Soft play

[CathyandHeathcliff]

I guess these will cease to exist for the meantime. I just feel so sad for my local one. The couple who own it have built it back up after it was flooded twice (we live in a flood risk area) and it’s been refurbished beautifully. They’re a lovely couple. What a shame for them

[Smarshian]

My 3 year old asks me daily when she can go to our local one again.
I imagine it’ll be a really long time before they open again. It’s a shame. This one is great and new and has everything you’d want from a soft play.
I know it’s a small thing to moan about but I can’t bloody wait to take the kids back again!

[Rover83]

Our local one was shut for ages and then taken over by a big company, it's nice midweek we've got membership. It's such a shame as I think most will go bankrupt, I suspect a lot of pubs and restaurants will go the same way as the government arent going to be able to pay people or lend money for much longer

[IamChipmunk]

My dd is 3 and keeps asking to go as well.
We also have a couple of nice ones near and its one of their favourite things to do in the winter months.
Dd was supposed to be having her first 'proper' party at the end of July at one.
I suspect that wont be happening sadly.

[CathyandHeathcliff]

Does anyone think they’ll come back in the future? I certainly hope so.

[Bearbehind]

I’m not super worried about things moving forwards as I think we’ll adapt to a new norm but soft play is pretty high up the list of germ infested places that people will give a very wide berth in future.

[CathyandHeathcliff]

I know, I just think it’s very sad for the owners.

[ParkheadParadise]

Dd is also asking to go to soft play.
Don't think many will be open anytime soon.

[Clutterfreeintraining]

I’m a childminder and visit my local one a couple of times a week with various combinations of children. I’m going to be very sad to have to stop taking the children there. In fact, I wonder how many of our usual activities will be on hold for the foreseeable.

[Goggle1968]

Ours has permanently closed down. It was struggling before this & they were trying to sell so I guess they have decided to cut their losses. Shame as it was really handy.

[CathyandHeathcliff]

@Clutterfreeintraining hopefully not too many, I’m hoping children’s centre toddler groups etc may still run.

[onedayinthefuture]

I think it will be a real shame as there are some really nice spacious softplay centres and my DS absolutely loves going. What kid doesn't, it's great fun to be had on a rainy day. Although I agree they are most definitely germ ridden. I do wonder if swimming pools will be able to open sooner because at least the pool is full of chlorine.

[Whatsmyname26]

Our local trampoline park has already closed, I can’t imagine the soft plays will stand much chance either :( such a shame

[Hugglespuffed]

I've never been a massive fan of them as they just seem full of germs and I find a lot of parents don't watch their kids. However, I know children love them (i certainly used to as a kid, but it was a very rare treat!)
I really hope they don't all struggle but i imagine a lot will need to close sadly.

As a nanny, I'm not too phased because I prefer the outdoors and we spend hours exploring parks and woodland areas but soft play was handy once or twice in super wet winter weather.
One thing me and the kids miss is our local fruit and veg store which has a small cafe attached as they had a little kids toy area. But it is small so no chance of social distancing. I'm looking forward to taking them there.
Other than that, the great outdoors are perfect!

[user1635482648]

Maybe they will adapt. Everything else is.

I think we'd all be better off if we stopped focusing on "but xyz is impossible the normal way" and turned towards exploring how things would need to be done to make it possible.

Hopefully more of us will have proper respect for the hugely important role of cleaners and we will invest more in that sector.

Coming back to softplay, I expect some aspects will be too high risk to continue (ballpools) but other areas could be managed with new cleaning protocols, different hygiene practices, altering entrance policies/price points to spread out visitor numbers, adapting the events/activities offered, changing the use of space...

[stuckindoors77]

I was chatting to my ds about this as he's almost 8 now so was saying that he might have been to soft play for the last time really because by the time they re-open he'll be too old and too tall to go to most places. Not the end of the world in the grand scheme of things but he was sad about it.

[PumpkinP]

Our local one closed permanently ages ago and we don’t have any others near by.

[Keepdistance]

I think precovid there should have been more hand wash facilities. Post covid maybe need hand gel on tables.
Not sure about swimming pools some viruses can survive.

If there is immunity then people who are iimmune and their kids may start going out again.
Tbh it sounds like lots want their kids back at school. (Not me) so maybe they will be back at softplay too.