Safety in Wacky Warehouse style places

[chaoskay]

Apologies if I've posted this in the wrong place, I don't post very often and am not that familiar with the forums.

What do people think of this?

Just been to Giddy Kippers, which is an indoor kids play place, wacky warehouse style thing.

We were about to leave when my friend realised she couldn't find her 2 year old. He was found wandering alone in the car park. He'd only been missing for about 5 minutes. Apparently he'd followed another parent out.

When my sister approached the manager, understandably upset, he told her her child was her responsibility (which of course they always are to some degree), and then asked her to leave when she said that she couldn't believe he was accusing her of being an irresponsible parent.

Surely he should have at least taken her into an office to discuss it privately at least?

People sign in on arrival, and when they leave they simply hand over a bag which they were given on arrival to put the kids shoes in, this bag is then marked off against a number - so no actual checks on who is leaving at all. No signing out.

Basically, someone could very easily come into a place like that with one kid, and leave with two. No-one would blink an eye.

Where would the responsibility lie there? I'm going to email the manager. I know kids are always a parents responsibility, but in a place like that, it's not like you follow your kid round every single minute is it. It's meant to be a safe environment?

I'm very upset about the way my friend was treated. She was nearly hysterical. Her son has sightly delayed development, and has speech problems so wouldn't even have been able to say what his name was, his address or even his mum's name. God knows what could have happened to him.

Just to clarify this, I am aware of this situation and the child in question was spotted by a member of staff trying to leave the building. She caught him in the foyer just in time and immediately took the child back to mum, explaining that she ought to keep a closer eye on him.
The mother seemed to take offense and sought to blame the staff who had in actual fact been vigilant enough to spot the child trying to leave.
The first rule of play at Giddy Kippers (and all other play areas) is that the child remains the responsibility of the parent. Staff supervise the safe use of equipment but cannot be responsible for each individual child.
It is very easy for parents to become distracted whilst chatting to friends and enjoying a coffee but please know where your child is.

Oh and by the way, it does have a secure signing in and out procedure with doors that can only be opened electronically by the member of staff on the door. Numbered bags are used to record the details of children within the building for a number of reasons including fire safety and maintaining safe numbers, children are signed in by the parents and signed out when the bag is returned to reception.

I too have had that heart wrenching moment when
I've 'lost' a child and it's a horrible experience but the blame is mine if I'm in charge of my child and it's not a school/nursery setting.

You really need to watch in these places. it's hard work, especially if there are two of them to watch and one of you watching. I was quite exhausted after a trip to one the other week.
my eldest is now 3.6 and it will be a couple of years yet i think before i take my eyes off him for more than a few seconds (literally).
positioning yourself between the children adn the door is also a good idea although not always possible if you are trying to control a mad 15 month old who is climbing around like a monkey.