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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery taking kids to soft play?

129 replies

DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:20

I was at our local, small soft play earlier with my 3 year old and baby. I was pretty surprised when two nursery nurses arrived (in branded nursery clothing) with 8-10 kids, aged 3-4 years I'd guess. Is this a thing? I kind of feel like soft play is something you'd do when you're a parent / carer / babysitter, perhaps a childminder, but I kind of feel like if you're paying professionals with actual qualifications to look after your kids, they should be doing slightly more interesting / challenging stuff with them? Obviously they're still little and it's all about play at this age, but they could be doing messy play, playing outside etc. And to be honest, I find it challenging to just supervise one kid at soft play, so not sure how they manage with a whole group! I dunno, maybe I'm just being a grump! Not my kids so none of my business really, but would be interested to hear other people's views.

OP posts:
Dixiechickonhols · 04/05/2022 14:33

They can’t stay in nursery building 8-6 pm. Mine used to go to play park, local dance school, allotment, for walks. They had french teacher and football coach come in. It’s childcare. If they were with mum or a childminder they’d be out and about. Good to do a mix of things.

Original poster
DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:35

ChudraWouldaShouldya · 04/05/2022 14:28

Maybe best not to assume then 👍🏻

BTW, YABU

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Wow, I think you're being a bit defensive and a little rude. I apologise for any offence I may have caused childminder by not being fully aware of their qualifications...

OP posts:
cookiemonster2468 · 04/05/2022 14:35

It's interesting that you think going to a soft play is not 'interesting/ challenging' for children at nursery.

I would say it's quite a good thing to do. They are going away from their familiar space (nursery) with different people who are not their parents, so that's promoting some level of independence in a new situation.

At that sort of age, so many things that you would not think of as 'interesting' are actually valuable learning experiences for children. Think of everything that surrounds going on a 'trip', it's not only that it's soft play, it's everything else they are doing and learning on that trip. I think it's great.

PleasantBirthday · 04/05/2022 14:35

DinoRock · 04/05/2022 14:29

This makes me quite sad. Children are still learning about the world just by being in the world. It doesn't all have to be structured play.

Very true. I sometimes take my daughter to the cinema when there's something suitable on, which she enjoys but the day they went with the nursery? You honestly couldn't buy the excitement of going with all the little pals and watching the film together. She got so much joy out it. These days are so important to enhance their experience of life and for shared memories with their friends. They need fun and joy.

SoggyPaper · 04/05/2022 14:35

DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:30

Happy to be told that I'm being a grump 😆

I dunno - just seems a bit mad to drag a load of young kids out on a bus / minivan, drive them down the road and have the stress of having to make sure none of them hurt themselves or run off, when there's loads of fun things they could be doing at nursery. I'd rather take them on outings myself at that age, but perhaps I'm just overly anxious...

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They’re offering variety. Going somewhere else is different to staying in the nursery.

They have protocols and procedures for taking a gaggle of children on and outing. And loads for the children to learn in the process.

It doesn’t stop the parents going on outings themselves. Unless you are applying that weird ‘they had a hot lunch at school so cannot have anything but a sandwich for dinner*’ logic to other activities. They’ve been swimming at school so now I can’t take them swimming. They drew a picture at nursery so I can’t draw with them at home. Etc.

  • fair enough if you want to make sandwiches for dinner. I’m totally on board. It’s the idea that eating two ‘hot meals’ a day might be somehow wrong that baffles me.
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 04/05/2022 14:36

My DDs nursery had its own little soft play area... mainly used on wet days when the kids didn't want to use the outdoor play area.

Some families have no choice but to send their kids to nursery 8-6 five days a week. Any change of scenery must be good for them! (Not a criticism of choices, nursery is an essential for many!)

SoggyPaper · 04/05/2022 14:36

It appears that trying to use one Asterix in the new system bolds random sections of text. 😆

DinoRock · 04/05/2022 14:36

DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:33

I agree, and did actually say that it my original post.

Show quote history

Yes I just don't get why you feel they can't be allowed a trip to soft play.

cookiemonster2468 · 04/05/2022 14:36

I dunno - just seems a bit mad to drag a load of young kids out on a bus / minivan, drive them down the road and have the stress of having to make sure none of them hurt themselves or run off, when there's loads of fun things they could be doing at nursery. I'd rather take them on outings myself at that age, but perhaps I'm just overly anxious...

I mean if that's the way you think, why send them to nursery at all when there's loads of fun things they could be doing at home?

Shakeitshakeitbaby · 04/05/2022 14:37

God forbid the children have an outing! I really can't see what the problem with this is. It is great for the kids to experience different environments and activities.

Meadmaiden · 04/05/2022 14:38

Nothing wrong with going out for trips from nursery. My only worry about a soft play would be how well the adults can supervise given the adult to child ratio and lots of other adults and kids.

