How much is reasonable to pay for soft play? And where did all the SN sessions go?

[elliejjtiny]

Not sure if I've just got used to not spending money on trips out because of lockdowns or if companies are increasing prices to try and recoup lockdown losses.

I was going to book soft play for the dc (aged 7, 8, 10, 13 and 15). Local soft play has just been taken over by a different company and now charges nearly £10 per child, doesn't allow any children older than 12 and doesn't seem any better than it was under the previous company apart from a new baby sensory area that my younger 2 would love but aren't allowed in because they are over 2. Little ones are allowed in the older children's area when it's quiet but not the other way round.

Found another soft play in our town but the upper age limit is 9 so only my younger 2 can go.

Pre covid most soft plays had SN sessions where teenagers could go in and older dc could go in the baby areas which was ideal but none of them are running now.

The only way I can take my teens to soft play at the moment is to either hire the whole place of our local one or take them to the localish (30 minutes drive away) theme park which has a soft play that lets teenagers in.

How much do you pay for soft play? I think I would be more inclined to take the dc to the £10 per child soft play if that's what other places are charging.

Ours has gone up to 7.95. I'm avoiding for the moment as I think softplay is a germ factory at the best of times. Can you get a season ticket to the local theme park?

£10 a head here as well, a quid cheaper for a toddler but this is during peak times such as school holidays. Off peak it’s a little cheaper maybe by a few quid x

Thankyou. I'm thinking season ticket for the theme park would be a good Christmas present for the dc this year.

Ours are all around 10 each. We're the South. Out local theme park doesn't have their soft play open for Some reason

Well most of the soft play centres round here closed during covid but the few that we have in semi close distance charge about £6-7 per child, cheaper for under 2s.

I would stay however that unless it was an indoor play centre with a ninja warrior type course or trampolines that most of your children are probably much to old for a generic soft play centre as the equipment won't be suitable for their weight or size.

Of course your 7 and 8 year olds can’t go in the baby sensory area! Even if it’s quiet 😂

If there is one baby there, they are a danger to them. If there are no babies there, it would be off putting. I wouldn’t let my baby play if there were two older kids running around it when they had everywhere else to play.

Am in the SW - a local soft play has recently been taken over & are charging £8.50 for toddlers, £9.50 for older children & £3 for adults! Have been once but can't afford it at that price!
Another local one only charges £4.50 per child & nothing for first accompanying adult. Will definitely be back there.

We're lucky in that ours are quite cheap (South Wales) but I have the same experience in terms of inclusive sessions. Hopefully they'll come back slowly and its worth contacting any where that used to run them to express an interest.

Before covid most of the soft play centres used to have SN sessions where older dc could use the baby areas. Most of the dc (including mine) wouldn't be running around in there but I wouldn't expect my dc to be allowed in at the same time as the little ones. Would be nice if there was an hour a couple of times a week where it was allowed.

Some of the soft plays allow adults to hire the soft play for hen/stag parties and all allow parents/carers to use the equipment so I don't think it's a size/weight issue.

An age cap of 10-12 year s normal, never found one with older sn sessions (dp's dd would love it) it was £7 per child 10 years ago where I used to live

My local one has an upper age limit of 12 price is £4.95 for 2-12 years. I'm in the south east

I don’t think I’ve ever seen any teenagers at a soft play. I would think most would consider it a bit ‘young’.

My daughters only 2 and most are around £6-8 for that age, possibly a little more for older children. The one I went to which was £10 had bouncy castles and other inflatables outside and face painting, a magic show etc so was more than just soft play.

I’m sure pre covid paying for adults wasn’t a thing? Or it was 50p or £1…one lovely one near me is a blanket £4 pp…fine if it’s just 1 adult and child but if grandparents want to come it quickly becomes ridiculous. And sessions are only 1.5 hours.

Our local one that caters for teenagers is £6.50 for soft play or £9.95 if you want to use the trampoline area too.

Smaller ones up to age 9 are less than £5.

Have you looked for trampoline parks or indoor adventure places instead OP?

Otherwise how about emailing the soft play and asking if they can allow access at certain times for SN children? Perhaps they think there isn't much demand?

If it makes you feel better I live abroad and soft play costs about £30 per child.

I have noticed the lack of SN sessions at local soft play places too. I think it’s hard for parents who don’t have children with additional needs to understand why it’s so important to have such things.

We did go to a SN session at a trampoline park last week. But sadly they didn’t seem to have done the normal of keeping the numbers low which you would expect so DS only managed 15 minutes before getting overwhelmed

Just checked online and it’s £10.95 per child (£8.95 for under 4) and £4.5 0 per adult.

Bloody hell I think soft play was about £3.50 last time I went!
Where do you live??
Ours don't do SN sessions though. Trampoline parks different I'm sure they do but not soft play. And I'd never expect the 13 and 15 year old to be able to go in soft play!! Ours says up to 10 years old

Surely no 15 year olds go to the soft play! My 15 year old is 6ft 2!

What about a trampoline park instead? They usually have sessions for older kids and adults.

No over 12s or SN sessions. Our local one is:

Babies: £1.50
1 Years Olds: £3.75
2 to 4 Years: £5.50
5 to 12 Years: £6.25
Adults: £1.00

Cheaper mid week in term time. Hateful place, am so glad my soft play days are behind me.

@TimetohittheroadJack

Surely no 15 year olds go to the soft play! My 15 year old is 6ft 2!

Have you missed the special needs bit?

Often children with additional needs have interests typically associated with much younger children. That one of the many reasons SN sessions are so important as they allow the child to enjoy themselves without risk of judgement or accidentally hurting someone else

@TimetohittheroadJack

Surely no 15 year olds go to the soft play! My 15 year old is 6ft 2!

15 year olds with additional needs might love soft play.

Are you in the south west in a town beginning with T by any chance?

@ThatsNotMyReindeer yes we are.

The trampoline park do SN sessions but they are run at the same time as other sessions and although they have slightly reduced numbers it's still heaving. We tend to go when it's a SN session and a school inset day at the same time as the numbers are about right then.

@Sirzy SN sessions are a lifeline for us. Before lockdown ds1 was a squeaky voiced 5ft tall 13 year old so a lot of this not being allowed to do children's things has come on suddenly with the end of lockdown.