To think that parents should keep their age 4+ dcs AWAY from the toddler section at soft play/park

[peacelily]

Because of the rain yesterday I took dd(2) to local soft play even though I believe it's truly hell on Earth.

Just makes me that children who're obviously too old are diving in all over the little ones in the toddler section whilst parents are "having a break" reading a magazine in the cafe!!! It's dangerous and inconsiderate and scares the little ones.

Wake up and smell the coffee parents, whilst you are out with your dcs you have to supervise them closely ALL THE TIME, regardless of age.

Also annoys me at park too, 12 years old crawling all over little slide/swings.

Anyway rant over, bored this am

ALWAYS - when in work. When at home I'm too busy running after LO to think about food

Liffey pmsl

dd (2) asked me to go on the ball pool with her, pulled me by the hand infact! she wanted me to sit next to her, one of the reasons I take her to places like that is to help with her confidence in meeting new people.

I was actually going to settle her in wait til she started enjoying herself then get out and watch through the mesh in the hope that she'd play a bit independently, not be an "overbearing nightmare"!! We all have our own reaons for doing things.

Cheesesarnie sorry for hmm, agree with more than one it must be hard and incidences will happen, I do find the majority of parents at least show willing (myself incuded) and apologise if something untoward happens, but this girl was so clearly gigger and older than the toddlers and was in the ball pool for a long time you could see her from the cafe ans several annoncements were made over the tannoy.

No one came to check though!

It's perfectly reasonable to expect that older children should stay out of the area specially set aside for toddler should. If this is a regular problem at your local softplay area, then the staff should be monitoring the area more closely, and telling children who are over the right age to go play somewhere else or be sent out altogether.

apols for terrible typing

Well, Liffey I disagree.
I don't let my 6yr old go in for the simple reason that I think he is too big to be jumping around excited where 18mth old babies are playing. I've got 3 and am far more relaxed about them all getting squashed and of course the younger ones get it at home.

But I do remember how you feel when you only have one little one. It's only fair they get to relax and enjoy it too.

I have the opposite problem

I have dd2 (2.2) who insists on following her big sister everywhere, which includes the so-called designated area for the older ones

Should I keep her away from them? I'm sure she annoys the older kids when she's holding up the queue with her inferior climbing capabilities

I don't, by the way... I rely on dd1 keeping an eye and dd2 developing a tough exterior

I personally believe if you don't like the big kids at the soft play, don't go in the school holidays

To be honest 18 month old babies are going to be more at risk from my 3 year old than either my 6 or 9 year old.

I have noticed mothers sometimes gather their children to their skirts when ds1 starts being noisy though (he can't talk but he has a fine range of sounds). Which always makes me smile a little wryly. He's really not interested in young children, in fact if a young child touches him he shudders. He won't be going anywhere near them. They're all safe.

This thread is so how I wopuld have felt if I didnt have two rampaging boys. I take my two to the local soft play to let off steam and enjoy some independance in a pretty safe child friendly environment.

DS2 (who is now 26 months old) has always wanted to be in the big kids part and he can do most of it with a little help from his older Bro (3.6).

They are both alowed to go in the under 4's area, but would terrify loads of children in their.

I am glad that our local one doesnt have a ball pool, as I found them far more interesting for the older children than the little ones.

Also I sit and relax and enjoy a cuppa and a read (yes, on my FAT ARSE). I do allsorts with my boys, swimming once a week etc. This is a relaxing time for me.

You know what, if you dont like it - dont go. Simple solution.

Mmm, reasonable last line TheMadHouse - NOT.

Jimjams that reminds me - we have a school near us that specialises in children with autism (I know an assistant there) and they go to the park every Wednesday, rain or shine. Ds2, who is 2 (and a bit of a gobshite at times) fixated on one quite big boy and followed him around shouting "PLAY ME PLAY ME!!" The poor boy looked absolutely horrified at this small mad creature and was wrapping his arms around himself, trying (I presume) to get as much of his body away from ds2 as possible! I had to take ds2 away a few times, and eventually corralled him in the swing.

Peacelily, if you aren't able to pick up a two year old and move her, it's maybe not such a good idea to take her places with anyone else present.