Original poster
DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:39

cookiemonster2468 · 04/05/2022 14:35

It's interesting that you think going to a soft play is not 'interesting/ challenging' for children at nursery.

I would say it's quite a good thing to do. They are going away from their familiar space (nursery) with different people who are not their parents, so that's promoting some level of independence in a new situation.

At that sort of age, so many things that you would not think of as 'interesting' are actually valuable learning experiences for children. Think of everything that surrounds going on a 'trip', it's not only that it's soft play, it's everything else they are doing and learning on that trip. I think it's great.

This is a good point, yes. I suppose I live quite near the soft play and so it's a regular thing for us, out of nurse time, but for other families who live further away, perhaps not.

OP posts:
Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 04/05/2022 14:40

A good nursery will regularly take kids out. A great way to learn about the world and develop vocabulary

Excited101 · 04/05/2022 14:41

I have a problem with schools putting the tv on for kids, seems to happen quite a lot. Toddlers in soft play? Can’t get worried about that in the slightest.

Dixiechickonhols · 04/05/2022 14:41

Definitely different experience going with peers/carers to going with a parent.
Change of scenery good for everyone. From anxiety point of view it will be risk assessed eg enough staff.
Nursery near us walk them down road to post box etc it’s nice to see. I never think why aren’t they in their building/outside area.

Ikeptgoing · 04/05/2022 14:42

It's a half day trip out where they can have fun and climb and run around
Learning isn't just academic it's physical coordination too & fitness and activeness

Sounds exactly the kind of trip a nursery (especially one that that doesn't have huge grounds) might do with their charges. I don't get the problem with this? Schools do trips out and play places are perfectly appropriate for nursery ages.

Think about the importance of access to this kind of activity for the full time preschoolers who's parents work long hours and rarely can take them to play places?

Flavourflava · 04/05/2022 14:43

Shouldn't you have been doing something more interesting and challenging with your children during your 2:1 time with them? Bit of a lazy way out, soft play, eh.

user1469796848 · 04/05/2022 14:44

Nothing challenging at primary school?! I would certainly hope this isn’t the case. Don’t set your standards so low!

LadyT27 · 04/05/2022 14:45

Sounds like a great day out, I know my DD would be thrilled if our nursery took her to softplay. I can't understand how you should feel otherwise. Definitely a grump sorry!

Original poster
DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:46

Thanks for the comments everyone. Interesting points of view and you've changed my mind! Thanks to those of you who put your points across in a friendly and non-confrontational way. It was really meant to be more of a lighthearted post about something I wondered / felt a bit conflicted about, and I feel like the tone of some of the comments has been unnecessarily harsh and unpleasant, but hey, that's the way of online discussion forums isn't it - I should really know better! Right, back to my day...

OP posts:
cigarettesNalcohol · 04/05/2022 14:47

DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:20

I was at our local, small soft play earlier with my 3 year old and baby. I was pretty surprised when two nursery nurses arrived (in branded nursery clothing) with 8-10 kids, aged 3-4 years I'd guess. Is this a thing? I kind of feel like soft play is something you'd do when you're a parent / carer / babysitter, perhaps a childminder, but I kind of feel like if you're paying professionals with actual qualifications to look after your kids, they should be doing slightly more interesting / challenging stuff with them? Obviously they're still little and it's all about play at this age, but they could be doing messy play, playing outside etc. And to be honest, I find it challenging to just supervise one kid at soft play, so not sure how they manage with a whole group! I dunno, maybe I'm just being a grump! Not my kids so none of my business really, but would be interested to hear other people's views.

Why do you think soft play isn't interesting or challenging enough for these kids ? It's literally designed for that age group.
YABU.

bloodywhitecat · 04/05/2022 14:48

When I worked in a special school we would sometimes take our pupils to soft play, we could structure their learning around the activities they did there and we could prompt their social skills too. There's nothing wrong with a bit of soft play in the curriculum.

Original poster
DoctorZog · 04/05/2022 14:48

Flavourflava · 04/05/2022 14:43

Shouldn't you have been doing something more interesting and challenging with your children during your 2:1 time with them? Bit of a lazy way out, soft play, eh.

Touché 😃

OP posts:
SoggyPaper · 04/05/2022 14:49

Pre-covid I’m told that DS’s nursery used to go out to the local park/shopping centre and so on regularly. I’m hoping they start doing it again soon. Sure, we go to the park and the shopping centre all the time (I feel like I’m always needing to get something from sainsbury’s) because they’re very near the house. It’s totally different going with nursery though.

Dinoteeth · 04/05/2022 14:51

I think it's brilliant. Bit of running around having fun.
One of the softplays near me has a nursery attached to it.

Even LOs who are only in nursery 3 days a week probably really enjoy having an outing. Remember those 3 days may well be long days and be all year round rather than just term-time.

Op it actually sounds like a fab nursery who is willing to take the kids for a trip out.