Tot lots rule but...

[Swing4TheRing]

...Being a prudent Outdoorsman, the general rule.....Wheres there are cubs/piglets, theres generally a big mean old Sow Bear/Hog close by!...

Like sharks to blood those sows coming running to get some Mud... (Hallmark Card)

 

[GKL]

Roll up in an inconspicuous vehicle and they'll pay you no attention.

Wear the right outfit and everyone will stay away
(seriously though, I would only want to detect in one if it was completely empty unless I knew the parent there)

 

[NectarDetector]

I am a parent of small kids and I am suspicious of anyone who looks out of place. To some, a man swinging a detector looks out of place and I feel as a COURTESY the detectorist should leave if kids/parents start showing up (this includes me when I am without my kids). The exception to this is if you can engage the parent (hard to do when most of them have their face buried in their phone) and let them know who you are, what you're doing and that you're on trash patrol. If the number of kids gets too high, just run for your life! LOL!

Agree 100% ...kids show up I leave because playgrounds are for kids 12 and under and none of us fall in that age range.

Kids show up be responsible and move on

 

[Skippy SH13]

Been having some good luck in the tot lots lately.

However, I feel like a creep searching them for some reason. Usually try to go at the crack of dawn to avoid being seen in them lol.

Anyone else feel odd searching them?

Nope, but I don't detect them wearing only a speedo. It could be the choice of your outfit.

*Cracks up*

 

[PlasteredDragon]

Nope, I don't feel weird hunting tot lots. However if other people are there, it's important not to appear threatening:

• Smile and say hello to any adults you see.
• If anyone questions you, answer honestly and convivially -- even if it is the 1000'th time you've heard this question. Often these conversations can get other people interested in the sport.
• If people seem to be worried about damage to the playground assure them that you (a) will not damage any equipment, (b) will properly fill in any holes or divots you make, and (c) will not puncture the liner under the wood chips.
• If people seem to be worried about you being in a place around their children, it's good to mention to them that you often find and remove dangerous objects that are hidden in the woodchips like rusty metal, sharp nails, and broken glass. Most people don't even realize that sort of thing is there, and knowing that you are cleaning it up helps them to understand that their kids are safer because of you, as opposed to less safe.
• If you've noticed any safety hazards in the playground, let other visitors know about them.
• If a child is using a piece of equipment stay away from the child's immediate vicinity -- the playground is for the kids after all. If that means you have to skip an area, skip it, or put it off for a little later when the kid moves on to something else. Don't huff and act like you are being inconvenienced when this happens.
• Kids will often be interested and want to follow you around. Be nice, smile and say hello and answer their questions. But remain focused on hunting -- you don't want to appear to be showing too much interest in the children.
• Don't let kids handle your detector or "help you hunt", tell them they may watch if they like but you're going to be doing the hunting.
• If a kid starts trying to dig with his hands because he's watching you, caution him not to. Remind him that there can be broken glass and sharp metal in the chips. It helps if you are wearing gloves because you can call attention to them.
• If a parent apologizes for or scolds their child from asking you questions, tell them it is not a problem, that it is natural for kids to be curious, and that they may want to look into getting a kid-friendly detector if their kid has a serious interest.

If any of that makes you nervous, then yeah, go at 5 AM or right after a rain. :-)

NOTE: I have had the cops called on me once while I was detecting in a tot lot. The officer spoke to me for a few minutes, and when it was clear that there was no issue, he went on his way and I spent the afternoon detecting there in peace.

 

[Silversmith45]

I never hunt them when kids are around. I made friends with the park guy who does the maintenance on the equipment and cleans up a lot of the trash. I let him see the broken glass and sharp metal that I have removed from the tot lot.
Teenagers party there at nights. The basketball court had so many broken beer bottles I wouldn't have allowed my boys to play there. The guy told me that the park has a machine that cleans the sand every now and then but he says they don't find many coins, just trash. They put in a new piece of equipment about a month ago. Sort of a globe shaped merry-go-round. The kids (or teenagers) have already broken it and they took it back out. A couple of years ago I found over twenty wheat cents there in real nice condition over a period of days. Some kid must have go into his father's coin collection.

 

[Silversmith45]

Nope, I don't feel weird hunting tot lots. However if other people are there, it's important not to appear threatening:

