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AIBU?

To think this was an ill thought out expedition?

18 replies

thescruffiestgiantintown · 28/08/2016 21:34

I really don't know - this is a genuine question.

At soft play this afternoon (so really busy - I wouldn't have gone if DD hadn't been dead set on it) there was a group of tween boys with SN with some carers (? - they looked like old teens/young twenties).

Some of the boys were basically having a hard time coping with the environment but there weren't enough carers to be with them all. I was waiting for DD at the bottom of the slide and had to keep moving one of the boys off it as he was climbing up the side and jumping onto kids coming down.

It was obvious to me that he wasn't being naughty because he was also licking the netting at the side and in a pull up but not all the parents there had realised and one Dad was being quite rough with him.

The whole thing felt like a poorly planned expedition to me but I'm happy to be told IABU. It seems like it would've been better to go at a quieter time or have one carer per boy so they could help them out more.

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VeryBitchyRestingFace · 28/08/2016 21:41

Did anyone else think this thread was going to be about Captain Scott's attempt to conquer Antartica?

thescruffiestgiantintown · 28/08/2016 21:42

Well, that was pretty ill thought out too!

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JellyBelli · 28/08/2016 21:43

That doesnt seem like a good environment to be short on carers, let alone at such a busy time.

cansu · 28/08/2016 21:44

Tbh there is never a good time really. I have a dc with Asd and we spend much of our life wandering around places at the crack of dawn or in the evening or in the rain, basically when no one else wants to go there. Yes it makes it easier, but isn't really any kind of life and is unfair on my d's who doesn't want to be stuck indoors all day, bored and agitated. I think as a society we need to accept that people with disabilities have a right to share public spaces and enjoy facilities that others do. Yes the kids should be supervised, but given that a paid carer costs around 16.00 per hour, inevitably this is out of reach in most cases.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 28/08/2016 21:45

I thought soft play was only for wee tots?

Is there no upper age limit/size?

wenchystrumpet · 28/08/2016 21:51

Scott for me here too.

thescruffiestgiantintown · 28/08/2016 22:01

VBRF ours is for up to age 12.

cansu I see exactly what you're saying.

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BarbaraofSeville · 28/08/2016 22:19

VBRF I was expecting tales of teens lost on a misty moor in the rain with insufficient food, no mobile signal, blistered feet and mountain rescue.

Zippidydoodah · 28/08/2016 22:22

I did a summer holiday playscheme for teens with special needs, and we were 1:1. It was necessary! We all loved the job though and the parents were grateful for the respite.

I would've hoped that one of the caters would notice and intervene if members of the public were being a bit rough with the poor kid, though

Squabblesallaround · 28/08/2016 22:29

We have a height limit in ours. Time of day doesn't particularly have to be an issue but it's Not appropriate planning if no 1-2-1 care IMO.

lougle · 28/08/2016 22:44

When, in the summer holidays, would you imagine that a quieter time would be?

thescruffiestgiantintown · 28/08/2016 22:59

It's not summer holidays here.

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MrsBobDylan · 29/08/2016 00:10

Did you find one of the carers to let them know that a member of the public was being rough with a young person with a disability?

I think that should be the primary concern in this situation. It's very upsetting to hear that this happened.

I think I would also have directed my child to another part of the soft play to let the boys have a play as both age groups together sound incompatible.

honeylulu · 29/08/2016 00:17

I thought this was going to be about the Czech couple in New Zealand.

SummerSazz · 29/08/2016 00:20

Me too honeylulu!

thescruffiestgiantintown · 29/08/2016 00:25

I tried to talk to one of the carers but she cut me off and rushed away. There were heaps of kids there not in the group so there was no way the boys were going to be on their own (it's not a huge soft play either). I guess that's what I didn't understand, why you'd come on a Sunday lunchtime, but take cansu's point that there isn't really a good time.

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apatheticfallacy · 29/08/2016 00:33

I was also expecting the Czech couple in NZ! I'm going to start calli fall my trips to soft play centres 'expeditions' because it certainly feels hat way sometimes!

I think you're right about the number of carers etc. But I imagine it's very difficult/impossible for the parents of these children to entertain them in an appropriate way for the entire summer holiday without going to busy places at busy times.

My experience of soft playoffs that you're always kind of watching out for other children (special needs or otherwise!) as part of caring for your own kids but also to support their parents. I've stopped a few escapee/unsafe toddlers and I wouldn't suggest that they shouldn't be there.

thescruffiestgiantintown · 29/08/2016 03:48

Good point apathetic re looking out for other kids.

I just googled the Czech couple - wow. The woman was incredible.

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