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?

Ridiculous!! What happens if a 4 year old needs the toilet? Those places are renowned for fairly significant injuries too. I can’t believe this is considered to be a safe policy.

OP, you are coming at this from a parent of a 4 yr old. I think most parents with 4 yr old DC wouldn't not entertain a trampoline park in non covid times.

But surely as a teacher, you can see that there is no problem with their suggestion of supervised sessions for older children? I honestly can't see why you are banging on about it. The vast majority of 'children' would be fine with this set up. The vast majority of parents would too. Those that aren't wouldn't take their kids!

If 4 yr olds go in, I'd want those sessions to be completely separate from the older kids. But I doubt many would go anyway!

*by a parent or guardian

This is the only way they can open while still following the law. Many of these places have been shut for a year now - they need to start making money again ASAP.

I mean, I appreciate you're uncomfortable with it but they'd be breaking the law to allow parents to all hang about inside, so what choice do they have, really?

It's easy from the outside to say "well, just don't open" but many businesses are totally on their knees - opening a month early could make all the difference.

You mean would?

@HaveringWavering yes I meant would 🤦🏼‍♀️

The part you need to understand is that cafes are not open yet for inside seating. It's been very well advertised you really have no reason to not understand this by now.

At what point did I say "I don't understand that cafes are opening"? Can you point out my post at all where I said this?

I can guarantee that schools and soft play centres will not have the same safeguarding training. School and nursery setting are trained to look out for red flags within family settings etc.

I don't think they will need to know that for one play session.

@Same4Walls

Out of curiosity OP how big is the venue and have they specified how many children can attend in one session. I've just checked and our local trampoline park is huge but they are limiting sessions to no more than 25 children.

I will check and post info - just trying to keep up with the pace of the thread

@Greenmarmalade

Ridiculous!! What happens if a 4 year old needs the toilet? Those places are renowned for fairly significant injuries too. I can’t believe this is considered to be a safe policy.

Then they'd be taken to the toilet...

Unless you think the staff would expect them to wee themselves on the trampoline.

What do you think happens in the IKEA play area when a child needs the toilet?

So @thebillyotea what do you think these other also supervised children will do to your precious offspring?

you have never been in a soft play, have you? You can't picture what happens in a group with a big age difference? Really?

Or are you miffed because you recognise your own children as the feral ones?

It will work for teens, or the bigger age group allowed. No one in their right mind will send a younger child in there, and even so...

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

The part you need to understand is that cafes are not open yet for inside seating. It's been very well advertised you really have no reason to not understand this by now.

At what point did I say "I don't understand that cafes are opening"? Can you point out my post at all where I said this?

Why are you expecting to use one then? 😂

So @thebillyotea what do you think these other also supervised children will do to your precious offspring?

@Scepticalch3rry you are VERY naive if you think children don't harm other children.
A bit of a grim digression - I was sexually assaulted by an older boy when I was 8, in a swimming pool. These things do happen. I at least had my mum to run to that day.

@Greenmarmalade

Ridiculous!! What happens if a 4 year old needs the toilet? Those places are renowned for fairly significant injuries too. I can’t believe this is considered to be a safe policy.

Well apparently you and I are in the minority and I'm being ridiculous for thinking this is an issue

If they said 8+ I'd be less shocked but even then I wouldn't send my DD alone at that age in

I've just checked gov.U.K.

Soft play sessions cannot reopen until 17 May however children's exercise classes and child care can, hence only being able to run supervised sessions

It isn't for you OP, but there are many who would be comfortable with this level of supervision. I wouldn't send a 4 year old. 6 year old with and older sibling yes. 8 year old with a friend yes.

At most places the trampoline Park is huge so if a child is behaving dangerously or hurt staff in that zone will be assisting child long before parents can get down the stairs and over to them. Many parents in cafe are socialising or relaxing on phone anyway so carpark is no different.

I understand you like to be there as it is reassuring to know all is well. Try and understand others can manage in the carpark and trust staff to alert them if any issue.

@thebillyotea

So @thebillyotea what do you think these other also supervised children will do to your precious offspring?

you have never been in a soft play, have you? You can't picture what happens in a group with a big age difference? Really?

Or are you miffed because you recognise your own children as the feral ones?

Of course I have been in a soft play centre. Most don't allow parents in the play area regardless, so a parent being in a cafe watching wouldn't stop anything happening more than a staff member also watching the children play.

There are staff to supervise, a pretty simple concept really.

@Scepticalch3rry
""So @thebillyotea what do you think these other also supervised children will do to your precious offspring?""

A bit of bullying could start. So a four-six year old being deliberately bounced on, or pushed off, which could easily cause a fracture and yes, young children are precious and should be protected.

Our local soft plays are opening as they were last year in May.

@user1471530109

OP, you are coming at this from a parent of a 4 yr old. I think most parents with 4 yr old DC wouldn't not entertain a trampoline park in non covid times.

But surely as a teacher, you can see that there is no problem with their suggestion of supervised sessions for older children? I honestly can't see why you are banging on about it. The vast majority of 'children' would be fine with this set up. The vast majority of parents would too. Those that aren't wouldn't take their kids!

If 4 yr olds go in, I'd want those sessions to be completely separate from the older kids. But I doubt many would go anyway!

But it isn't just for older children - if it was I'd be less shocked. It's for 4+ apparently which is why I assumed they must have misread guidance or got it wrong somehow

I mean, I appreciate you're uncomfortable with it but they'd be breaking the law to allow parents to all hang about inside, so what choice do they have, really?

No, not really, because I haven't suggested that

It's easy from the outside to say "well, just don't open" but many businesses are totally on their knees - opening a month early could make all the difference.

I also didn't say this. Please don't misquote me

Ridiculous!! What happens if a 4 year old needs the toilet? Those places are renowned for fairly significant injuries too. I can’t believe this is considered to be a safe policy.

They will likely have someone to supervise the toilet area. Children in nursery are left to go to the toilet themselves as soon as they are out of nappies. The workers generally don't get involved unless they absolutely have to. I can see a 4 year old maybe struggling a but ti do the toilet, but if your Iver 5 year old can't go to the toilet themselves then you probably shouldn't take them to the softplay or trampoline Park at the moment.

@Greenmarmalade

Ridiculous!! What happens if a 4 year old needs the toilet? Those places are renowned for fairly significant injuries too. I can’t believe this is considered to be a safe policy.

Well, if you think your child is too young to attend without you, keep them at home until May 17th.

Businesses like this are on their knees - they need to start bringing in an income before they fold. If the only way they can do that is to provide "child only" sessions then that's what they're going to do.

You don't have to take you're child if you're uncomfortable.

I wouldn’t be totally comfortable even leaving an older child, to be honest.

You don’t actually have to take them though, do you?
I'm guessing by your user name it's been a while since you had young children but yes absolutely OP has to take them. They've been shut in for months, these are exciting days out and I'm guessing they looked it up because they knew their child would love it.
I would feel uneasy too about not watching them - for that reason I wouldn't take an under 7 under those rules, I think.