Recently I took my 8 year old granddaughter and a friend to the new Adventure Playground at Oatley Park.
It seemed like every family and their dog was there.
Just like the set of a Dr Seuss movie, it was mind-boggling - a place of perpetual motion.
It was impossible to keep track of the children. Thankfully my granddaughter was wearing a pink fluoro t-shirt.
But wait - that's not her! It's someone else with the same t-shirt.
I was starting to feel overwhelmed so we had a brief period of respite walking the 200 metre path to the toilet block. There was no toilet paper left and the floors were muddy. Never mind.
The grassy oval looked peaceful and inviting, but back into the fray.
My aim was to leave at 4.30, but how can they hear me from the top of the metres high tower? I can't see them either. Oh no, they've disappeared altogether. Don't panic, I'm sure they're OK.
Her friend materialises from the bottom of the giant slide. Where is my granddaughter? She's still in the slide. Two boys are sitting inside it, stopping her from getting out.
Playgrounds are so much safer than they used to be, aren't they?
Helen Shum, Penshurst
