What do you want in a Soft Play/Activity Centre? Please let me know your thoughts and views..

[OMGIAMAMUM]

I'm in the process of putting together a business plan for a Soft Play Centre in Scotland. I have my own ideas and vision on how it's going to be HOWEVER I would really appreciate others views on what they look for in terms of a good time out with their small people please, in particular what you want, wish or look for in this sort of venue. It's really important for me to seek views of other mums for market research purposes.
In terms of what I have so far I can give you a brief description of my centre, which will:
? Be a children?s soft play centre where the emphasis is on fun and children are treated like VIP?s. Where the play equipment and the general environment is of a high quality, pleasant and clean.
? Have an age range of entry of 0 ? 12 years of age with a dedicated area for babies and toddlers to play.
? Have an emphasis on quality and service, to a level to rival other such centres coupled with a simple but tasty menu of snacks, meals and drinks available to suit both adult and child tastes with the emphasis on healthy but tasty food options for both parents and children. Emphasis on friendly but fast service for food and drinks we've probably all had some experiences when your trying to get something either ordered or heated up for your small people in such places and it's taken an age while you have a grumpy/v. hungry/unhappy child or children on your hands, so a common sense approach in these sorts of situations for customers will apply and the kids will be attended to asap by the staff.
? Be a funky place for parents to hang out and enjoy themselves while their children play with an area dedicated to parents and their wants and needs.
? Also be a party venue with a full range of party services and options for parents and children to choose from.

All views, thoughts and suggestions welcome please, the more the merrier.

The younger section needs to be a decent size - most places have one tiny section for toddlers compared to a huge room for the bigger kids... its mean

If you are serving hot food, then buy childrens cutlery - Not once have I been to a children's focussed place and had children's cutlery. Ooh, and plastic cups with handles would help.

SAFETY - Just ONE entrance/exit (the ones round here have 2 and you can't watch both at once).

I'm guessing this is probably out of price range, but the one on CSI had a great thing where when the alert was raised for a missing child, bars came down and locked everyone in so that if it was an abductor, they had less chance of getting out

I've seen too many CSI type things and get paranoid in these places

Well you pretty much covered it tbh but I'll tell you my bug bearers with soft play places if that helps.

You have put your age entry up to 12, well tbh I find it a total nightmare when there are really big kids at these places. They have no control and normally cause a load of havoc, knocking the little ones over, tables chairs, fighting etc.

I also find some of the places are quite tacky and thats the only way I can describe them. I have been to a new one near where I live and it's great. Nice seating areas the parents, good food and drinks. The play area is very spacious so the kids aren't running in to one another and they also provide other little toys for tiny ones that can't go in to toddler play area and large games for the slightly older ones like a big connect 4 and board games.

HTH

But the thing with the ages NBG - if you have a big family, often you need the bigger age range so that you can take the whole family. My friend's ranges from 11 - 3, so a lower age would mean that she would have to take the eldest somewhere else.

the best play area I have been to recently opened up in Milton Keynes gambado

It's spacious, has good coffee and food, internet connections newspapers for adults.

most unlike the noisy crowded hell-holes that pass for soft play areas most of the time

As a parent with a toddler who runs off to play when we arrive and has no interest in finding me again, I would love a soft play centre with cameras and screens so that I could look for him on the screens rather than charging around the place like a mad woman calling out for a child who doesn't answer to his own name. I think this may also help with the problem where older children bully the younger ones when they think no-one can see them.

Oooh yes, a whole pile of screens showing different areas

We have a soft play centre near us and mon - fri they have under 4's only 10am til 12.
Its great as there's no big kids running about knocking the lil ones over. They also provide toast & juice for everyone.
I do think that there should be an under 5's area as well as baby & toddler as my 3yr dd is very intimidated if the play area is too big and has enclosed things to climd into and up.
Plus my other gripe is I think they should provide staff to supervise everything as some childrens behaviour can be dangerous and their parents either don't see it or don't care. I think there should be a member of staff to intervene and take control

Good coffee.
Magazines and Newspapers available for a refundable deposit.

there is one at stevenage castaway kids, which has three section, babies/toddler 3-8 ithink and 8+, great idea but then you get big kids jumping in the babies ball pool, and try to keep the younger ones out of the big section is a nightmare.

oh and for it not to smell of wee would be good.

also possibly someCCTV mintors around the play areas and inside so we can see where the kdis are instead of trying to peer up 3 storis of netting lol.

