To wonder when you stop supervising kids at soft play

[Doingatrifle]

And just let them play independently? Eldest is 2 and a half. Is this too young to let him loose on the equipment?

It depends on the size of the soft play I think.

There is a small one locally that I've let mine loose on alone since he was about 1.5 and that felt appropriate. You can't see all of it but more than enough and it's always fairly quiet.

I've just started setting him free in the much bigger one where he is missing for awhile at nearly 3. Tbh I don't think it's appropriate when it's busy but I started when it was quiet and I'm in no state health wise atm to chase him. And I like an easy life so I have continued.

What's the soft play you use the most like?

I couldn't have left DS at 2.5. However it depends on the size and when you're there. A small, familiar soft play in the middle of the week, term time, might be fine.

My DS is now 7 and obviously fine. The Covid years disrupted the start of the time when it was ok to leave him, he was 4 and we went back to it post covid, to different soft plays too, and he was fine.

Agree with pp, depends on the play!

Took 2.5yo DC last weekend. There was an under 4s area where I had a seat outside and could let them play alone. Things like a small slide, some foam bits to climb and lots of floor based toys (play kitchen, scoot on bikes, general toys).
DC kept going in the bigger play area where the gaps are too big without supervision, so we stuck with them there.

It’s fairly big. I’ve no issue supervising him, just not sure what to do with younger child!

The smaller the softplay the better! I remember getting dd now 7 a big sponge block so she could access the next level! She was about 2ish.

I would have. In fact, I just used to let mine loose in there, in the age appropriate areas, and watched from the sides. I never went in. When they were a bit older, say from 4ish onwards, then I'd leave them to it and only check every now and again. My dc just tended to play together and left the others alone.

I let mine loose in smaller ones where I could see them from around 2. Bigger ones from around 4. I dress my DC in neon clothes for soft play for easy observation and hunt them down if 5-10 minutes goes by without a sighting. I've taken the baby into the frame in a sling a few times to find/play with the older one.

When they are physically and socially capable

I let my 5yo roam on her own while I supervise my younger toddler. But she likes to join us most of the time to get me to join in games or show off to me. I think even when they get old enough to manage the physical skills by themselves, they like having us around to interact with. But we do play a lot with our dc rather than just sitting watching them. When we go at weekends with DH, one of us will play with the older one and one of us with the toddler.

My dd needed me to go with her until she was about 5. DS never needed supervising as by the time he could go to soft play (COVID) he was launching himself head first down slides quite happily and runs around with his sister. I quite miss squeezing myself around it though, although dont miss the pain of walking up netting.

1. I always ask DD to look out for her little brother too.