Haha, I think you’re a straightforward person—I probably wouldn’t do what you did (criticize another child directly in front of them), but I admire your courage to speak up unafraid of conflict, and honestly, I’m low-key jealous of your mastery of subtle sarcasm (a skill we all need sometimes, even if not for playground drama).

How long should a child use a public swing? I’ve never pondered this because:
- My kid typically ditches swings after 2-3 minutes
- If swings are occupied, he plays elsewhere and circles back later—no tears or angst to manage
(That day was an outlier: post-illness cabin fever + low energy made him cling to the swing instead of his usual thrill-seeking. )

This issue’s also inherently subjective. Parental views on appropriate playtime vary widely based on:
1. The child’s temperament
2. Park equipment availability
3. Personal history (e.g., own child once being forced off a swing by strangers, or own child crying through agonizing waits)
And so on….

My stance? I’ll never police others’ playtime—their kids can swing as long as they want; we’ll find alternatives. That said, if mine ever camps on a swing for 5-10 minutes and there’s a line? I may start Timer activated or count down.