English in the playground

[TitoBr]

Hello everyone!

The idea here is to debate about the appropriate English usage while having fun with a sweet little girl (my 2-year-old daughter) in the playground.

Whenever we are playing there some doubts arise and I'd like to have them checked here. So now that the context is set, let's move on to the first debate.

See-saw, swing, slide, merry-go-round etc they are all rides, aren't they?
Is there any other general name to address them?
Whenever I want to encourage her to go to a different ride I say: wanna ride that one, how about riding the slide now etc.

Since I've never seen any other English speaking parents using such sentences while playing in the playground I decided I needed to check if they sound natural or if they could have a more appropriate version.

Cheers,
Tito

[emsr2d2]

Do you want to go on the slide? (We don't use "ride the slide".)
How about going on the roundabout now?
Shall we go on the swings?
Let's go on the see-saw!

As you can see, in BrE, we mainly say that we "go" on a ride, whether it's in a child's playground or at the funfair/theme park.

[5jj]

When I am in a playground with my Czech (honorary) grandson, I am more concerned that he enjoys himself than that he picks up correct English from me.

[TitoBr]

Darn it! I knew 'ride a slide' sounded strange, but I didn't have another way to make the invitation. From now on I'll use 'go on'. Thanks!

[TitoBr]

When I am in a playground with my Czech (honorary) grandson, I am more concerned that he enjoys himself than that he picks up correct English from me.

Aye, but you are not a foreigner struggling to learn the language.

[5jj]

Aye, but you are not a foreigner struggling to learn the language.

My grandson is. I do my best to help him acquire English, because I think it will benefit him in later life. However, when we are together in our role as grandfather/grandson, I really don't worry too much about the grammatical accuracy of the language I use / he uses. If we are talking about language, I explain how we say things in English, but I will not allow my love of English to deprive a child of his childhood.

[TitoBr]

The playground is an awesome place to learn English and experience it as in any other class.

[bhaisahab]

The playground is an awesome place to learn English and experience it as in any other class.

It might be a good place to learn. I very much doubt that it's "awesome".

[emsr2d2]

It might be a good place to learn. I very much doubt that it's "awsome".

Or awesome.

[Tdol]

merry-go-round

If it's this sort of thing they're discussing here, I'd call it a roundabout, which is more what I associate with a playground, but others may use different words. To me a merry-go-round is more what you're get at an amusement park or fair.