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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unsupervised softplay kids

27 replies

dadchris · 01/03/2015 20:46

My 5 year old son was punched in the face by an older kid twice his size at soft play today, he was hit for no reason and hard enough to cause a bruise/swelling...

When I looked around to see their parents' reaction there were none, the softplay manager/owner said they are a "gang" of regular local kids who turn up evey week by themselves without being supervised by anyone.

I am amazed that the softplay allows them to play all afternoon without an adult being part of their group (the owner reckons the oldest one was 13, there were at least 6 kids, the youngest being 1 or 2ish...)

Isn't there a requirement to have an adult present and if so, who could I report the softplay to before a child is seriously injured?

OP posts:
DisappointedOne · 01/03/2015 20:49

There was a parent here that used to take her 2 and 3 year old to a softplay and leave them for a few hours while she went shopping. The staff noticed the kids just sat in one place and didn't move - they'd been told not to move by mum before she snuck out. She was prosecuted, I beleive.

I'd lay bets that soft play insurance doesn't cover unaccompanied children.

EatShitDerek · 01/03/2015 20:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

molyholy · 01/03/2015 20:51

I am surprised they are allowed in. And that was so horrible to have happened to your son. Not sure where you would report it to op, but I would be fuming!!!!

countessmarkyabitch · 01/03/2015 20:53

Your problem is with the business letting unaccompanied minors in at all. They must know well when they are taking the fee and no parents in sight?

ILovePud · 01/03/2015 20:55

Your poor DS, most of the soft play places round here are for under eights, it sounds like the manager is aware of the problem ridiculous that they are not tackling it.

GokTwo · 01/03/2015 20:56

That sounds absolutely awful. Your poor son! I agree that doesn't sound like a good situation at all.

DandyHighwayman · 01/03/2015 20:59

If the management are a bit wet it might be worth having a chat with local council (do they licence the establishment? Don't know tbh but surely there's Elf n Safety issues - eg First Aider is often for staff only)

skyeskyeskye · 01/03/2015 20:59

why is the manager/owner letting them in? If there isn't already a rule saying must be accompanied, then he can soon make one?! plus if they are being aggressive, then he should ask them to leave.

If he won't tackle it then I am not sure what else you can do apart from stop going there.

FenellaFellorick · 01/03/2015 21:02

what about saying to the owner that if s/he is allowing children in without parents then s/he is assuming responsibility for them and anything they do, including if they injure another child.

That might make him/her think.

WorraLiberty · 01/03/2015 21:07

What's the name of the soft play place?

Have a look online to see what their policy is. I too am surprised they knowingly let them in alone.

Loletta · 01/03/2015 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ahbollocks · 01/03/2015 21:11

Surely if they allow them then they accept liability for these children? Therefore they are responsible for your sonS injuries?
They are opining themselves up to all sorts of legal problems here I suspect

Loletta · 01/03/2015 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wheresthelight · 01/03/2015 21:14

I find pur local soft play is staffed by 16/17 year olds at weekends so chances are they probably didn't know any better. I would certainly be putting something in writing with pictures of your son's injuries to both the manager of the centre and also the council's licencing committee.

disgusting and irresponsibile behavior although at my local one the parents cam be sat there and still don't bother to supervise their little hooligans and then get very arsey when I tell their 5 year + brats off for shovimg my 18 month old off the equipment in the under 2 area

passthewineplz · 01/03/2015 21:14

That's terrible. Report the softplay centre to your local council x

Original poster
dadchris · 01/03/2015 21:15

It was the Farncombe Fun Zone, near Godalming. I suspect the owner doesn't want to (or can't afford to) turn away a group of regular guests. Its a bit disturbing to see a toddler running around with no supervision for several hours apart from the agressive older friends...

OP posts:
oldcroneat39 · 01/03/2015 21:20

Their insurance will not cover unsupervised children and their staff will possibly not have all of the right qualifications. Cause a stink.

windchime · 01/03/2015 21:27

YABU just for going to softplay. When will people learn these places are absolutely hell on earth.

maddening · 01/03/2015 21:29

According to their rules of play unsupervised dc are not allowed and any Abusive behaviour will result in being Asked to leave.

SwirlyThingAlert · 01/03/2015 21:43

How are any children allowed in unsupervised? I'd be challenging and looking in to that for starters. I love soft play, I've been going there frequently over the last 10 years with the small people!
I've never heard of kids just being allowed to check themselves in and smack others in the eye as they play. There's always got to be a responsible adult around, and I've been to a lot of soft plays. It's always been the policy.

SwirlyThingAlert · 01/03/2015 21:45

I suspect the owner doesn't want to (or can't afford to) turn away a group of regular guests

A group of regular guests being unsupervised older kids?! Stuff that. They shouldn't be letting them in in the first place! If you're sure that is actually the case, and that they are genuinely alone, as a PP said - kick up a stink.

AndThenISaid · 01/03/2015 22:41

Report the softplay centre to your local council
What the Jeffers has it got to do with the council?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 01/03/2015 22:44

Presumably the soft play place needs a licence from the council, for which they will need valid insurance - which they may well be invalidating by allowing unsupervised children in, AndThenISaid.

southeastastra · 01/03/2015 22:47

i have run kids play activities and not have to give anything to the council

what sort of licence would be needed?

it does seem to be a sad sort of affairs to me which the staff need to sort out, i feel bad for the kids left alone at the place and for the children victimised by them, fail all round really

AndThenISaid · 01/03/2015 22:48

'the soft play place needs a licence from the council'

Do they? what sort of licence? never heard that before

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