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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think places for children should open earlier?

172 replies

Crocodileintheriver · 27/11/2022 17:25

Just seen this on my Instagram and could not agree more! Everywhere for children opens way to late, should be open earlier.

To think places for children should open earlier?
OP posts:
BusgyMalone · 27/11/2022 20:25

Sunnytwobridges · 27/11/2022 20:24

Agreed. Kids should be able to entertain themselves for a few hrs in the morning .

Show quote history

Between 5am and 10am is FIVE HOURS. You think an 18 month old can entertain themselves for five hours?

Chickychoccyegg · 27/11/2022 20:25

My dc are past that stage now, but I do remember the 5/6am starts, sometimes we would go for a walk to the shop, which opened at 7am, or to the play park or feed the ducks(less appealing in the cold or dark of course)
The toddler group i went to with my dc and now go to with my childminded dc opens around 9.15, it's run by some local parents who have older dc at school.
I guess soft play or other children's activities with an early start would only suit parents with 1 child, so probably not a big enough demand to make it worth while.

WimpoleHat · 27/11/2022 20:29

I generally believe in markets! If there was huge demand for kids’ activities to be open in the early morning, surely someone would’ve spotted the business opportunity and done it? Charged a premium for pre 9am as there’s no competition?

AlwaysLatte · 27/11/2022 20:31

Not very fair on the staff though, is it. Can you not entertain them yourself for an hour or two while you wait?

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:01

Because the staff will be there from a lot earlier getting ready to open
If a sunday lots is because of sunday hours etc

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:03

Also not everyones kids aee up at 6 , mine never got up at 6 ever , 7 earliest and with breakfast and getting ready , something opening at 10 is fine
And people need to be able to entertain there own kids , plus park is always open at 7 or 8 am of your desperate

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:04

@NuffSaidSam most people who use soft play will often have another child to drop at school and many who work at soft okay also have kids to drop off, also it takes a while to open , get ready , tick of safety checks etc
Just keep your own kids entertained

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:06

@ChillysWaterBottle well open up and run one then

NuffSaidSam · 27/11/2022 21:07

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:04

@NuffSaidSam most people who use soft play will often have another child to drop at school and many who work at soft okay also have kids to drop off, also it takes a while to open , get ready , tick of safety checks etc
Just keep your own kids entertained

And people who work in supermarkets, care homes, offices, train drivers, bus drivers, almost all other jobs don't have kids?! It's such an odd argument!

Most people start work before 10/11am! It's not unreasonable to suggest that softplay opens at 9am!

madnessitellyou · 27/11/2022 21:09

Dd1 in particular was an early riser. We had a six month phase of 4am. That was my personal favourite time. I was pregnant with dc2 by this point. All day morning sickness exacerbated by tiredness. It was great.

She watched a lot of Peppa Pig.

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:10

@ChillysWaterBottle if you work at a pub you know its open until 11 pm
If you work in soft play etc you know they open 10 am so when your a mum looking for a job you would prob go to soft play
Also many places may of tried opening earlier and it not worked out , so not worth it
On sundays opening hrs play a part and getting staff in early a bit more if a challenge, pretty sure your not in your office at 7 am on a sun
I mean im a night owl so why are all the shops not open until 10-11 pm because Its inconvenient for me shutting at 6 or 8 pm , oh yes I know why as the world doesn't revolve around just me
And business work to make money and know their customers

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:15

@NuffSaidSam but you don't open when only a couple will show up as the rest on school run, a business needs to make money
Also these are normally small businesses not tesco and not comparable , they have a smaller target audience for one, so you can't compare.
No one will open a large soft play and pay several staff to have a couple kids come in.
Parks are open though , green space etc

ChillysWaterBottle · 27/11/2022 21:15

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:06

@ChillysWaterBottle well open up and run one then

? Genuinely not sure the intention of these comments.... I have a career, a well paid one I am passionate about, I have no interest in opening and running baby groups. I am frustrated that there is a 6 week wait to see my gp but I'm not planning on opening my own gp surgery. I find it sad that they shut my favourite local pub during lockdown but I wasn't planning on opening a pub either.

