To just want to go to th park and not pay £55 a week for soft play

[bestteacherinwales]

That's it really. We live in an area of natural beauty. With wonderful parks on our doorstep but my group of friends much prefer going to soft play.

It costs £4.50 entry. £3.00 for kids lunch with drink and £5.00 for an adults meal. Not including coffee and a drink. I spend £20 every time I go.

I now eat my own meal before leaving but I still spend £55 a week going to soft play as we go three days a week.

I understand when it's raining or cold but on a beautiful summers day or even when the weather is dry and reasonably warm I think it's better to go to the park.

We could have a picnic. Ham sandwich, cheese string, bottle of juice, little cake,fruit. Maximum of £5 total cost for a few hours and food for both of us.

AIBU to think soft play is a wast of money when you can go to the park?

I do know what they mean. They said in th have park you have to watch the Children as they could wander off while in soft play you can relax knowing they can't get out and it's more relaxing as a result.

I agree and love soft play because I can read a book while having a latte 😁

But I think three times a week is excessive and we could spend some times at the park. It's better for them to get fresh air anyway.

AIBU?

Why would people keep a child inside on a beautiful day? If it's a nice day surely getting the dc out in the fresh air is the best choice!

I certainly wouldn't be going 3 times a week no matter what the weather. What a waste of money imo.

Can't you have play dates at each other's houses ( 1 a week or similar) and the children can play with each other's toys, different mum takes the cake each week?

I reckon the kids must be bored silly going there all the time

^ This. Do something different.

The park is so much nicer - there's so much more to look at and different stuff to do. Nothing wrong with soft play occasionally but 3 times a week, I;d go off my head with boredom. Just say you can't afford it and you are going to the park.

Yanbu at all!

When my dc were preschoolers we used to meet friends at soft play once a week and that felt like too much!

You don't have to go at all you know...

I am so pleased that soft play hadn't been invented when my kids were little. It sounds utterly grim.

They're 'those' parents then? The ones that dump their kids in soft play and let them run riot unsupervised so they can have a nice social with their friends?

Of course I know I don't have to go.

But I like spending time with frimy nds and that's what they choose to do.

We go to a farm park every Saturday.

I still go to the park every Sunday.

I go to London museums at the weekend and with parking and food I still spend less than that.
You are right the park is much nicer!

Ugh I hate soft play

3x a week i would go bonkers. Even it was my best friends going I couldn't join them 3x a week.

Soft play is a last resort for me when it's pissing down.

Farm park once a week and soft play three times a week? Jeez.
The kids need some less scheduled days.
And yes I bet they're "those" parents too.

You're mad!

We love the park my LO and I, I do enjoy soft plays, but only when the weather is miserable and it's too cold to sit in the park and watch my LO on the swings etc
I do tend to go to parks on my own, soft play I go with friends as it's normally one that is half way between each house.

Save your money and go have an exciting day out instead.
3 times a week in the same expensive place sounds like madness.

I don't know how anyone can find Soft Play relaxing!

Go to the park as much as you can in this lovely summer and revert back to soft play when it gets colder. Teach him how to play properly, without "props". You don't have to do what your friends do.

You don't have to go at all.

My friends all went to soft play every week when our DC were toddlers.

I have twins and softplay with twin toddlers is hell on earth. I found it incredibly stressful.

So I didn't ever go.

Just saw my friends on other occasions.

The same group of friends 3x a week? Isn't that a bit suffocating?!

Softplay 3x a week, park on Saturday, farm park on Sunday...

Do you ever just stay indoors and let the kids play in the garden?

Nearly £3k per year
You could get a couple nice holidays /trips to Legoland etc with that

I used to love going to soft play when they were smaller weirdo but even I'd baulk at the idea of three times a week!
Have you not heard of the phrase variety is the spice of life?! Three times a week must be as monotonous as hell, not to mention insanely expensive!
If you absolutely must go that often, why are you spending so much? Don't go at mealtimes, just get one cup of coffee and a juice for the kids.
Meet up with your friends once a week at the soft play place, and organise a park and a picnic day for another day of the week.
If they don't want to come, they miss out and you go anyway and have a nice time!

I hate softplay! it's stressful and overpriced (at least where we live). Don't go OP, suggest picnics or other things. And if they don't want to come with you, you can do your own thing sometimes.

YANBU

soft play is the seventh circle of hell. reserved only for rainy weeks when you've been stuck inside for days and are desperate to get out.

That's a lot of ball pool piss to wash out of clothes. And hair. And eyes, and mouths, and noses...

Buy an annual pass ours is £60 a year £40 for siblings. Pass for itself in 8.5 visits.

*pays