These climbers are expensive, so the day care operator would be crazy not to accept PETA's offer.

This is similar to the type of climber used at Doggietown, USA, a daycare center for dogs where I used to work.

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | July 17, 2009 05:35 PM

Actually, no - one like that is not that expensive. Besides, people probably are going to be more generous by giving them a better (and hopefully more secure, i.e. put in the ground) playground and won't require ads on it unlike yours.

Plus, your ad on kids will have a backward effect - they'd probably get hungry seeing a kid eat (kids that age don't read well usually). Parents? - honestly, don't think they'll get to see this playground.

Posted by: Jade | July 18, 2009 10:36 AM

Have you changed your name to Jade, Kurt K? And I thought we were going to get a reprive from the bitching and moaning.

Posted by: Elphaba | July 20, 2009 09:07 AM

Elphaba, all I was doing is correcting Meg's inaccurate statement regarding the climbers. I personally have seen many of them, and frankly the Little Tykes ones such as the one above are not as expensive as claimed.

And - honestly, why give them something that can easily be stolen again? That's not bitching and moaning, that's reasonable thought and basic logic.

People are also more generous than I feel PETA would like to think (and hope). They tend to give from the heart and don't demand anything be put on said donated item. If the recipient chooses to, that's their perrogative, but most people I know who give do so because they want to see it benefit the kids. To me, this donation offer from PETA is insincere for that reason.

And, let's look at this logically - day care kids are usually too young to understand those ads - at least the ages that Little Tykes toys are made for - ages 1-3 mostly. Parents won't read them because they usually are only allowed in the pick up/drop off point (which is mostly away from the playgrounds).

If PETA wishes to donate the playground, fine, but don't be surprised and complain if they say choose to remove the signs. Once a gift is given, the recipient can do whatever they want to with it.

Posted by: Jade | July 20, 2009 10:51 AM

Nope. I'm still here!

Posted by: Kurt K | July 20, 2009 04:49 PM

I have to agree that the play set pictures does not look like an expensive or sturdy one. Something harder to steal would be more appropriate. But if this one is similar to the one that was taken, then maybe this is what the daycare wants. I wouldn't be surprised if they just painted over the ad, because if it's a gift, then they can do what they wish with it.

Posted by: Abby | July 21, 2009 12:04 PM

For many years I worked in day care centers, for both animals and children, and I can tell you, it does not matter if the daycare center is Headstart, an in home center, or a franchise such as Childtime, money is a major concern and all donations are welcome. And for some daycare centers those "inexpensive" climbers are out of reach, unless they are purchased at garage sales or from centers that are going out of business.

And parents did get to see the playground their children used, because at the centers I worked for they were invited to come and visit at anytime and play with their children. Usually the parents had to pick up their children from the playground area. They see the playgrounds.

By the way, some of the daycare centers that were in the most need were in wealthy areas; the parents could well afford both the tuition (they sent the kids there because the tuition was cheaper than other centers) and to give a donation if asked, but asking for money from those parents was like getting blood from a boulder. I have seen parents driving BMW's refuse to contribute 5.00 so the kids could have a special pizza lunch or field trip, so you can imagine what their response to contributing to playground equipment was.

Posted by: Rev. Meg Schramm | July 21, 2009 06:40 PM

Meg, just a few more points (though I respect your opinion):

1. While the costs may be high for a day care center to buy a new playground - my point was that people are not so stingy as to not help out their fellow man. And, yes, I feel that the poorer one is, the more generous one is. I've seen people hit by Ike and have nothing help others, sharing what they could among other generosities. Hell, I'm considered poor and I make sure to do one treat for someone when I can - last time it was a pack of cards for a child whose mom doesn't make much and was counting to see if she had enough to do both the toy and the cards for her child (she didn't).

PETA I feel thinks that people are and hopes that the day care will accept this playground with the signs so they can tout their views.

2. Some, but not all day cares do not allow parents to see the playgrounds. And, though I do not know how long you have been removed from day care work, today's society has changed and parents might not be allowed to go to playgrounds due to safety issues.

Now, as mentioned above it's possible that they would like a playground like this; however, from what I've seen it's not determined.

Plus, I've seen some really good and much more secure playgrounds for young kids. Hence, I feel it rather silly to give something to a group that will possibly be stolen again.

Posted by: jade | July 21, 2009 10:47 PM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the issue of the apparent lack of security at this playground. Someone can just wander in and steal an entire playset??? How about adding more security measures to the place where you send your CHILDREN.

Posted by: Rachel P | September 9, 2009 02:50 PM