Noisy half term activity venues

[Derbybound2022]

I have had my first taster of an indoor trampolining venue today with a 4yo and two toddlers and am shattered. We got there for opening so it would be quiet but after an hour it was bedlam. I couldn't hear my friend talking to me very well. I found the experience stressful but she seemed fine (one child). All I could think of was the sheer volume of the place and that I couldn't see my children in the massive soft play tower. Is it just me or do these places make other parents anxious? I couldn't face that place again on my own - I would need my husband to help! My friend was completely unfazed.

Yes I struggle with all of these. I take paracetamol in advance as I always get a headache.

Thank you! I was thinking is it only me as I was actually feeling anxious and stressed while my friend was fine with it all! Must be the responsibility of looking out for three children but it was just the worst level of noise. Worse than a soft play!

I actually quite like the local trampoline place but it’s screened off and the cafe is relatively quiet. Your kids are a bit young for it though hence the stress.

Once they are school age you will feel worse as don’t have the option of taking them in term time anymore!

You were looking after a four year old and two toddlers by yourself? I'm surprised you are still alive, well done, I can barely survive that in my own home!

The ones near us require 1:1 supervision for under 5s btw so fortunately I don't have to attempt it!

You will get used to having to go to places when they're busy in the school holidays. It's more stressful with toddlers though so maybe wait til they're older to brave it again.

Anxious with young kids- hoping by the time they become 7+ it’s more of a mum sitting at a table with a coffee see you at closing!

You get used to it and it gets easier as they get a bit older. The first few times I was trying to keep DD in eyesight at all times which can make you feel a bit frantic. Once she got to about 6 I was able to relax and know that she'd come back to me if she needed anything. Now she's 7 and I'm wondering when she'll be too old for soft play because it's actually quite nice to be able to sit with my book and a coffee and just wait for her to come back to me and introduce the new friend she's made in 5 mins in the slide bit 😀

You do get used to it after a while.

That is exactly what I was trying to do - keep them in sight at all times - and it was so hard to see them in that soft play tower. My 4yo is not at all independent and usually keeps coming back to me at soft plays and wanted me to go in but it was impossible as so busy. I just look forward to never seeing another soft play again, let alone this trampoline place which was bedlam. What age do they stop wanting to go to these places?!

Yes, I went to one the other day and they put the music system on. This was on top of all the screaming. I thought my brain would pop out. I hate multiple noises at once anyway.

I once asked them to turn the music off in a much smaller soft play as I could see that it was just winding children-up!

If you were trying to keep an eye on 3 kids under 5, I'm not surprised you found it hard work.
Wait another 4 years or so, then try again.

You took far too many kids on your own I recon. I find two exhausting let alone 3. Your friends 1 child would be a doddle!

Softplay & trampoline parks are brilliant, but you need to be realistic. If it’s a large trampoline centre in half term, you can’t possibly watch 3 children on your own. They’ll all go in different directions and it will be very busy. A smaller softplay on a typical weekend, far easier. Probably manageable with 3 kids, 1 adult.

My 8 year old nephew still loves softplay & trampolining appeals to young kids & teenagers/adults. You’ve probs got a long way to go 🙈😂