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?

There are some children who would always need someone with them who knows them well (mine would be one of them) but realistically at the moment those children cannot go. This won't be forever.

Rainbows and so on are totally different. It’s a smaller group and structured activities and you know (even if only in passing) the group leader.

Good luck to them, I wouldn’t be paying for that. No way.

I think you are looking at this from your own situation. My children are older than your's and despite usually sitting inside - I can't usually spot them and I sit inside so they can find me if they need to. But I would feel comfortable if it was standard for all children to come to the entry if they need to find a parent sitting in their car.

@daffodilsandprimroses

Rainbows and so on are totally different. It’s a smaller group and structured activities and you know (even if only in passing) the group leader.

Even on the first session you know them do you?

Thats some trick, knowing someone you've never met before.

You think a supervised trampoline session isn't a structured activity?

@TattiePants

For the posters asking if this is a play centre or trampoline park. It's both although the softplay area will be closed. Even in non-Covid times, the staff ensure that there is only one child per trampoline etc. If a child wants to go on a different piece of equipment, they join the queue until the staff member tells them they can go on. With fewer children and no parents blocking the staff's view, there's probably less chance for a child to be hurt.

It sounds like they take safety very seriously.

They can take it as seriously as they like. The risk of injuries at these type of places is really high

Just accept that as a parent, being sat in a cafe provides no protection to your child playing in a soft play. Yes they can run to you and ask for help, or run over crying after being pushed over. But none of those is preventative.

Of course it provides protection because it provides reassurance to children.

If you're the type of person who doesn't want to risk your child coming up against any sort of conflict then soft play isn't for you. But other people aren't wrong for taking their children just in case another kid might pick on them and they aren't towering over them the second it happens

What about children with additional needs? I hope allowances are made for that otherwise it’s discrimination.

No chance a random member of staff could ‘supervise’ my ds amongst god knows how many other kids. He has 2-1 support at school and they still cant cope.

Me and Dh sometimes take him out on weekends to things like this, where me and Dh are both needed, sometimes one of us can manage him for small amounts of time 1-1 (directly 1-1, not just keeping an ‘eye’) but the other has to be close by on hand for back up which is often used!

If rules like this are in place then ds can’t attend, which shouldn’t suprise me really as it’s usually the story with any activities / clubs

We are taking our Brownies to do a climbing wall and archery. No parents. Supervised by qualified staff who are trained. Not really any different. The trampoline centre staff will be trained.

@TattiePants

For the posters asking if this is a play centre or trampoline park. It's both although the softplay area will be closed. Even in non-Covid times, the staff ensure that there is only one child per trampoline etc. If a child wants to go on a different piece of equipment, they join the queue until the staff member tells them they can go on. With fewer children and no parents blocking the staff's view, there's probably less chance for a child to be hurt.

That's a very different situation to the scenes of carnage the OP was portraying.

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

So you'd never let them go to rainbows, school, nursery, a child minder?! That's sad.

@Scepticalch3rry

I'm not sure what shitty standards you hold your parenting to but usually I've met a childminder or nursery worker beforehand, checked their qualifications and DBS status and have at least had the opportunity to gain some sort of instinct about the person caring for my child. Not something that I can do with a soft play worker, who is not unlikely to be a teenager still in school.

No need to be sad for me. Slightly sad for you though that you think it's the same thing though.

Ah so you make sure to personally meet and inspect every nursery workers DBS certificates do you?

Of course you do

You think a supervised trampoline session isn't a structured activity?

It’s not. Honestly, I really admire how keen you are to have an argument, you don’t even seem to care how bonkers that argument is!

You are expecting parents to congregate inside to watch their kids, usually this is in the cafe area

@Plumbear2 no I'm not and I've never said this. I said that was the rules last time and I assumed it would be this time. Please stop misquoting me

@Scepticalch3rry James and pumper will tell you what a nightmare stubborn poster I am but even I can see you are attempting to pick a random argument out of thin air! Why? I'm not really sure what point you are making!

How are you not getting this?

I am @Plumbear2 - how are YOU not 'getting' that I've never made any of these claims or demands?

I love how the usual lazy parents fall over themselves to justify why they leave their own kids run unsupervised

All these parents who got so outraged about having to parent their own child during the lockdowns are a dream for all the businesses who will offer a chance to drop and run.

Poor kids

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

Just accept that as a parent, being sat in a cafe provides no protection to your child playing in a soft play. Yes they can run to you and ask for help, or run over crying after being pushed over. But none of those is preventative.

Of course it provides protection because it provides reassurance to children.

If you're the type of person who doesn't want to risk your child coming up against any sort of conflict then soft play isn't for you. But other people aren't wrong for taking their children just in case another kid might pick on them and they aren't towering over them the second it happens

Reassurance isn't protection, they're different words with different meanings. A parent being sat in a cafe, does not protect a child from another child. Unless you are within arms reach shit happens.

I bet you were reassured about your mother at that swimming pool, but you were still harmed were you not?

Also I'm still not sure why you're hammering on about soft play, this is a trampoline park, only the trampoline area is open ffs.

@Pumperthepumper

You think a supervised trampoline session isn't a structured activity?

It’s not. Honestly, I really admire how keen you are to have an argument, you don’t even seem to care how bonkers that argument is!

So one child on at a time, being supervised isn't structured?

@ChocOrange1

We are taking our Brownies to do a climbing wall and archery. No parents. Supervised by qualified staff who are trained. Not really any different. The trampoline centre staff will be trained.

Totally different. Totally different activities.

@ComDummings

I don’t think it will be as ‘supervised’ as some here believe. A member of staff standing at the side while 20 kids jump around crazy is ‘supervising.’ That’s not adequate. Companies will do the bare minimum so you can guarantee that’s what ‘supervised’ means.

Yes, this was what I was trying to get across.

Knowing my sixth formers who work in these kinds of centres, they're great pupils to teach but not mentally equipped to suddenly be responsible for dozens of random (feral) children.

Quite. Lovely boys but

I second you on that one James.

So one child on at a time, being supervised isn't structured?

Of course it isn’t. Do you want to explain why it is?

Yes, this was what I was trying to get across.

Knowing my sixth formers who work in these kinds of centres, they're great pupils to teach but not mentally equipped to suddenly be responsible for dozens of random (feral) children.

But another poster has clarified its nothing like that even pre covid.

Both mine do activities that are quite risky though (without me being there). Kayaking, rock climbing, camping etc. All supervised of course! With trained adults.

My family has a number of such trained adults and coaches who've recently been renewing First Aid, DBS etc. with a view to events and classes starting up again from later this month.