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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To absolutely hate soft play (light hearted)

71 replies

Nicpem1982 · 12/01/2018 14:52

I'm currently sat in a daft play center and dd is happily running around.

But God these places are horrible a random child has drank my dds drink whilst I've not been paying attention when I noticed and tried to stop her she's started to cry and her mom just said oh she is naughty and walked off so I've paid 1.45 for no apple juice for my dd yes I should have been paying better attention but I've been on my phone and keeping an eye on dd and not the drinks

The accousitics in here are so bad really echoey it's a brand new center and the kids seem happy enough but every parent in here looks fed up

What are your soft play pet hates

OP posts:

maggienolia · 15/01/2018 16:45

We went to one years ago in a pub when DD1 was about three.
She was sitting playing and in came a crowd of very pissed adult men (young farmers group) who jumped on the play equipment, frightened the life out of her.
Pub landlady stormed in and threw them all out.
And you thought 9 year olds were bad.

Lifeisabeach09 · 15/01/2018 16:51

Take earphones and listen to some music whilst you read/play on Mumsnet.
It's the only way!!!

Helpotron3000 · 15/01/2018 16:56

As a child I have one single memory of soft play. My mum walked us in, looked around, and then walked us right back out again.

TammySwansonTwo · 15/01/2018 17:19

My twins are 16 months tomorrow, one is just walking and the other cruising. Since they turned 1, we have to pay at all the soft plays round here - they can only go in the crappy toddler areas which are always rubbish, the last three times I've been both boys have just clung on to me for dear life anyway, and every time we go they get sick.

Unfortunately there's not much else to do with young toddlers who can't walk outdoors safely but don't want to be sat in their buggy.

Just been to a toddler group at the local children's centre and the play area is awesome - loads of different play areas, toys, little slide and they loved it. Sadly it's only accessible during groups, there's only 1 group a week they're eligible for, and it's the only place within walking distance so I'm gutted we can't just go there all the time!

Rebeccaslicker · 15/01/2018 17:22

I'd like to own one. They look like a licence to print money!!

When I was 18, I worked in a pub with a "wacky warehouse". We all prayed we wouldn't draw "the wacky" on the shift rota because it was a living hell.

But god the after hours impromptu staff parties we had in there were bloody brilliantly

MyPantsCantGoHigher · 16/01/2018 01:23

OP why on earth didn't you go and join your DD? She's in there having fun (on her own?) and you were sitting out, feeling bored. You could have spent the time playing with your daughter instead - novel concept?

Greensleeves · 16/01/2018 01:33

Or maybe she plays with her dd all the time, and thought soft play was a place where she could let her safely explore without having to follow behind her all the time?

Not a very strange concept.

Oooocrikeyitscold · 16/01/2018 04:35

Soft play is a great opportunity for parents to let their children be independent and explore by themselves/interact. Novel concept-mypantscantgohigher.....

MajesticWhine · 16/01/2018 04:39

No soft play is not for playing with your child. It is for finding a decent coffee if at all possible and mumsnetting or reading, whilst child plays with other children.

Original poster

Nicpem1982 · 16/01/2018 07:29

My pants - judging much..... I play with my dd all of the time but as she's an only we like to give her the opportunity to play independently and interact with her peers

OP posts:

SoulStew · 16/01/2018 08:07

Mypants, I went to soft play as it was about the ONLY time I wasnt engaged in intensive play with my dc. Having high needs kids is fucking exhausting. I was the mum pushing them back towards the ball pit saying ‘go play, leave mummy alone’ because it was my one hour a week off.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 16/01/2018 08:23

They're quite hot on hygiene in the small soft play attached to a garden centre we like. When there was a "mysterious liquid in the ball pit" incident, the area was promptly closed off until the COSHH trained member of staff had finished cleaning it up. It was wee.
We all got given a wristband for a free session.
There's a larger one near us and it's ok. Plenty for the kids to do and they do a really nice chilli con carne with a jacket potato. I bribe my children to go away and leave me alone by the use of the tubs of haribo they have. Also, if either of mine dare set foot in the baby section, they lose haribo.
The most stressful time I ever had was when one needed to be in the baby area and one in the main bit. I pretty much spent the whole time fishing my tiny toddler out of the main bit and shooing my massive 4 year old out of the baby area. Argh.

CrazyExIngenue · 16/01/2018 08:28

We had my DS's 3rd birthday party at a soft play. Everyone invited, kids and parents, ended up with H1N1. I HATE them.

AlisonOrdnung · 20/01/2018 18:19

Hate soft play with a passion. Prefer going to the countryside and climbing on logs and trees and stuff. Soft play feels like the first step on the road to depression and misery.

Stickaforkinimdone · 20/01/2018 18:33

Well I'm going to buck the trend here...I bloody LOVE a bit of soft play!! It's default lazy parenting at its best!

Seriously it's mega-they usually have a cafe area (granted the coffee is always shit but still) and you can just sit there in the warm while your child goes absolutely beserk with loads of other kids
They run off all their afternoon energy and end up with an immune system of steel

I'm looking forward to when the baby can get stuck in and then I'll start taking a reading book with me again 😆

Cavelady67 · 20/01/2018 19:51

I fucking hate soft play.

I know someone who refuses any party invitation for his kids that includes soft play. I think he's one of the wisest people I know.

I know the kids love it but for adults it's a modern form of torture.

MiaowTheCat · 20/01/2018 20:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shineystrawberrylover · 20/01/2018 20:17

I can't understand softplay. The park is free, quieter, the food isn't overpriced and you don't get people stealing your child's shoes.

Buggeritimgettingup · 20/01/2018 20:24

I actually don't mind the soft play...its just every child that isn't mine and all the twatty parents I can't stand

Stickaforkinimdone · 20/01/2018 21:24

Shiney people steal your kids SHOES???! Wtf?!
Where do you live?!!

Boxhike · 20/01/2018 21:46

I was at one today at a party, my dd (4) is scared of the big slides so I had to go down with her on my knee - the scariest bendiest bastard of a slide gave me a burn and I'll not be back! (For a while at least...)

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