Yeah I realise that some families differ in age ranges but just saying from a mum with a 2 year old it can be a total nightmare. Maybe it's just me but dd has been knocked over and stood on quite a few times just recently, all because the older kids want to dominate everything.

If there was a definate seperation between the younger ones and older ones then it wouldn't be too bad.

I second Alicemama's suggestion of a memeber of staff being about to intervene if there is a problem.

Yes - spend a bit extra money and hire someone trained rather than a 17 year old trying to get some pocket money.

PLEASE WASH the BALL POND balls >

covered in wee

comfy chairs for the parents in the baby section
no music
decent ventilation so it doesn't smell of feet
healthy food
agree about staff making sure kids keep the rules
screens is a great idea too

Party rooms with natural light! I hate going to parties with ds/dd at soft play places because the party rooms are always so claustrophobic (and small!). Actually natural light full stop, some soft play places are entierly lit by artificial light, and I hate that. There is one by us which is like a big barn, with the main play area in the middle, and seating areas around it, so that you can see in quite easily. The toddler (under five) bit is in a seperate section at the other end of the room , with a baby bit to one side. Seems to work quite well. To keep older kids away the bit for them needs to be more challenging and fun. I think older kids just get bored easily, and then head for areas they aren't wanted. I've certainly noticed that with ds, and he is only 6! My main gripe with soft play places is that I find them very boring, my two disappear for ages and have fun, and I feel like a complete lemon. I've not been to the internet cafe type as yet.

Oh, something else that would be good is some leanring type activities. My two love to go to the science museum garden, and whilst you might not want to have water play, there is a good bit with pulleys etc for pulling up beanbags etc. This seems to entertain for a long time. Likewise there is a place in Stratford which has dressing up things and a theatre type area, and tubes that you can talk down (you have one kid at either end). Any of these more interesting things would certainly atract me. Otherwise it's just indoor charging around really.

get the bogeys off the balls in the ball pool

something decent to eat

sofas for mummys from strategic watching positions

We have somewhere near us and what I like best about it is - leather comfy sofas for parents and free tea/coffee top ups once you've paid for the first one. Have had business meetings here because of this when those involved have children that needed to keep occupied. Always think that's an untapped marketing angle - Business Woman who also have under fives!

Proper supervision.

I just never go to these places because I find them a nightmare to be at. I can't supervise my child properly because I'm not supposed to go into the equipment, but no - one else appears to be doing so.

Hate these places.

flamesparrow - they don't provide children's cutlery because they expect the kids to eat with their hands. [Margot Leadbetter emoticon]

This most probably doesn't apply to all childen but as my ds has a problem with sharing, I have to keep well away from soft play areas where they have ride on toys such as coupe cars. The amount of times I have seen little fights erupting because obviously there are never enough to go round. The play area itself is enough to keep a child entertained, I'm sure we don't need these ride on toys as well.

pmsl Caligula!!! People always look at me like I'm a freak woman when I produce DD's cutlery from my bag

Agree with Macwoozy about the cosy coupe cars - unneccessary - just asking for trouble and conflict!

The play equipment centrally placed with seating all round.

Easy access for parents to rescue upset/scared kiddies or staff available to do this for you.

Screens to view your children whilst on the equipment

Separate toddler/ under 5's/ children's areas.

Hands-on play equipment in a separate area for babies e.g, building blocks etc.

Comfy seating, free papers and magazines

Healthy food and a place that doesn't stink of chip fat (like the one in Fleet I went to yesterday)!

Drinks at reasonable prices and shelves to put them on, at a height that kids can't knock them over or kick them over when some twit leaves a boiling hot cup of coffee on the floor.

Toilets with more than 2 cubicles and sinks low enough for children to reach.

Separate hand-washing area placed near the cafe.

Baby change facilities and nappies for sale in case of being caught short.

Notice board for advertising stuff for sale.

Plenty of parking on site or close by.

For parties, a good sized party room with prices that reflect the quality of what you'll get to eat and the party bags containing something other than cheap plastic rings or copious bags of Haribos...how about fruit bars and raisins? Also discounts on drinks for those booking a party (dd's party cost me £29.50 on top for drinks for the parents).

Access to drinking fountains.

we have 3 round here of which I tend to only visit one which is the best of an OK bunch. The other two stink of wee and chip fat and the floor of the toddler area in one was covered in trodden in chips and tomato sauce.

Another idea, is to have a facility for private parties which you could do at specific times e.g. early evenings for older children (aged 7+).

Can you tell that I've been thinking about this idea as well?

Thank you all so far for your comments and suggestions these are really valuable and very helpful.

Please keep your thoughts and views coming.