Tonka truck controversy at a time.

Well said Rox! I interact with my kids all day...I take them to the playground to play. Yes,I will play with them, but they can go play with other kids as well. I text on my phone, and chat with other parents while there, and also keep an eye on my kids. If they need help, I will help, and will push them if needed....but I do not need to be the only person they play with.

The parents I am referring to are the ones who sit down and stare at their phones from the moment they get there to the moment they leave. I have a toddler so he still needs to be watched as there are usually places he can fall off of playground equipment. I feel like I am always helping kids out whose parents have their faces in the phone. I also do not want my kids to have memories of me staring at my phone. What is so important in that text?