Toddler Mom

I enjoy playing at Kids at Play at Market Mall with my toddler. He is under two, and is still a little wobbly on his feet. Needless to say, I am always close by, ready to help him up or redirect him when he gets into trouble (pushing, shoving, tantrums, etc). I wonder, though, if anyone else has the same problem I do.

Some parents send their kids in, but sit on the sidelines, outside the enclosure, and merely 'supervise'. They talk on their cell phones, chat with their friends, or lose sight of their kid inside the enclosure. I cant help but wonder how many times my son has come across a slightly larger preschooler who played 'King of the Castle' on a favorite climbing structure, kicking and pushing my son (bruises, tears, frustration ensure- with Mom or Dad on the outside, sometimes watching- and often NOT.

I wonder- what are the unwritten rules about ensuring that your kid (or my kid) doesn't make some other kid's playtime less than fun. I know that kids push and shove, but when we only have 30 minutes to play in there, but I can't help but wonder if all parents couldn't be there to help redirect their kid. Its one thing to appologize when your preschooler jumps off the police car onto my son, and an entirely different thing to help your kid to avoid that situation entirely. Perhaps you could save the trouncing of toddlers for a time when the toddler in question is your own kid, and not mine.