People that don't watch their kids in a play area!

[Snowydaysaregreat]

Went to play today. Dd 10m playing on a mini slide. I'm very close. A kid about 2.5 kept going round pushing kids out the way. Mother no where to be seen.
Then he targeted dd, I wasnt quick enough. He pushed her down ( she was almost on her belly anyway) he stood in her back and thumped her head. He had wellies on which no shoes allowed.. I lifted him off and said that's not kind Where's mummy? .. He ran Off then the mum appeared, rudely said what's gone on . I told her and her reply.. Oh he keeps doing that he's so naughty! She then walked away to finish her food. Normally I would say that she should be watching etc if he's like that but
My dd was inconsolable , and has a mark on her back still now 5 hours later, . I left I was so angry..
Why don't people watch their kids especially if they know they're a bit heavy handed! I was no more than 12ft from dd as was letting her explore.. And she was in the under 12m.area too so he should of even been in there..
I know kids aren't perfect but it's the mums attitude that wound me up

Im with you. However you do need to relax a tad. kids will hit and push. It happens a billion times a day with children, and If you're going to get wound up about it, you'll be headed for a break down by the time she's 3.
Your little one will probably do her fair share of hitting pulling pushing snatching ect she's a bit older. However like you say the fact that he wasn't correceted is what you're understandably miffed about
I'm not going to pretend my dd was the prefect angelic robotic child, and would you want one.
However she was always disciplined at age appropriate level

Honestly, this is soft play. It's shit but all you can do is either not go til they are older and more robust or mind them like a hawk at such a young age.

If just skip soft play til about 3yo.

Oooh I sympathise OP, as one who watches my kids diligently when they’re playing in soft play until I know I can trust them to be good (about aged 4) and even then I watch from a distance and check in every few minutes.

The behaviour of some kids over the years in soft play has been astonishingly poor! I have no problem telling them off, telling staff on them, but I draw the line at fighting the parents...

I get that parents of naughty kids probably are desperate for a break from them so might avoid them a bit at soft play, sad situation to be in really and they are to be pitied. But still. Fucking annoying!

I didn't/wouldn't fight with parents, either. My mum didn't. We just got told to get out and get on with it.
Its the way it was back then.
The kids are playing together 2 minutes later and you're still tearing Lumps put of each other

YANBU. I am a childminder so am at softplay a lot with all different children. Children do not and I can accept that if the parents are apologetic and give the child a telling of but there is always one cf parent that lets their child run wild tormenting every other child in the softplay and doesn't give 2 shits, most of the time you can't pin point these parents because they have no interaction with the child the whole time they are there.

Shit happens at soft play. Soft play is hell. Anything goes at soft play. Don't expect decency at soft play. Expect carnage at soft play. Don't go to soft play.

older kids going in the baby area is a pet peeve of mine.
you're not allowed to judge the huns for their shit parenting though. you will be shamed in a meme!

until they are old enough to defend themselves, you have to be there to do it for them.

Lazy parents used to drive me insane, but you won't change them. I wasn't scared of telling off the kids. When they are older and roughly the same size, they can handle themselves. When the little shits other kids are twice their age, you have to be there.

Ho hum... I used to go to an overcrowded toddlers group. I could not watch DS closely enough there. Someone else's child would chat at me & in that split second DS would push someone over third child (who probably reversed her toy car onto his fingers, followed by cross hissing from her mother). Just concentrate on your own best you can.

Another group we had a chronic biter with exhausted scatty mother. Rest of us tried to be kind & just keep an eye on him for his triggers so we could gently prevent incidents and his poor ma got a break.

I have older dc so I know this happens. And normally laid back But to stand on a baby's back. And thump her head is more than rough play.
It was the parents attitude that got me.

It must have been awful, I understand that you are upset. I remember an older child about 2 repeatedly pushing over my DD when she was about the same age as your DD. The mum just looked at me and shrugged and said she couldn’t control her child (and continued talking to her friend). I smiled sweetly and said that I completely understood, I was just a bit worried as my son (pointing at DS about 4 years running around) was very protective of his sister and tended to get violent if someone hurt her and “I couldn’t control him” (complete lie of course). It turned out the mum could control her child after all, didn’t come near DD for the rest of the session....

i remember someone let loose their older special needs child at a play centre .Parents no were to be seen ,he would snatch toys off my little girl .

I didnt know what to do as i couldn't see the parents all i could tell my daughter was to stay away.

I’m sorry that your child got hurt, but there is no way I am following my child’s every move in a play centre. They are so fast, run absolutely everywhere and just don’t stop. I do watch for them but I’m not going to follow every step.