To think this can't be true about play centres?

[JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]

Seen this this morning on Facebook from a trampoline park/soft play centre - surely it can't be true? Too many safeguarding issues - My kids are 5 and 8 and I wouldn't leave them alone inside a play centre. I'd sit in the cafe/seating area and look out for them but parents can't possibly be expected to leave their 4+ year olds (they clarify in the comments that it only applies to kids 4 and over) alone?

[Bramshott]

FWIW we took DD1 to a soft play in Ireland when she was 2 or 3, and no parents were allowed in. It was a bit of a shock at first, but actually it was great!! She immediately commandeered 2 of the play helpers and had them following her around waiting on her every move!

[Bramshott]

I think this is because activities are currently allowed for children but not indoors for adults. So I imagine this rule will go away from 17 May.

[TwinMum20177]

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

Seen this this morning on Facebook from a trampoline park/soft play centre - surely it can't be true? Too many safeguarding issues - My kids are 5 and 8 and I wouldn't leave them alone inside a play centre. I'd sit in the cafe/seating area and look out for them but parents can't possibly be expected to leave their 4+ year olds (they clarify in the comments that it only applies to kids 4 and over) alone?

Are you going to remove this now the issue has been rectified for this particular business instead of allowing it to be slated? This is my local trampoline centre/soft play and I know it has struggled a lot and just wanted to bring a smile to SOME children’s faces sooner. It is not doing this now and has since made a follow up post addressing some comments. Have a nice day ☺️

[Butwasitherdriveway]

@Kottbullar

Just because yours are mature good eggs doesn't mean everyone is. And it's not always to do with parenting.

I understand and I know it's not always down to parenting but surely what you're saying works the other way too. Just because some aren't as mature it's not true of all of them.
Sweeping statements like "Teenagers now as opposed to a few years ago are now somewhat...different." aren't especially helpful.
The first thing I was told at the 'parenting your teen' course I attended when my first was coming up to 13 was that if we expect our teenagers to be the typical 'Kevin', stroppy and argumentative why should we be surprised and in many cases annoyed or appalled when they live up to that expectation?

Yes but they are different.
I don't mean that they are stroppy or rude or anything like that. I work with them

I mean they are living in completely different times to say, my parents.

[Tal45]

The staff would be trained/dbs checked in the same way they would be for an after school sports club. They would not be allowed to do this unless every single person was dbs (you can't even volunteer at a school or be on a PTA committee without a dbs). There would also have to be at least one trained first aider there.
It's no different to sending your child to any other sports club IMO.

[Kottbullar]

Just because yours are mature good eggs doesn't mean everyone is. And it's not always to do with parenting.

I understand and I know it's not always down to parenting but surely what you're saying works the other way too. Just because some aren't as mature it's not true of all of them.
Sweeping statements like "Teenagers now as opposed to a few years ago are now somewhat...different." aren't especially helpful.
The first thing I was told at the 'parenting your teen' course I attended when my first was coming up to 13 was that if we expect our teenagers to be the typical 'Kevin', stroppy and argumentative why should we be surprised and in many cases annoyed or appalled when they live up to that expectation?

[JellyBabiesFan]

Its a sad state of affairs when this is considered a safeguading issue.

Staff will have been checked, vetted and trained. They will have your emergency contact details. Where is the issue?

[Butwasitherdriveway]

[quote Kottbullar]@Butwasitherdriveway
Great

Awww thanks [/quote]
🤣
Seriouslu though. Just because yours are mature good eggs doesn't mean everyone is. And it's not always to do with parenting.

[Kottbullar]

@Butwasitherdriveway
Great

Awww thanks

[Butwasitherdriveway]

@Kottbullar

Teenagers now as opposed to a few years ago are now somewhat...different.

I referreed an argument /fight between two teenagers recently. 17 year olds. If I shut my eyes it sounded like toddlers.

If they're treated like toddlers it's no wonder really.

My older two are 21 and 17. They're mature and responsible, capable of looking after their younger siblings and cousins. DC1 was a lifeguard at 16 and DC2 has helped out at cub camps since he was 14.

Great

[Devlesko]

We have play streets in our area as people can't afford soft play and indoor activities for their kids. We don't really have them.
The kids go out and play just like we used to do in the 60's/ 70's.
Delivery drivers don't like it when they can't drive up the streets during certain hours, but the kids are safe.
It looks like something from an old documentary. If you gave them old toys you wouldn't tell the difference

[Kottbullar]

Teenagers now as opposed to a few years ago are now somewhat...different.

I referreed an argument /fight between two teenagers recently. 17 year olds. If I shut my eyes it sounded like toddlers.

If they're treated like toddlers it's no wonder really.

My older two are 21 and 17. They're mature and responsible, capable of looking after their younger siblings and cousins. DC1 was a lifeguard at 16 and DC2 has helped out at cub camps since he was 14.

