What would you have thought of me at soft play today

In most soft play places we went to when DDs were small you couldn't even see where your kids were on the equipment most of the time. You couldn't really supervise them if you wanted to. I remember when they were little I had to go up with them (and seriously worry about getting stuck somewhere 😅) but once they got to school age they were definitely ok on all the equipment. I'd just get a coffee and read, and obviously they knew where I was. Rounding them up to go home was always interesting!

I had a similar toddler. He's over cautious now at 10, which seems so strange when I remember following him round up onto the big slide over and over before he was even 10.

If I thought about you OP it would have probably been in the context of wishing I could sit down too.

honestly probably wouldn't have even noticed you as busy watching my kid. I rarely notice other parents. If i did i'd probably just think "phew there is light at the end of this exhausting tunnel when i too can just sit and enjoy".

Saying that i usually see loads of parents sitting around in the soft play when their kids are slightly older. as long as your kid is behaving themselves and you can see/hear them at all times i don't see an issue. I often take my nearly three year old with my niece or nephew (8 and 9) who run round with her. they all have a blast, they're both well behaved kids and i could hear them if they called for me or cried etc. They often end up helping the other little ones up the stairs etc too. But they constantly beg me to take them to soft play with her so clearly enjoy it.

I wouldn't have given it a minute's thought.

I probably wouldn’t have noticed OP because I have a school aged child and this is what I do whenever we go to a soft play. I tend to sit and read a book and if he needs me, he comes back to me. You don’t need to hover over your kids the whole time once they’re old enough to run off and play

Six is the magic age where they suddenly don’t always need 100% of your attention and can mostly avoid killing themselves in soft play, I’d have been jealous if I was there with my then toddler DS!

I used to go to parties at soft play and all the mothers would watch the kids and chat over a coffee.....I would order myself a meal and eat in peace while DS was running around wearing himself out - he would come to me if he needed anything - did this between the ages of say 6 - 9 until they became too old

Well I probably would look at you and think "I can't wait until my DC can play independently".

Other than that I wouldn't think anything. If you feel self-conscious though I find having a book in your bag is really useful, reading a book feels more relaxing and "me-time" rather than scrolling on your phone too and tends to be perceived differently.

I take my 12 and 9 yo to soft play fairly frequently. I go so I can have a break from interacting with them. It's not a bad thing for them to learn some independence and entertain themselves!

I home ed mine, so it's a bit full on. I've been criticised for being on my phone at the park too. Fuck them.

If anyone’s thinking anything, it’s probably “I can’t wait until I can do that!”

It is a bit. You're asking if anyone would judge you for entirely ordinary and unremarkable behaviour. It's like asking if anyone would judge you because you were the only drinking a soft drink instead of coffee, or wearing a green jumper instead of a blue one. Nobody would notice because there's nothing to notice.

I’d be jealous chasing my 18 month old

I'd have been jealous 😂 mine are both under 3 - no phone and coffee for me yet!

Yes, I’d do a quick mental check that things looked normal. As I said, I once saw an adult with a child that was in the news as a missing person. I’m a Safeguarding lead, I do a quick mental tally that there’s nothing suggesting anything amiss.

I might have wondered why she wasn't at school, but nothing more than mild curiosity. I'm certainly not chasing my almost 6 year old around the soft play anymore!

I don’t think I would have noticed you honestly! As long as you checked up on DD every so often.

I know what you mean, OP. There's a soft play type of place we go to on holiday where it's actually expected parents will sit and have some time to themselves (sofas along the walls, free magazines to leaf through etc) while their kids play and when DC was younger, I was the weird one for interacting with them.

If your DC was well-behaved and being careful of the smaller kids then I wouldn't have given you a second thought.

When my kid went to soft plays, I'd take my phone and earphones. She'd run off and play, I'd sit somewhere out the way with music on and my phone.

So you are me.

I bet a great many people are exactly the same.
So if anyone noticed you, I doubt anyone would think anything.

There might be 1 sanctimonious arse with their head up their rectum that would tut or roll their eyes etc, but fuck em. What random people think of me is none of my concern.

Really? there always one isn't there!

OP, four a prime age to let your child have a bit of freedom in soft play. I took my DD to soft play on Monday and was jealous watching the parents able to sit down and drink their coffees.

I let my kid do his own thing, unless he asks me to join in.
He’s four, and always makes new pals wherever he goes.

I wouldn't think anything of it. I sometimes take the kids soft play places on teacher training days and there are no other school aged kids there.

I don't follow my 6 year old round and haven't for a couple of years!

Toddlers need more supervision.

I think people will only judge if your child is running amok and generally being mean to the younger kids. If they were genuinely playing nicely I doubt anyone would have noticed or cared.

My train of thought would be….

1. why isn’t she in school
2. she better not be ill
3. maybe she’s home schooled
4. the mum isn’t doing much home schooling whilst on her phone, drinking coffee

I wouldn’t have judged you, mines 4, I let them go round wacky warehouse slides and ball pit by themselves, it’s too knackering and I tried the slide once and got stuck! I think most parents sit and watch