Nursery taking kids to soft play?

[DoctorZog]

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.

Yes, this is another good point.

My DDs old nursery did this every day, but they were located on the same premises as the soft play. They even built a private access for the nursery kids. We also visited another nursery that had its own private soft play. And, my oldest DDs nursery would do regular trips to a local soft play, every couple of months.

I don’t see it as any of your business tbh or anyone else’s with the exception to the parents (who are the actual ones paying for this service) of the children in the nursery group.

I would have been happy for mine to go on an outing like this when I used a nursery. Children are allowed to have fun when been looked after by childminders.

Again, lighthearted post and I did actually say that in my original post.

Looks like I'm not the only grump on mumsnet today 😁

If they had 10 children between 2 adults they are breaking the ratio.

Before lockdown, my kids school did this with the reception kids. My son loved it. Every Thursday they'd go, at no extra cost to parents. 2-3 hours I think. Normal state infant school (well, RC school in a deprived area). The older kids get to do forest school for 6 weeks, so I just reasoned that this was something for the little ones to do.

My son’s nursery has a soft play on site. We collect our children from the soft play area every day.
they get exercise and to have fun.

I’d have loved that as I could have avoided having to take DC myself.

Why do people have to moan / point out a problem with anything and everything. Particularly things that don't effect them.

Yawwwwwn.

My only concern would be the ratio. If one staff member was doing a toilet run iteVes the other member of staff with alot of children! I think it's nice that they went though. Alot of children are there Mon- Fri 8-6pm, it's good to do "normal" things aswell.

Saying that I used to love it when my childminder would take my daughter to the supermarket or they'd slob out infront of a film. I prefer childcare to be more relaxed anyway

The nurseries near me are always in the local parks. Depending on the age of the little ones they teach them about nature or just tell them stories, and either way they let them run around on the grass.

Before the pandemic I realised I wasn't safe going to my local Sainsburys mid-morning as there was always a nursery group in there.

After sending my DD to a childminder I realised often the "parent" out and about in the local shops with young children plus on the bus may be a childminder.

It wasn't a moan, it was a genuine request for people's opinions on something I didn't feel massively comfortable with. The responses have mostly been quite interesting and thought provoking. I'd argue that your comment sounds much more 'moany ' than my original post 😜

They would have got signed permission from the parents for the outing so one can only assume that the parents are happy with it.

It’s clear that the op didn’t like it as she thought she would have a nice peaceful time at soft play nice and quiet whilst kids are at school then got annoyed to see 8-10 nursery children turn up. That’s the real reason you didn’t like it!

Ha! There may be a pinch of truth in this! 😳😂

Yeah this comes across as pretty judgey.

My kids go to a wonderful childminder, (who has many qualifications). We didn't choose it because it was cheaper either like many people seem to think, but because we wanted a smaller nursery environment.
Anyway, the last two weeks there they have gone to the supermarket, which I'm sure you would judge 🤣.
They walk along the river, see the ducks, go to the shops and then make something with what they've bought.

Ours does for summer, easter and xmas parties age 2 to 4. Whole pre schools (theres 2 ' bases') 80 kids total. They hire the whole place

They also do coach trips to theme park, zoo and farm. 1 x each, each yr.
They have a huge amount of parent help ratio 2:1 and 3:1

I have a policy of looking into whatever I've decided to publicly slate before doing so.

Stops me looking like a cunt.

certain the parents would have had to give permission for this and obviously fine with it so YABU.

my Dd went to a pre school who did a random one off trip to a soft play as a treat. It was a one off, today could have been too.

Id love it if my daughters nursery did this!

Many years since one of mine was in nursery but I loved the way they did it. In the morning they were in age groups, pre schoolers doing their thing, toddlers in their room and babies in baby room. Then lunch.

After lunch babies in prams, toddler on the seat on the pram (don't know if they still do they but were great on a substantial pram) and a pre schooler each side of the pram and off they went for an "outing." It might be a trip to the shops to buy something for afternoon break (biscuits or something) or the post office or the park and baby had a nice nap in the fresh air. The idea was they did the things that children with mum at home would be doing that children in nursery for 9 or 10 hours a day might miss out on. Then back to nursery for play, they had a lovely garden. They also had two big dogs that the children loved.

The preschoolers were great with the babies, the toddlers loved the "big" children and playing with them.

I don't suppose it would be the same now, particularly the dogs, but it was a very happy place. I'm sure they'd have done soft play if it existed back then.

YABU

What a lovely treat and day out for them, especially to be able to go with all their nursery friends.

DS (4) at expensive private day nursery went to the park yesterday, a few weeks ago they got the bus (the regular bus! Lol) into town and went to the library, visited the book store for a special reading and also had a picnic. He had the best day ever and we do plenty with him every weekend.

Physical development is a big part of the EYFS 🙄

i'm sure they also do outdoor play and drawing and other developmental things. They are getting exercise and vigorous play with their friends, I can't see how this would be a problem to anyone. It's a long day to fill and varied experiences are excellent.