Is This a Good Idea?

I live overseas and these are commonplace in malls and well used. Price point can be a challenge though. I imagine the overheads are high and some people aren't prepared to pay what you'd need to charge.

Our local shopping centre used to have one, where the children could do craft, soft play, snack, etc. Also our local Supermarket had one, but it closed. The leisure centre still has one.

Like a creche? They used to be quite common in the early-mid 90s. A supermarket near us was built with one. Not sure why they died out. Now I have dc (school age) I'd perhaps use one if everyone else did and I could be confident of the dbs checks, qualifications etc. But I also don't spend all day shopping anymore. And if I did I'd leave dc with dh.

That was to the poster who asked about drop off places for boyfriends etc

Those exist too, or again, used to. Lots of department stores had "lounges" where you could leave your DH while you browsed their wares.

Hi @girlwithanidea it's an idea I have considered myself many times. Other posters are correct and places like Ikea already offer this as do some big shopping centres (I think I have seen them in Meadowhall and lakeside)
I think it's a good idea however you would need to jump through multiple hoops and cross lots of red tape for it to work.
I do have children and would have left them once they were old enough to tell me what they were doing.

There was a post on here recently from someone who had a hospital appointment and no childcare options (not allowed to take her child with her). This service would have been ideal in that situation but I'm not sure if the situation arises enough to make this a viable business opportunity. Perhaps in the larger cities?

Forget the kids why isn't there a crèche to drop off boyfriends, husbands and fathers who don't like traipsing around the shops with us womenfolk?

Some couches, snacks, non alcoholic beverages, tv, newspapers and a couple of nice looking dolly birds to serve the food and drink.

That's a drop in crèche. They exist. But obviously there will be 10 thousand rules and regulations you would have to follow (and quite rightly so).

This seems to me to be utterly fraught with problems. But this one jumps out - do people book in advance or just turn up? If they book in advance do they also pay in advance so you're covered for no shows? If they just turn up - say your capacity is fifteen - what do you say to person 16 who turns up and has a dentist's appointment - tough titty? Or if person 14 has three children in tow - sorry you can only leave two of your three children?
It's an informal creche basically. There are going to be legalities and practicalities all over the place.

You can't just dump kids randomly. I think the fact that you're not a parent is REALLY telling here. It's just not like parking your car for a timed parking fee.

This already exists, or used to. There was a play area like this in Woolworths in Swindon years ago, until Woolworths closed down. I think IKEA also (used to?) do it. I've also seen it elsewhere.

Now that no-one goes shopping any more I'm not sure it's a viable business option, although a good idea in practice.

It sounds like the crèche at my gym. I have to say I don't use the crèche; the staff seem lovely but I wouldn't leave a non verbal child in a setting that has unfamiliar adults. Nursery is different due to settle sessions and it becoming their routine. But for the sake of whizzing around the shops or fitting workout in, it's not something I'd use

It’s an idea that’s been done before. IKEA had one, no idea if they still do. Think some of the larger shopping centres tried it.

I don't think you can just park your children as maybe you would a dog. However good the care, children need to get used to carers....think about them starting nursery etc.