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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Soft play makes for hyperactive toddlers???

22 replies

tryingtobemarypoppins · 04/01/2009 21:14

My 13 month old is very lively, loving and social. At a party today he was off in every other room to see what was going on, who was there to play with, what was there to explore etc etc. Compared to his friends has has a great deal more energy and confidence, he walked at 11 months whilst they are only now just taking their first steps, he is running climbing etc. He comes across as the cheecky monkey!

A conversation started about what activities we take them too and soft play came up. Interestingly the calm, quite, shy children didn't go to soft play, the more loud, excitable etc did! I'm not making sweeping generalisations and off course every parent aims for a balance in activties but I do wonder if I selected less exhusting activities if he would chill slightly??!! Do you feed their energy or create it???????

OP posts:

gingerninja · 04/01/2009 21:19

It's a personality thing. I know plenty of kids that don't go to soft plays and are full of energy. I take my DD but frankly she'd rather sit down with her dolls and books. You can't force a child to enjoy something they either do or they don't.

AMumInScotland · 04/01/2009 21:19

I suspect parents of lively toddlers choose to take them to soft play to safely burn off energy, while parents of quiet ones are less likely to feel that need!

coppertop · 04/01/2009 21:31

I have one child who is extremely active, one who needs a cattle-prod to get him moving anywhere, and one who has fairly average energy levels.

Soft play centres make no difference whatsoever to their energy levels IME.

mawbroon · 04/01/2009 21:34

My ds is as chilled as they come and up until about 3 months ago (he would have been just coming up for 3) I didn't bother with soft play because he didn't enjoy it at all.

He didn't walk until 20 months so I think he was behind a bit physically. He is very very cautious and I don't think he liked that he might get knocked over. If we went to meet with friends there (which for a long time was the only time we would go), ds spent most of time sitting with me rather than going in.

Now, he seems to have caught up physically and is tearing about in there with the rest of them!

I think they are the way they are and you just have to find things that work for you.

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins · 04/01/2009 21:43

I just sometimes wonder that if you over do the excitable stuff they find it hard to do the calmer things?

OP posts:

puppydetox · 04/01/2009 21:48

there's not so much point in soft play before they're climbing, walking etc, unless mums go to meet up with friends, for adult company etc. your ds is early at doing these things, give them another 6-9 months and i doubt you'll see so much difference.

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins · 04/01/2009 21:58

Thats what my DH said, I won't show him your post as he will get a big head! I am hoping your right as I will quitly smile inside! I hate being the only one running around and not eating tea and cake!!

OP posts:

puppydetox · 04/01/2009 22:04

i really wouldn't be bigheaded about them doing stuff early - it means diddly squat and you can run the risk of appearing smug to the parents of your ds's more laidback friends. and believe me, if you have another you'll be praying they stay put for as long as bloody possible

UniS · 04/01/2009 22:05

Trust me, if your tot doesn't " like" soft play they let you know. I couldn't get boy into a play barn with out him screaming the place down till he was 2. He hated the noise.SO we didn't go, no point wasting money.
This was a boy who loved play grounds outdoors and was doing slides solo by 13 months.
A quick experiement whenever we were at places that had a play barn as well as out door stuff was enough to tell he still didn't like the noise of indoor play areas.

Now, he loves them and will tear it up with the others.
Guess what I'm saying is - they change, what suits now may not suit for ever, what holds their attention may change.

cat64 · 04/01/2009 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsBadger · 04/01/2009 22:25

muminscotland is spot on - soft play is the result of having active toddlers, not the cause od them

(although dd is very active and I hate soft play places, so we go to the playground a lot)

and by all means gloat on MN, but keep a lid on the old smuggery IRL

wotulookinat · 04/01/2009 22:34

A couple of hours of soft play in the morning means my DS (2) has a lovely nap and has a nice calm afternoon.

StarlightWonderStarlightBright · 04/01/2009 22:37

I take mine. He loves it. Never plays in the soft area though, but climbs on the coffee tables, plays with the toilet door and the bubble-gum machines

mylovelymonster · 04/01/2009 22:42

Maybe the parents of very active children take them to soft play because they are very active and parents feel it would be a good experience/outlet? - and maybe those of calm quiet children haven't felt it a necessary diversion?

mylovelymonster · 04/01/2009 22:44

oops - have repeated amuminscotland. Should have read a bit more first

notnowbernard · 04/01/2009 22:44

Don't know about the toddlers but soft-play leaves me feeling pretty wired

I tend to hide behind Heat and a Latte

mylovelymonster · 04/01/2009 22:46

DD(2) is very active - I should take her to softplay instead of the freezing cold playground at this time of year. Again

MrsBadger · 04/01/2009 22:53

pfft

fresh air much better for them [spartan hardy emoticon]

mylovelymonster · 04/01/2009 23:02

So, are you saying I'm not at terrible mother?

meandjoe · 05/01/2009 11:21

deffinitely personality thing. my ds doesn't go to soft play but does go to lots of toddler groups/ swimmng etc. he is totally wired and full of energy. i think mum's take them to soft play to burn that energy rather than it creating it.

Original poster

tryingtobemarypoppins · 05/01/2009 21:49

Interesting comments thank-you! I guess the answer is lots of different activties!

Just for the record puppydetox I am in no way bring big headed! Its a pain he is soooooo active on many occasions! He is not doing anything 'early', all children do things at different stages.

OP posts:

bigspender30 · 05/01/2009 21:58

My DS was exactly like that at that age and still is. Its good to see them full of energy and soft play is a safe environment to let them run around, explore and be themselves.

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