Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Soft play supervision or lack of it

27 replies

ZZorro · 28/06/2014 12:06

Aibu to think a very large 4 storey high soft play should be staffed esp. considering there are large signs everywhere saying 4 to 14 only no adults and are actively making tannoy announcements constantly reminding adults not to use equipment. I've just asked staff member to see if it is supervised and told it isn't. It's 7.99 a child so not cheap and has dozens of areas where you absolutely can't see them.

OP posts:
WashingFanatic · 28/06/2014 12:10

I've never been to what I would class as a 'supervised' soft play. The only way it could be truly supervised would be to have staff in there, on the equipment supervising, which I have never ever seen anywhere.

At a minimum I would expect some staff to be there - manning the doors so that no child can get out alone. Also some who are trained in first aid. Cleaners, reception staff.

But I would say all soft play is largely unsupervised.

Ljialnye · 28/06/2014 12:10

They is irresponsible. All soft plays in my area allow parents to go in to play with the children in order to supervise them. maybe complain to management?

Iffy2014 · 28/06/2014 12:11

I remember going to a place like this when I was a kid. We all thought it was amazing.

Are you worried that something might happen? What do you think it would be?

PourquoiTuGachesTaVie · 28/06/2014 12:11

I would expect to be allowed on to the equipment to find/remove my child. I'd go somewhere else.

AnyoneForTennis · 28/06/2014 12:11

Parents supervise. Someone is tannoying so obviously 'seeing' what's happening

WashingFanatic · 28/06/2014 12:12

Think the op is talking about official supervising as she mentions it being 'staffed'.

Presumably op, as you spoke to a staff member, it IS staffed?

Original poster
ZZorro · 28/06/2014 12:15

Yes washing they're not usually supervised but adults are usually allowed access to help their children as ljia said, it's the fact that I'm expected to stay out and it's incredibly big compared to others that has bugged me.

OP posts:
PurplePunkPrincess · 28/06/2014 12:15

I think she means if parents aren't allowed in to go save a child then it should be supervised! I've had to 'save' mine a few times! The one near us is unsupervised and no parents allowed but I go in anyway and nothing has been said! It's quite small though

Original poster
ZZorro · 28/06/2014 12:17

The usual iffy getting stuck, bumping heads, we've already had a twisted ankle and 5 yo screaming because he lost his sister.

OP posts:
WashingFanatic · 28/06/2014 12:20

Yes I think parents should be able to go in to supervise the kids.

I can understand why some places may try to restrict parents though. I've been to soft play a couple of times and seen dad with their lo's who are worse than the kids Hmm

I don't really want my 4 year old running around the same soft play as a couple of galloping 14 stone, 6 foot men who are racing around with their 8 year olds tbh.

WashingFanatic · 28/06/2014 12:23

And I may add, my DH is the worst.

We went to soft play a couple of years ago with another couple and their dc.

DH and our male friend took the kids in. They lasted about ten minutes before I went in after them and made them come out Hmm

17leftfeet · 28/06/2014 12:23

Surely if all the children are over 4 they can play without any parents?

Iffy2014 · 28/06/2014 12:24

Surely that's part of learning how to play independently? And to cope with things like bumped heads by themselves. Twisted ankle would be an unfortunate accident, but there's not much chance of them mortally wounding themselves at soft play. Perhaps if yours really are too little for you to be comfortable with them running off on their own, maybe leave it a year?

WashingFanatic · 28/06/2014 12:26

I do think some soft play type places should be made more secure if they want a no adults rule.

I don't know if anyone here has been to Folly Farm in Pembrokeshire? They have a huge soft play/climbing frame thing which scares the shit out of me. DC 4 and 6 go on but i'm on pins the whole time, and try to avoid it if we go there. There are about 100 different ways to get on/off the equipment, a few different entrances and exits to the space where it is, generally completely unsecure. Any kid could pretty much wander out of there completely into the neighbouring fairground or farm with the parents being none the wiser.

Iffy2014 · 28/06/2014 12:27

Agreed with great big adults racing around the soft play, that's actually what makes it dangerous...

... Much as I really, really want to join in... giant soft play, ball pits and slide in my house as soon as I'm a millionaire...

Mrsjayy · 28/06/2014 12:28

Well tbh why are parents of 4 yr olds in there unless there kid has hurt themself I suspect parents following them about all the time but I do think if its as big as you say then there should be a member off staff around but parents shouldn't be shadowing their kids

BakeOLiteGirl · 28/06/2014 12:43

If they are making announcements it sounds like they are on the ball. I expect like me, they have very restrictive rules from their insurance company about who's on, when and why.

Mrsjayy · 28/06/2014 12:45

Oh yeah thats obvious if they are on the tannoy they are watching maybe hwve ctv monitors

Twolumpsorone · 28/06/2014 12:46

Washing I know the one you mean. It brings me out in a cold ssweat, I hate it. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

Original poster
ZZorro · 28/06/2014 12:52

The cafe has a seating capacity for about 400 just to give and idea of size, the toddler area alone is the size of my local soft play, with the no adult rule being so enforced constantly I just think a member of staff wandering around areas where adults can't see into would be good, I've been to a much smaller soft play where strictly no adults were allowed and it was supervised.

OP posts:
WashingFanatic · 28/06/2014 12:54

I'm also not keen on the playgrounds outside Twolumps. The pirate ships and stuff, they all seem to run together with no boundaries. We were there in April and 'lost' ds2 (4) for over 5 minutes because he'd gone from one play frame to the other and was hiding right underneath the big ship!

RachelWatts · 28/06/2014 13:02

We 'lost' DS1 in a soft play for about 20 minutes as he'd climbed into an area he couldn't get out of where we couldn't see him, and instead of shouting for help, sat down and waited for rescue!

If DH hadn't been able to go in and search for him, I think he'd have been there until closing time.

MostWicked · 28/06/2014 13:02

I have autistic children. I had to follow them around in soft play places until they were about 7, and after that I might still have to dive in to find them or sort a problem.
Parents should be allowed in if their child needs the extra support.

GrumpyRedhead · 28/06/2014 14:32

Surely by saying only 4-14 to use the equipment, what they actually mean is that older teenagers aren't allowed to play? Not that adults aren't allowed on at all. My older two are 7 and 4, and I'd happily follow them in to retrieve them if I saw that sign.

Notso · 28/06/2014 14:52

OP said there are tannoy announcements reminding adults not to go on the equipment Grumpy

I hate play barns with a passion. My youngest two have only been to one once.