[MrsAvocet]

how is it any different to being in Tesco?
Possibly because people tendcto be moving around in Tesco rather than remaining close to the same people, or maybe it's because there aren't people exercising and breathing heavily in supermarkets?
I don't really know, but whatever the reason if that is what the Covid restrictions for that sector are, then the venue is obligated to follow them.
Why do I have to tell parents who could perfectly legally meet up with each other in one of their gardens that they can't interact with each other whilst watching their kids at the sports club I run? It seems nonsensical to me - the rule of 6 and 2m distancing should apply. But regardless of what I think I have to follow the rules to ensure that we are operating legally and our insurance is valid. I would imagine the same applies to the trampolining place and many other venues. It's very unlikely that any business or voluntary group would be following these rules if they didn't have to.

[Butwasitherdriveway]

Soft plays which carer for young ones in an inside space where the parents cant see them is very different from a teenager stood on the side of a trampoline.

[ParadiseLaundry]

Actually this particular venue has recently opened day care/nursery facilities on site so that may be how some of the staff have DBS checks.

[ineedaholidaynow]

I'm amazed soft play centre staff don't have DBS checks

[ineedaholidaynow]

If they are doing childcare type arrangements, which this is, then they will need to have DBS checks

[Littlebitofmagic]

I apologise in advance because I've not read the whole thread so I might have missed something.

I work in a soft play centre. Staff are not dbs checked, at least not around my area. We are trained in safe guarding and first aid etc but we are not around children alone because it is a parents job to supervise. We are there for extra safety like if a child goes wandering off and a parent can't find them, or in the event of an accident etc but we do not take full responsibility for the children.

Trampoline parks may be different but I think its always worth checking individual places before you assume and take any risks.

[UnbeatenMum]

For this to be done safely I would expect staff to receive extra training, DBS checks, extra risk assessments to be done, a much higher ratio of staff to children (maybe 1:6) and limited numbers. I also think children should be grouped into smaller age ranges. 4-16(?) is far too wide. They could split into age groups within a session and rotate around different equipment or limit sessions to certain age groups. So I think it could be made safe enough but has any of the above been done?

[tiredmum2468]

@ineedaholidaynow

When I drop my children off ANYWHERE I go in to check they are settled - I only leave them at the Childminder's who I know and the holiday club for my older daughter (6) run mainly by teaching assistants at her school and so she knows them.

This doesn't sound quite the same somehow

It's up to individuals as to how they parent and what they do but I am not in agreement of "waiting outside" and being kept out of it - as long as people wear masks and sanitise their hands how is it any different to being in Tesco?

It's a very difficult situation if places do this and people rely on them to work and I really feel for anyone in that situation

[MrsAvocet]

There aren't even supposed to be spectators at outside organised sports clubs etc "except for Safeguarding purposes" though I guess that is open to interpretation. At the club I help run we are asking parents to wait in their cars, or if they really feel they must watch to spread out around the perimeter and not interact with anyone outside their household. Personally I think that's a bit OTT now that people are allowed to meet in small groups outdoors, but it is the guidance from our governing body so we are stuck with it for now.
It's frustrating when parents get cross with us, as there is absolutely nothing we can do other than to follow the rules, whether we personally agree with them or not. If we don't abide by our governing body's rules our insurance is void, leaving us, and the children at risk.
I imagine most other activity providers are in the same position. Each parent needs to decide whether any given activity is safe for their child or not in the present circumstances, and then go or not go accordingly. The providers will be doing what are told basically and as long as they are making it clear in advance what the restrictions are I don't think there's a problem.

[TwinMum20177]

They are opening on 17 May due to the harassment they received on Facebook. It was for supervised trampoline sessions anyways, as I believe the soft plays can’t open until 17 May. As far as I’m aware Environmental Health has said parents aren’t allowed inside to stop the spread of the virus, so better for older kids! I’m personally going to book them in for the soft play reopening to support a local business.

[BodyRocks80s]

Not a chance, one of my DCs was rushed to hospital after collapsing and fitting at one of these places when they were 6. I wasn’t there at the time, my DH wasn’t watching as he was making sure our 3yo was ok. Our 6yo was part of a birthday party playing with their friends, luckily one of the mums saw they were about to drop and managed to catch them. It was horrible getting that call and rushing to the hospital, even worse when every-time someone asked what happened I couldn’t tell them as I wasn’t there. The staff were absolutely useless, had no idea what to do and all they cared about was that it wasn’t their fault, they wanted us to sign the accident register ASAP but never once asked how my child was. All the school parents boycotted the place after that. It wasn’t that my child had collapsed that was the issue, it was the way they handled it. I obviously wasn’t there so heard it all from the mums, they weren’t the type of mums to be precious about little things so I have no doubt it must have been bad.

[RubyFakeLips]

How do people cope with holiday kids clubs? I appreciate not everyone will have holidays where these are available, but sometimes we’ve been to resorts which have kids clubs or babysitting services. Often struggled as they’re fully booked! Those are strangers, doesn’t seem to bother many parents.

To clarify I’m not being intentionally critical, am curious, don’t think I know any parents who would refuse these opportunities.

@ParadiseLaundry you’re probably right.

[ineedaholidaynow]

But I assume you aren’t with them at the holiday club @tiredmum2468