How do you manage 5 young children at the park?

[sunnydays]

In summer when it is busier at the park, I have a set of five matching brightly coloured sunhats, which helps a lot to keep track of them. I also establish rules right from the beginning...if anyone tries to leave the playground area, they are strapped into the stroller for a good while to think about their choice. Sometimes it takes many stroller times to get it for the young toddlers, but they do get it. Other than that, all I can say is I stay close to the younger ones who might fall from a play structure etc and I am constantly scanning the park, counting, checking what they are doing. I don't get to sit and watch from the bench, that's for sure! Some of the parks in my area have two play structures, one for the toddlers and a bigger one...I don't let any of the kids go on the bigger one as we need to all stay together in one place. Other than that, it's just something you build up to. And, if the park ever gets too busy, we leave because then it gets too hard to watch them all.