Nope, I don't allow my 2yr old in the bigger kids bit. Yes, she whinges to follow her brother but she play in the toddler bit or not at all. Simple.

Ok,there are always going to be parents who warn their kids then don't notice them going in anyway. But there are plenty more who sit there drinking and chatting and really don't care. And I'm not talking about the odd 5yr old, I'm talking about kids much older who chase their mate around the entire room plunging themselves into the ballpit and running up the liitle one's slide with two giant leaps.

The rules are there so everyone can enjoy the facilities. If your kids can't do this, you shouldn't go.

Agree myredcardigan

But the toddler bits are boring

Most of them are up to 3 yrs

IMO their is a MASSIVE difference between, say, a 16m old and a 2.6yr old

I would no way be able to keep dd2 in the toddler bit! She'd kick off big time and there really would be no point in staying!

colditz. DS1 went to ds3's childminders for a day (he goes there for respite but not usually when the little children are there) and one little boy found him hilarious. He thought ds1 was making all his sounds for his entertainment and fell about laughing whenever he saw him. Very sweet. Ds1 just blanked the poor child.

DS1 reacts the same way to small children as he does to cats and dogs. He's fine unless it looks as if one might touch him when he shudders and sorts of writhes away saying 'eeeee' then removes himself.

Thank goodness I am not so insane that I would pay 7 euro into these places and then spend 2 hours staring at my own children. I can do that for free at home.

Did any of these potentially hazardous beasts children actually injure your pfb? Even if they'd knocked her over, I don't think it would have been a disaster.

I grew up on a farm. We used to put a ring of bales around us, set them on fires and wait longer and longer each time to escape on our bikes. Or we'd ride the cows, the willing ones; if they didn't have terrible ringworm. Or we'd build dams in the streams.. or we'd build tree houses with bits of old barn. LOL at the sort of mad world that thinks a soft play centre is dangerous.

I can sort of put my mind back to nearly 6 yrs ago, when my dd was new born, and I do remember I used to get annoyed if anybody bumped into her pram!!!! But now, with then benefit of hindsight, let me assure you, YABU

What is wrong with my last line really. If she doesnt like it, the staff refuse to do anything about it, then I certainly wouldnt go. I would fine somewhere more suitablre for MY familys needs, rather than go and worry about it.

Life is too short. Easy solution

Liffey - My DH grew up on a farm doing the things you did. I think my boys take after him

If there was no designated separate section and it was a literal free for all then fair enough.

The reason there is a separate toddler section is rpesumably so they can enjoy themselves (relatively) safely.

Obviously I picked her up and took her out, it just wasn't as simple as walkng away due to the logistics.

Don't even know why I'm responding to the facaetious comments anyway. Bit sad when someone can't have a reasoned argument without resorting to sarcasm in order to get a point across.

obviously toddlers are at risk from each other, I expect her to come into contact with other littleies there. But if she swipes one or grabs (which she has done on ocassion with friends same age children but not with strangers)I would step in apologise to the parent myself and make her apologise.

If she kept doing it then out, simple as.

As for all the well thought out and reasoned comments from some posters I've come to the conclusion that I will go back and yes it will be in the holidays as friend who usually joins us with her ds is a teacher and my dd has other stuff on in term time.

I will expect the toddler section to have the odd rampaging older child in it despite being asked nicely no to be there and numerous attempts by staff re-iterating the rules.

And sadly I will expect there to be parents ignoring all this because it's their "break" time and it's ok for their older child to treat the place like a free for all and have no respect for any kind of boundary and monopolise a facility meant for littleones despite having a HUGE and well resourced area of their own.

Fortunately this play barn has a good reputation for behaviour and this is an unusual event. Most of the kids are v considerate.

Great

Happy days.

nice straw man, pl.

Peacelily, I truly hope your dd does not turn into a "rampaging older child" one day

You my have to eat your words

Am baffled how many parents abdicate responsibility for their own children.

I'm sure she will! I really hope if someone points out she's somewhere where she shouldn't be she'd move.

If she's defiant and didn't it would be my responsibility to sort it.

Were my arguments not well reasoned?

I think what you mean is that I see things differently.