Broken glass and cigarette butts in sandbox: calls for better behaviour at public gatherings

Public playgrounds and communal benches in North Jutland have become popular spots for youth gatherings in the summer heat, but recent incidents have left behind litter and vandalism, DR reports.

At Børnehuset Brundur in Brønderslev, staff have arrived on multiple Mondays to find overturned flower pots, damaged toys, and broken glass in the stroller shed, according to Lotte Engelhard, deputy chair of the parent board. Cigarette butts have also been found in the sandboxes.

“It’s unsafe. What about the things we don’t find? Could there be something a child could get hurt by?” Engelhard said.

Similar reports have emerged from Elling, Vrå, and Klarup, where residents have posted on Facebook about shattered bottles and other debris left on shared spaces.

With summer holidays and longer daylight hours ahead, SSP in Brønderslev Municipality urges parents to discuss responsible behaviour with their teenagers. Mads Vinding Kjeldsen, a youth consultant, emphasised that parents remain responsible for ensuring their children can move through society without causing harm to others.

“You should be allowed to be out, but of course, you must treat things properly,” Kjeldsen said. He noted that while the issue is not widespread, a few individuals are spoiling it for the majority.

Kjeldsen advises against scolding and instead suggests setting clear expectations: “Talk to them about how they should behave. Set some frameworks and rules. That way, they don’t feel watched over but involved—as the young people they are.”

After Engelhard posted a call for better conduct in a local Facebook group, the problems at Børnehuset Brundur’s playground stopped. She hopes the improvement lasts, as the playground is meant to be open for public use.

“Our great play areas are a good opportunity to get out. We don’t want to lock the playground, but that could be the consequence,” she said.