• Smile and say hello to any adults you see.
• If anyone questions you, answer honestly and convivially -- even if it is the 1000'th time you've heard this question. Often these conversations can get other people interested in the sport.
• If people seem to be worried about damage to the playground assure them that you (a) will not damage any equipment, (b) will properly fill in any holes or divots you make, and (c) will not puncture the liner under the wood chips.
• If people seem to be worried about you being in a place around their children, it's good to mention to them that you often find and remove dangerous objects that are hidden in the woodchips like rusty metal, sharp nails, and broken glass. Most people don't even realize that sort of thing is there, and knowing that you are cleaning it up helps them to understand that their kids are safer because of you, as opposed to less safe.
• If you've noticed any safety hazards in the playground, let other visitors know about them.
• If a child is using a piece of equipment stay away from the child's immediate vicinity -- the playground is for the kids after all. If that means you have to skip an area, skip it, or put it off for a little later when the kid moves on to something else. Don't huff and act like you are being inconvenienced when this happens.
• Kids will often be interested and want to follow you around. Be nice, smile and say hello and answer their questions. But remain focused on hunting -- you don't want to appear to be showing too much interest in the children.
• Don't let kids handle your detector or "help you hunt", tell them they may watch if they like but you're going to be doing the hunting.
• If a kid starts trying to dig with his hands because he's watching you, caution him not to. Remind him that there can be broken glass and sharp metal in the chips. It helps if you are wearing gloves because you can call attention to them.
• If a parent apologizes for or scolds their child from asking you questions, tell them it is not a problem, that it is natural for kids to be curious, and that they may want to look into getting a kid-friendly detector if their kid has a serious interest.

If any of that makes you nervous, then yeah, go at 5 AM or right after a rain. :-)

NOTE: I have had the cops called on me once while I was detecting in a tot lot. The officer spoke to me for a few minutes, and when it was clear that there was no issue, he went on his way and I spent the afternoon detecting there in peace.

I don't hunt when kids are around. I have had them grab my find before I even had a chance to look at it, pick up my detector if I set it down and one even stomped on my coil. If they arrive I go to the far end of the park where most won't follow me that far.

 

[Detectingman]

Some interesting thoughts. When kids are there I never stop to detect so usually go very early.

This morning before work I went on an early morning tot lot hunt. Found half a silver ring and a couple nickles. After about a half hour I look up to see two who I assumed to be employees staring at me. This was about 6:30 am and the school is on summer break right now. I had a feeling they didnt want me there so I took my detector and left. Now that school is going to be starting soon it may be harder to hit them without people being there, even early mornings.

 

[louie41]

Roll up in an inconspicuous vehicle and they'll pay you no attention.

 

[gentleone444]

Roll up in an inconspicuous vehicle and they'll pay you no attention.

Hahaha

Sent from my LG-H872 using Tapatalk

 

[sandgroper]

I dislike hunting in tot-lots which are packed with children, but there is a massive playground right next to an ice creamery (which we visit once every year or two because it's 250km+ away from us). It's always packed with children so I only spend half an hour there, but it's worth finding 30 or so dollars!

Best of all, the ice creamery only accepts cash so that's why there's plenty of money to be found. I haven't even hunted the lawns because the playground keeps me so busy!

 

[Mud-puppy]

I dislike hunting in tot-lots which are packed with children, but there is a massive playground right next to an ice creamery (which we visit once every year or two because it's 250km+ away from us). It's always packed with children so I only spend half an hour there, but it's worth finding 30 or so dollars!

Best of all, the ice creamery only accepts cash so that's why there's plenty of money to be found. I haven't even hunted the lawns because the playground keeps me so busy!

Yeah? That place you got is an unusual situation outside the normal Totlot parameters!....Heck! For $30 Id be in there risking a Charge from a Momma Bear all day long!! I'd dress like Pennywise the Clown even if thats what it took!

 

[sandgroper]

Yeah? That place you got is an unusual situation outside the normal Totlot parameters!....Heck! For $30 Id be in there risking a Charge from a Momma Bear all day long!! I'd dress like Pennywise the Clown even if thats what it took!

Problem is, this is not a 'public park' and therefore private property (but open to the public!!) I've been told off by employees before, but that hasn't stopped me yet!

 

[Skippy SH13]

If you feel "weird" hunting a tot lot, it's because of how the news and television shows present creepy adult males skulking around them. You've been sucked in to the guilt trip that they've been feeding you for decades.
(It doesn't help that it does actually happen.)
Be content in knowing that YOU aren't going to harm any kids, and there's no reason for you to feel guilty or "weird".
Besides, that digger you're carrying just might come in handy in stopping the creeper that does try something with a kid.

Roger

I leave my digger in the bag when I'm doing tot-lots. It prevents an errant kid from accidentally running into it while holding it.

It's too easy to sweep bark aside with my shoe, and use a pin-pointer. No need for digger in most cases. (and if so, I ensure I have a "blood circle" and then use it briefly before putting it back)

Skippy

 

[Skippy SH13]

I'm really glad to live in such a friendly area. I've been hunting now for 2.5 years (probably 800-1000 hours a year), and I've had a whopping 2-3 encounters with irritable adults, and never in a tot-lot!

I'm pretty friendly if kids come up, but only AFTER I look up and look around to make eye contact with a parent. I can usually tell which parent belongs to which kid, because they're watching the kid engage with me. Once I find a parent, I nod and smile, and then start talking to the kid.

If there's no parent/adult who I can find connected to the kids, I simply ask the kids one of two questions,
1) Are you allowed to talk to strangers? (and that usually sends them scampering).
2) Where is your parent (and that allows me to make eye contact or at least monitor where they are).

