To not understand why soft play centres are so bad?

[Stigaloid]

I have taken my son to a couple of soft play centres and whilst they aren't much fun for me, he seems to enjoy them on the few occasions we have been so far. He much prefers the park, but on rainy days he likes climbing and jumping around safely indoors. i have seen quite a few comments on MN about softplay centres and wondered why they are viewed as being bad? Genuine question here not trying to start massive debates or arguments.

I agree with TeaMonster, independent play is to be encouraged. A certain amount of checking up on the kids is obviously necessary, but if you stand over them the whole time, they may not feel you trust them nor gain confidence in their own decisions.

Have only been to one soft play centre with DD, and yeah, the food's merely adequate and the coffee's not great; but the important thing is she loves it. I tend to go in a gang of mums, so we get a grand chat without them hanging out of our arms.

Sorry to tangent here but am ever so slightly chuffed my little thread has made discussion of the day

We had a lovely soft play centre, no many people knew it existed so it was always lovely and quiet, there were big signs everywhere saying NO ADULTS ON THE EQUIPTMENT but some bloke decided to prat about on the rope bridge and broke his neck so they shut it down.

There is another HUGE one nearby but it is alwasy so packed and the DS's just run of then staff complain that they are "unsupervised" plus there are always bigger kids running around knocking over the little ones, i hate seeing over 7's on soft play with little ones its just not fair. There should be seperate areas that are actually monitored.

Plus the noise is horrendous.