To think that parents should keep their age 4+ dcs AWAY from the toddler section at soft play/park

[peacelily]

Because of the rain yesterday I took dd(2) to local soft play even though I believe it's truly hell on Earth.

Just makes me that children who're obviously too old are diving in all over the little ones in the toddler section whilst parents are "having a break" reading a magazine in the cafe!!! It's dangerous and inconsiderate and scares the little ones.

Wake up and smell the coffee parents, whilst you are out with your dcs you have to supervise them closely ALL THE TIME, regardless of age.

Also annoys me at park too, 12 years old crawling all over little slide/swings.

Anyway rant over, bored this am

[childrenofthecornsilk]

Okay I will.

[mumto2andnomore]

I would avoid places like that in school holidays if it bothers you.

[FAQ]

I'm always amazed how people "know" that these children are of a certain age (without actually asking them).

[Anna8888]

Let the older children have fun during the school holidays. Your DD has plenty of time to enjoy this type of facility when older children are at school.

[peacelily]

I know what a 10 year old (or there about) looks/sounds like FAQ!!! I'm not talking "borderline" here

The staff even broadcast on the tannoy 5 or 6 times "can parents ensure children over the age of 3 don't play in the toddler area for health and safety reasons" no parents came! Had to take dd out of the ball pool because of horrible behaviour of a gril who dived on top of her and another toddler and started smacking balls about.

[jellybeans]

I know what you mean but it is also annoying when people let small babies crawl everywhere without watching them (not saying you do, just in general). There will always be people more 'relaxed' and letting their kids free range of the place.

[peacelily]

there is a HUGE area for 4+ children at the local soft play and a little section which is specifically marked UP TO 4 ONLY.

There is an excellent space for them to play without tripping up over toddlers. Was surprised actually usually the children there are well behaved, one of the reasons I go there are not to other ones.

[FAQ]

but peacelily - you said 4+ in your thread title

[peacelily]

at leaving time dd made a run for the older kids bit but I scooped her up and diverted her, didn't notice any little ones in that section TBH. They seemed to be more closely supervised than the other kids.

[Gobbledigook]

I agree with peacelily tbh.

We went to a soft play on Monday and I was getting some very odd looks for calling mine out of the under 5s area (they are 4, 6 and 7) - there were toddlers in there and I can remember wanting my 18 month or 2 yr old to be able to play without bigger kids barging them about.

It's the whole point of different areas of the soft play and I don't see what the issue is with keeping them separate for little ones' safety.

[ruddynoraaaaaaggggggghhhhh]

no. what we with toddlers do is avoid these places during school holidays. my dd is 2 too and is bored silly with the under 4s bit, she wants to go on the huge slides instead. so you go in term time and she can do what she likes. easy.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Do you just have one toddler child peacelily? Some of us have more than once child of different ages and having them play in different areas would mean that one child is not supervised. If they want to play together (which actually my children like to do) its much safer for the older one to be with his brother in the younger section than his little brother to be trampled in the main area.

My alternative is for one child to be in teh older area and the younger one crying on my lap. (BTW before you all jump on me, ds1 is THREE but the soft play at ours is split into under 3s and over 3s)

Go when its not the school holidays, that usually keeps the 4+ ones out of the way.

[misdee]

i had to say very loudly to dd2 when we went 'you are ok in this part as you are only 3' due to the looks she was getting off other parents and the low mutterings about 'how that girl is too old to be in there'

FGS, it was a school day, she wasnt bunking off, she was with me and 3years old.

this is the same child who was asked by the school secrutary at the age of two, why she wasnt joining the other reception children to meet her new teacher.

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

I usually just ask the older children to be careful of the babies/ littler ones and not to carry on, throw balls etc. They usually get bored and go to the older section. I wouldn't remove my own child without trying to reason with them first- they are still kids and probably don't realise that they are being pests! Yeah, it would be nice if their parents were there to oversee them, but I can perfectly understand why the mother of a 10-yr-old wouldn't feel the need to follow her child around a soft play facility, like a policeman. There are usually staff and plenty of mums at the toddler/ baby bit in our local soft play, and a word with the offending children usually suffices, so I don't get stressed about it, really

[ruddynoraaaaaaggggggghhhhh]

and i don't supervise her closely either. that would just annoy her. i read a mag and drink my hot chocolate.

[Gobbledigook]

Same in the park -I don't let mine go on the slides and climbing frames that are clearly for toddlers - it's not fair.

[Flibbertyjibbet]

Whoops just reread you were taking dd2
Was your other child unsupervised on the older equipment then

[Gobbledigook]

And I'm pretty amazed at the number of people on this thread who think it's OK and that people wtih toddlers should stay away in the holidays!!

[elkiedee]

Our playground has a 1-4 section though at least one thing in it is really not suited to toddlers. It's very clear when the area's taken over by older kids, FAQ. My toddler is really big for his age and sometimes gets funny looks now, but there's no way he looks or acts 5+, also observant parents can see that he's well under 2 (he's just beginning to talk but obviously not fluent).

I don't see why school holidays make it ok for people to abdicate responsibility for their kids. And baby/toddler parents need somewhere to go to - a lot of baby groups etc are shut at half term as they're based in schools and the workers are often off with their own kids.

I've taken ds to soft play occasionally but really don't like it there for reasons mentioned by peacelily. The park's not quite as bad and there's usually more young children as well as older ones. It's actually better in cold dry weather, or on afternoons when the weather's brightened up after a yukky morning/lunchtime, as that also seems to put off the most annoying parents.

[Gateau]

Agree totally with the OP. The parents are usually too busy engrossed in chatting or their book to notice/care, or both.
Toddlers arew limited in whee they can fo, so it's not fair if they can't use their facilities safely. Can't understand why everyone doesn't agree with this. Why should they not go when they want to?

[ruddynoraaaaaaggggggghhhhh]

i'm not saying we should. it just makes life a whole lot easier.

near us there's a soft play place just for under 6s. so that's fine anytime. no 9 year olds rampaging around.

[peacelily]

sorry meant dd (2) as in age, typing a bit jumbled today. Only have 1 dc.

[Gateau]

Meant to say toddlers are limited in where they can go, ie the baby swings.