The exception is if they come up in a group 3-4 kids in a group, and I simply start answering questions and giving instructions, like "I need you all to stay back... further... further... YES, that's how far..."

Only if there's a single group of kids on a playground with a parent keyed in on what's going on, will I give them anything I find. yesterday, a mom with 3 kids was at a tot-lot I was detecting, and I gave each of them a few coins, a turtle pendant (costume), and at the end of it all, I called the little girl over (mom was watching and waving) to come get a kids ring I'd just pulled.

At the end of it all, the Mom wished me well, told me to have a good day, and we waved goodbye.

I think, those kinds of interactions are what make it possible for the NEXT MDer to have fewer problems with parents.

The key, though is to be obvious in your actions. either be obvious in your ignoring the kids (which I've done, and works very well.. parents quickly see you're not engaging with kids at all), or be obvious in your engagement. And when parents hear you say stuff like, "Are you allowed to talk to strangers," oddly, it's a quickly reassuring thing.

And never... ever... touch them. Though... I did have one grandmother bring a 5 year old over who wanted to say something to me. The grandmother watched with a big grin as the little girl came over gave me a big hug and said, "Thank you Mister, for cleaning up our park." It was SO FREAKING ADORABLE.... I gave her a handful of quarters. LOL Here eyes lit up like fireworks.

I've been doing the parks often enough, too, that the regulars (including the park volunteers, whom I know by name, now.) know me, and wave when I show up. It's nice.

Cheers!

 

[Silversmith45]

It's too easy to sweep bark aside with my shoe, and use a pin-pointer. No need for digger in most cases.
Skippy

A lot of the parks around here have went to a rubber pad under swings and slides. A lot of them have worn through and there is nothing under them but cement. They don't use bark in others, just sand. I hate trying to find something in wet sand.

 

[GKL]

I'm really glad to live in such a friendly area. I've been hunting now for 2.5 years (probably 800-1000 hours a year), and I've had a whopping 2-3 encounters with irritable adults, and never in a tot-lot!

I'm pretty friendly if kids come up, but only AFTER I look up and look around to make eye contact with a parent. I can usually tell which parent belongs to which kid, because they're watching the kid engage with me. Once I find a parent, I nod and smile, and then start talking to the kid.

If there's no parent/adult who I can find connected to the kids, I simply ask the kids one of two questions,
1) Are you allowed to talk to strangers? (and that usually sends them scampering).
2) Where is your parent (and that allows me to make eye contact or at least monitor where they are).

The exception is if they come up in a group 3-4 kids in a group, and I simply start answering questions and giving instructions, like "I need you all to stay back... further... further... YES, that's how far..."

Only if there's a single group of kids on a playground with a parent keyed in on what's going on, will I give them anything I find. yesterday, a mom with 3 kids was at a tot-lot I was detecting, and I gave each of them a few coins, a turtle pendant (costume), and at the end of it all, I called the little girl over (mom was watching and waving) to come get a kids ring I'd just pulled.

At the end of it all, the Mom wished me well, told me to have a good day, and we waved goodbye.

I think, those kinds of interactions are what make it possible for the NEXT MDer to have fewer problems with parents.

The key, though is to be obvious in your actions. either be obvious in your ignoring the kids (which I've done, and works very well.. parents quickly see you're not engaging with kids at all), or be obvious in your engagement. And when parents hear you say stuff like, "Are you allowed to talk to strangers," oddly, it's a quickly reassuring thing.

And never... ever... touch them. Though... I did have one grandmother bring a 5 year old over who wanted to say something to me. The grandmother watched with a big grin as the little girl came over gave me a big hug and said, "Thank you Mister, for cleaning up our park." It was SO FREAKING ADORABLE.... I gave her a handful of quarters. LOL Here eyes lit up like fireworks.

I've been doing the parks often enough, too, that the regulars (including the park volunteers, whom I know by name, now.) know me, and wave when I show up. It's nice.

Cheers!

Thank you for being such a great representative of our hobby, it helps people view our hobby in a more positive way !

 

[diggin4clad]

I'll hunt them when there's no one there. If kids arrive I'll hunt until I become the "pied piper" and they're following me around.

 

[mudwhale]

I just ask the Mothers if their children like candy...Suddenly, the place is empty!

 

[BBsGal]

A lot of the parks around here have went to a rubber pad under swings and slides. A lot of them have worn through and there is nothing under them but cement. They don't use bark in others, just sand. I hate trying to find something in wet sand.

One of the schools close to me started using rubber chunks on their playground. It's all formed into hard chunks in various shapes, not what I'd call kid friendly at all. The stuff is awful! It stinks trying to hunt in it, I only tried it once.

I can't imagine how it would skin up kids playing on it if they fell, whoever thought that one up needs to be slapped a good one, and whoever bought into it at the school needs a good smacking too.