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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

166 replies

bestteacherinwales · 18/07/2017 13:26

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?

OP posts:
HeadDreamer · 18/07/2017 14:30

YANBU. I never go to a softplay except on last resort. We have woods and many playgrounds on our doorstep. The playground is free and the softplay isn't. There are a lot less people in the playground. Simple choice really.

requestingsunshine · 18/07/2017 14:31

YANBU. I'd take the park over soft play anyday. We have visited softplay a grand total of 6 times in the 14 years of having children. Its considered a treat in our house!

Ecureuil · 18/07/2017 14:33

Mine are 3 and 2 and they've been told that the rule over the summer is that unless it's raining, all activities are outside! I hate being cooped up and find they behave better and amuse themselves better when we're outside. Soft play is strictly reserved for when the weather is too awful for anything else.
I understand you want to see your friends; id go once a week maximum then do your own thing on the other days.

ChocolateDoll · 18/07/2017 14:37

Waaaa! There is nothing worse than softplay.

However, your sums are iffy. You are not spending £55 on softplay.

You are spending £13.50 on softplay, and the rest on feeding yourself and dc, the cost of which just be born elsewhere if not at softplay, no?

TripTrapTripTrapOverTheBridge · 18/07/2017 14:55

You are all being very unreasonable. Kids still need supervision at soft play. I am sick of parents who see it just as somewhere to relax while the kids play and don't take any flipping notice.

Rant over.

Ecureuil · 18/07/2017 14:59

I'm wondering at these kids who can just be left to it at soft play too. Maybe mine are just too young but they definitely have to be supervised, usually because of bigger (unsupervised) kids knocking them over.

Violetcharlotte · 18/07/2017 14:59

£55 a week on soft play?? Really??

My kids are teens now so I'm a big out of touch, but there's no way I'd do this. In the winter I might go one a week. In the summer it would be a last resort thing to do on a wet day if I needed to wear the kids out. I'm not sure if soft plays have got better, but my experience was freezing cold hell holes full of screaming kids, which smelt of dirty nappies and fried food Confused

In this weather I'd be taking mine to the park, outdoor paddling pools, the beach... there's so many nice things to do in the summer.

mmgirish · 18/07/2017 15:00

I hate soft play places. I would drown myself in the ball pit if I had to go there 3 times a week!

NearlyEaster · 18/07/2017 15:02

I took DS1 twice a week - but the soft play was in a zoo so there was animal and park time too.

I used to love the time spent sitting and drinking coffee.

But we didn't eat there - we'd go from 10-12 and get lunch on the way home.

tissuesosoft · 18/07/2017 15:02

I hate soft play. Luckily DD goes with her childminder and other mindees once a week so I have only taken her twice myself this year.

converseandjeans · 18/07/2017 15:03

If you pitch the idea to the others to do something different that is free and save the money to have a big day out once a month? Not sure where you love but there might be a nice theme park within driving distance.
I used to go once a month not once a week - the amount you are spending is like a second mortgage.
Tbh you would all be better off putting them in with a childminder a day a week and meeting up without the kids!! At least at a CM they would be doing a variety of things rather than the same thing 3 x a week.

coddiwomple · 18/07/2017 15:04

Your friends are totally unreasonable to sit drinking coffee instead of supervising their children. They are "these" rude and entitled parents Hmm

Unless they are litterally the only people in the place, which would be quite possible in this weather.

Topseyt · 18/07/2017 15:07

Blimey, I see how it adds up, but you are blowing a huge amount of money on this that you could save for other things.

My youngest is 15 now, but when they were small we only went to soft play once in a blue moon. Often not even once a month.

Three times a week would be my idea of hell.

Just. No.

Topbananaa · 18/07/2017 15:09

Soft play three times a week?? I'd rather scoop my eyes out with a tea spoon!
My kids would be bored to tears by the end of the first week too!

embo1 · 18/07/2017 15:10

Nobody is forcing you to go. You don't want to go, so don't go. You are an adult after all.

Why not suggest a picnic in the park to give the kids some fresh air instead of the next soft play? If they don't fancy it, just go yourself. You'd still see them twice a week.

BayLeaves · 18/07/2017 15:21

I'm surprised anyone would meet up with friends 3+ times a week. Presumably you've got pre school kids or are you talking about during the summer holidays? There are so many alternatives... as well as outdoors places like the park, woods, country parks, or beach if you live by the sea, why not just have play dates at home/in the garden, or there's toddler groups, you can meet friends there and it's cheaper than soft play and sometimes includes a snack for the kids and tea/biscuits for the grown-ups.

I wouldn't be meeting the same friends 3 times though, but that's personal choice I suppose. I'd meet one friend once a week, the rest of the week I'd have a day or two at home, another day or two go to toddler groups, maybe a couple of pre-school sessions, etc.

toosexyforyahshirt · 18/07/2017 15:23

But think 3 times a week is a bit much and a waste of money

It is. But you choose to go. Are you a sheep?

Iikkiilloo · 18/07/2017 15:30

If you don't want yo go then don't go 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you don't want to buy the kids food there then don't 🤷🏻‍♀️

I literally don't understand your problem. Just do whatever it is you want to do.

I don't think the worry of 'having to watch your children as they could wander off' is much of a reason NOT to go to the park.

Haudyerwheesht · 18/07/2017 15:43

I would rather stick pins in my eyes. Why not have some time at home - you aren't doing your kid, or yourself, any favours if they don't have time just to 'be' and entertain themselves.

My kids are both at school now but I used to do toddlers once a week, maybe lunch or soft play once a week and otherwise it'd be pottering about, getting stuff done. Ds did also do a messy play class but dd didn't because I didn't have time inbetween school runs etc.

There's a family in our street who spent every single weekend at soft play whilst their kids were under about 7. Now they're bigger they spend every single weekend at a trampoline place. It's ludicrous but their choice i suppose.

coconutpie · 18/07/2017 15:54

I must be in the minority because I have never brought my toddler DC to soft play. We go to the park which has a playground, tons of open park space for running around and a pond with lots of ducks to feed. The idea of being stuck in doors with dozens and dozens of screaming DC running around and trying to supervise your own just sounds like absolute hell.

coddiwomple · 18/07/2017 15:57

Soft plays are not my idea of a good time, but to be fair, all my kids loved them when they were little. At least I got some exercise there I suppose.

HiJenny35 · 18/07/2017 16:01

How on earth can you sit and read a book while your child is in softplay! You should be watching them, playing with them or making sure they are ok, I hate those parents who see softplay as childcare and just leave their kids expecting other parents or the staff to look after them.
Also just don't go, you are allowed out with your child without it being a social event for yourself.

coddiwomple · 18/07/2017 16:05

You have to feel sorry for all the little ones trampled by older feral kids whose parents are too lazy to supervise, or the poor little ones who spend 10 minutes crying for their mum because their foot is stuck on one of the rope bridge... I remember one, he was so upset he wet himself, but his mum had time for a lovely coffee.

Ecureuil · 18/07/2017 16:06

It's usually the kids whose parents are sat reading a book or chatting to their friends who are running riot and knocking over younger children in the area intended for younger children, I find.

Winterview · 18/07/2017 16:13

I prefer softplay because: there are no dogs, no wasps and no lakes to fall in. And I prefer a hot panini and fresh coffee to a sandwich and juice. Whenever I try to picnic I always get jumped on by hungry dogs!

But I still go the park because my friends like it, and it's nice to have variety. We also go to playgrounds, toddler groups and paddling pools.

Are there any enclosed playgrounds or sandpits near you?

I find the open park too full of hazards for my 2 year old to play freely. I have to chase after her constantly!