starting a playcentre what would you want included as a parent?

[yummymummy345]

Trying to think of fun /educational things to incorporate into a playcentre. Looking to include inflatables /dressing up etc maybe bowling /climbing sensory room? but tring to keep away from the traditional soft play centre

What do you think your children would like? aiming for 0-10 year olds

would love to hear your views

I go to two places like this. The better one is over three floors: cafe and sofas for mums with little babies downstairs, noisy play and computers middle floor and top floor for classes/workshops/beauty therapist once a week. Works well as it means tiny babies cam go without being in the same area as really loud and over excited toddlers. If you can its great to have a child hairdresser come once a week as kids can have a quick trim then play as am incentive. Computers for adults to use whilst their kids are also entertained are good. Maybe, if you have the wall space you could do showings of new to DVD films in kid/baby friendly setting ( would need some sort of license) or classics. Loads and loads of chairs and sofas is important. And a good coffers machine with staff who know how to use it properly!

*coffee

Oooh and get a birthlight yoga teacher in!

Thank you myncichips appreciate your thoughts,

great ideas about the children hairdresser/photographer, can i ask how much you are happy to pay for a place such as this?

thanks again

Any snacks and drinks not to be overloaded with artificial flavourings and sugars and all the other shit that gets put in them.

You can never have enough seating for parents.

The space for babies has got to be good enough to keep them entertained too, a couple of the ones we use they're just like a giant playpen with old/battered toys and the older babies are desperate to to the bigger stuff.

Well priced drinks and snacks for adults and kids. Our local one does a midweek late morning deal where they put out a tray of juice and biscuits. There are also dinner options for the kids so you can stay late and feed them.

Sensory stuff would be great.

What about a session for kids with special needs of any age (older than 10), and their siblings and carers? Kids with severe of profound disabilites may have the mental age of a young child but once they are over 10yrs there aren't many options for them to do things appropriate for their mental development.

'Messy' area. Sand/water/playdough/paint. Basically all the crap you don't want all over your carpet at home.

Good coffee, decent food.
CLEAN.
I know kids pee/poo/puke, but please hire people to clean this up constantly.
No matter how good it was, if it wasn't constantly cleaned, I wouldn't go back.

My DD and her friends always end up on the football pitch. It is a mini one at our local play place. There are lines, goals etc etc but lots of different colour, different sized balls as well as space hoppers. There is room for them to run around and race each other. Simple but much appreciated