Is soft play more or less busy during half term?

[newmum234]

I want to take my toddler to soft play next week, but it's half term. Will it most likely be more or less busy when the older kids are off school? I want to avoid busy times if possible.

It will be busier with older kids running around.
Unless you have older kids I’d not go.

It’s likely to be much busier - quite possibly unpleasantly so. We’ve been before during holiday times and DD has found it quite overwhelming. Personally I’d wait until the schools go back, when your little one is less likely to be trampled.

Annoying though, as we’re in the same boat - all of preschooler DD’s regular classes stop for HT but anywhere that’s still open will be extra busy and crowded. I’m always a bit stuck for ideas for things to do with her during the holidays.

Dry day? Busy
Wet day? Avoid avoid avoid

We've got a couple near here that are just for under 5s. I'd only go to one of those during the school holidays.

Of course it will be more busy, everywhere is more busy in the half term

A lot more busy

I used to take my toddlers during school hours. Very quiet then

Massively more. You don't realise to what extent schools are basically massive holding pens for all 4-18yos until the school holidays, when they shut and EVERYWHERE for kids is stacked to the rafters.

Much busier but usually ok to go for opening time - especially if they still have sessions. You also get fewer "lazy" parents first thing!

Everywhere is heaving in school holidays 🙈 It’s not half term everywhere next week, we’ve got another week to go, break up on 18th!

Thanks for the heads up. I will avoid until the older kids are back at school.

Of course it will be more busy, everywhere is more busy in the half term

@RedCandyApple not necessarily. My toddler's stay and play group is much quieter during half term.

Depends if it’s one for older kids too or a younger, smaller one. If it’s for older ones it’ll be busy. Smaller, will be quieter than usual as parents can’t take the older siblings with them.

Awful ime, and the older kids tend to trample the smaller ones.

@newmum234

Thanks for the heads up. I will avoid until the older kids are back at school.

Of course it will be more busy, everywhere is more busy in the half term

@RedCandyApple not necessarily. My toddler's stay and play group is much quieter during half term.

Is that because its aimed at toddlers though so mums with older kids wouldn’t be able to attend during the half term so naturally that would be less busy. Most places like museums, Zoo, soft play, parks, cinema, etc will be busier than in term time.

My toddler's stay and play group is much quieter during half term.
Well obviously because many of those toddlers have older siblings.
This thread is one of those use your common sense first before posting threads.
Of course soft play will be busier in half term.

It may not actually be busier - quite a lot of soft plays round can be fully booked and reach their maximum capacity during the week.

It will be full of older kids though which can make it more difficult depending on where your toddler likes to play. When we went at the weekend my toddler stuck to the younger sections due to the bigger kids in the other sections, but during the week he's more likely to roam the whole place.

This thread is one of those use your common sense first before posting threads.

@MyDcAreMarvel No need to be so rude! Our local playground is also noticeably quieter in half term, so it’s not unreasonable to wonder whether soft play might be the same.

Busier. I used to go early as most people don't get out until 11/12 so I'd get there for 10am and be leaving ready to go home for lunch by 11.30

Playgrounds will be busier after school as parents usually take their kids to them after school but during school hours they won’t be busier than in the half term, our local one is empty during school hours.

We only go during term time! Holidays are like the Wild West.

our local one is empty during school hours.

@RedCandyApple Is your playground only aimed at older children? Ours is suitable for younger and older kids and it's normally quite busy during school hours - lots of childminders and parents with toddlers/preschoolers use it.

During half term/school holidays it's much quieter, presumably because lots of people go away.

No I would say it’s quite mixed, but this morning when I passed it was empty, I look in envy as it’s always so packed once schools over.

@RedCandyApple surprising that no one takes their toddlers there!