Mums give controversial explanations for confusing playground item

"You're doing it wrong," one boldly tells every parent in the world. But many disagreed.

Mums in a parenting group have blown minds the world over with a startling revelation about a common piece of playground equipment.

It began when one confused mum asked, "How do your kids play on this?" and posted a photo of a parallel bars extending from an elevated fort, to the ground.

It had no rungs on which to climb, nor did it have a seat.

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"Is it a slide, or climbing bars?"

Many recognised it as a common piece of equipment but offered a variety of explanations.

"It's a slide. Legs over each pole and slide down," read one suggestion, to which another agreed, writing, "It’s a slide. Bum in the middle, lay back, arms and legs over the sides."

But there was a lot of debate about whether it was instead something for kids (with brute core strength) to climb.

Image: iStock

Image: Hang Glider®

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"I think they're monkey bars of some sort?"

One parent shared, "My daughter used to use them as monkey bars when she was little, starting from the bottom to the top."

But person disagreed: "No, it's for using your hands and arms to walk up and down building strength in upper body like gymnastics."

To add fuel to the fire, this mum unhelpfully added, ""My son uses it as monkey bars but yeah, it's meant to be a slide."

A number of parents shared videos of how their children played on the bars, which again did nothing to help anyone confirm what the "right" way to play is.

Do we finally get an answer?

A playground equipment website has described the structure as a "hang glider."

The product description recommends the apparatus for use in children aged eight to 12.

"Kids can shimmy up, slide down, and swing through this wavy playground glider," they said.

According to the manufacturers, the bars "develops creativity and builds upper-body strength."

There's your answer: encourage your kids to use their imagination!

But for this author, there's more to the story. After many hours spent with my son watching him struggle with the bars, feeling I've failed as a mum in some way, I almost have a trauma associated with them. 

Now, I know at least - it wasn't just me. I am not alone.

I hope that's some consolation to other parents feeling guilty for their lack of activities knowledge out there.

How do your kids use these bars? Tell us in the comments on Facebook.

Originally published as Mums give controversial explanations for confusing playground item