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:16

@WimpoleHat exactly and some will of tried but the vast majority do not want to be at soft play at 7or 8 am

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:18

@ChillysWaterBottle oh good for you on your well paid career and do you not think people who run soft plays , know their market a little better
Just because 3 mums would come at 8 am , doesn't make it worthwhile opening but a few on here want something exactly when they want it and thats it
By the way not that its relevant I also have a good career

Ballygoforwards · 27/11/2022 21:18

I think instead of looking for places to be open earlier, you need to improve your routine so everyone sleeps in until 7am.
There’s no need for anyone to be up at 5.15am unless you have a newborn (and even then they should go back down) or it’s work related.

NuffSaidSam · 27/11/2022 21:20

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:15

@NuffSaidSam but you don't open when only a couple will show up as the rest on school run, a business needs to make money
Also these are normally small businesses not tesco and not comparable , they have a smaller target audience for one, so you can't compare.
No one will open a large soft play and pay several staff to have a couple kids come in.
Parks are open though , green space etc

Of course, it obviously doesn't make business sense for them otherwise they'd be doing it! But it doesn't change the fact that it would be nice if they opened a bit earlier, which is what the OP's point is (and the Instagram post). It's simply a wish that they would open earlier, something I agree with.....not sure why the OP is getting such a hard time!

Or why the argument for lots of posters is that it's unreasonable to even suggest softplay staff start work at the same time as every single other working person. That bit is very odd!

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:22

@NuffSaidSam no one starts the same time as every single person though do they ? Many different start times
And the instagram post is more demanding than just a wish and other posters also not necessarily the OP

Byelaws · 27/11/2022 21:22

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 27/11/2022 19:26

I don't think that's quite true, otherwise the Ukraine wouldn't have to put up Russian agression.

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Um, are you on the right thread? My point was about the economic dynamics of supply/demand/costs.

Your point was …Confused

ChuggingtonMum · 27/11/2022 21:23

Our local soft play has an 8am Sunday session, the one time we managed to get dressed and get there it was packed. The bounce park has a 9am session, similar. I think it attracts lots of little kids with older siblings who have been dropped off at sports clubs.

Personally I struggle to get dressed before 10 even when we are up at 6! Maybe when the dc can/will dress themselves I will feel different.

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:24

@Ballygoforwards but lots of people put kids to bed at 6.30 etc
Uk seems to be very different than europe in that respect

NuffSaidSam · 27/11/2022 21:26

healthadvice123 · 27/11/2022 21:22

@NuffSaidSam no one starts the same time as every single person though do they ? Many different start times
And the instagram post is more demanding than just a wish and other posters also not necessarily the OP

You know what I mean! No, you're absolutely right, not everyone starts at the same time, but very, very many people start work earlier than 10am. The point being, it's ridiculous to suggest that 9am is an unreasonably early start for work.

The Instagram post is a light-hearted joke that resonates with parents of early wakers or just people who are out the house early/have a child who naps early etc. That's all. There is no need whatsoever for some of the harsher posts on this thread.

stuntbubbles · 27/11/2022 21:36

Ballygoforwards · 27/11/2022 21:18

I think instead of looking for places to be open earlier, you need to improve your routine so everyone sleeps in until 7am.
There’s no need for anyone to be up at 5.15am unless you have a newborn (and even then they should go back down) or it’s work related.

“Simply change your baby to one like mine!”

ShirleyPhallus · 27/11/2022 21:46

stuntbubbles · 27/11/2022 21:36

“Simply change your baby to one like mine!”

Show quote history

This kind of motivational talk works for sports coaching too.

”Not winning any races? Just run faster!”

caffelattetogo · 27/11/2022 23:01

I wish things would open later. Ours have always been late to bed and late to wake. Kid stuff seems to finish so early. Hours are a compromise. If they opened at 8am they'd probably want to clues at lunchtime. As it is Sunday play centre hours are often 10-3 near us. They are always people there at the end.