Soft play area

[kaz9]

Hi my granddaughter is doing soft play areas for her topic. Please can people tell her answers to her questions .
What do you like/ dislike about soft play areas?
If anything what would you like to see that isn't there ?
What food do you like ?
What would your ideal play area have ?
She would like any comments you would like to make .
Thank you in advance .

Hi,

• The main things that I don't like are when you walk in and it smells of fried food or when the toilets smell/aren't clean. I like a play area to be clean and bright, comfy seats for parents, plenty of high chairs (nothing more annoying than when they're all taken and you need one), room for prams.

*I like small snacks e.g yogurt, cheese triangle, fruit, breadsticks. If DC wants something but I don't want to spend much then that's ideal. Ice lollies are also great so that they can cool down after playing. Homemade cakes for mums/dads to have with a cuppa!

• Ideal play would have sections for younger children and then larger area for bigger kids. Also that these are monitored. Many times when DD was little, she would get knocked over by older children in the small area. Good nappy changing stations, easy access, lots of parking, an area with books and cushions if DC wants a bit of quiet time/rest.

Maybe hold mums and tots meeting groups or childminders sessions.

I like staff to smile! If they are working in a kids play area then they shouldn't be miserable!

Hope that helps.

Thank you babycakes76
This will be so useful, she is trying to plan a play area and say what she would put inside and why she would put it there . I think good coffee and cakes are very important for the adults. Smiling has been one of her top tips for the staff .

Anyone else got any ideas they like/ dislike for a play area. what about an outside area ?

I agree with baby cakes. My most important factor is being able to see children wherever they are. If they get stuck or upset it is awful if it takes you a while to find them. Not too big either. My current favourite is tots to tens in hillsborough, it is clean, about the right size, nothing too difficult for little ones, separate good baby area.

Agree with other posters, definitely being able to see children wherever they are - and also having a decent and monitored play area for younger children (say up to 3-4) where they won't get knocked over by older kids. My favourite at moment is Jolly Tots near Penistone as it's exclusively for under 5's and does all of the above, plus it has fantastic cake and a huge variety of things for kids to do (soft play area/slide, dressing up, puzzles, books, musical and ride-on toys etc)