When can I start sitting in the cafe at soft play?

[AKMD]

Inspired by an AIBU :)

I took 22mo DS to soft play today and there seemed to be lots of toddlers not much bigger than him running around by themselves. At the moment he's too little to pull himself up the ladders and jump off the overhangs by himself but, once he is big enough and can do those things confidently, when is it ok to just let him go off by himself?

Three.

Agree - DD is three and I've recently been able to let her play on her own for much of the time although she likes me to join in a bit too. Although this isn't at the giant cage type of soft play. In the caged ones i think I'd still have to go in with her as she's a bit nervous around other bigger children - if it's full of marauding 5 yr olds she might need some help.

Three for mine too, but that's with a seven year old sister keeping an eye on her. Not sure I'd let her go off on her own.

I would let my 2 year old charge scamper off as I looked after the baby. However, this was during the day when the bigger children were at school - so not so busy.

My 2 year old goes off on his own and has done since he was about 18 months but he seems to be really good at climbing etc. (he was climbing and launching himself off the kitchen table at 11 months ). I obviously keep an eye on him and go during the day when its quiet. DD (PFB and not so steady on her feet) was probably nearer to 3.

I never used to let mine out of sight at soft play. DS1 or DS2.

He's quite happy to go for things himself (vertical ladders anyone? ) but he always looks round to make sure I'm there and comes looking for me if I lag behind a bit. I quite like it and am happy to keep going on the slides playing with him and giving him a leg up as needed for the next couple of years if needed but I don't want to look ridiculously PFB or restrict him.

it depends a bit on the time of day and the child. Unfortunately my two year old only wants to play in the big cage and can't clamber around it unaided so if I didn't go in with him he'd be stuck. he is bored in the toddler bit in 2 mins flat. I have a 7m old that obviously I can't leave so it means we don't go when its just me and them. Best plan is to go with a friend and one watches the babies and one clambers! I get to sit and chat when DS stuffs his face with cake!

i thought i could now, just about gulp a coffee with my 3 1/2yr old and 2 yr old then the soft play had a refurbishment and now have the most death defying slides i have ever seen and my kids can't get around without an adult helping them. they won't stay in the 0-2 section very long so insist on going with the big kids!

2, but she was a total monkey who could climb anything...

But only really in term time when there weren't any big kids there and where I could more or less see her all the time.

My 20 month old will play on his own at soft play. He will climb, bounce, go up & down slides unaided very confidently but i always stay close by to interact with him !
He was a early walker (10 months) and has always been very independent, which i encourage! He does go to various soft play /play groups very often though (2/3 times a week) so maybe this is the reason!