Do Parents Secretly Love Soft Play?
We’re delighted to share a post on the 360 Blog from parent blogger and mum of two, Laura. Laura writes a family and lifestyle blog, Dear Bear and Beany, sharing her life with her husband and their two daughters. Laura writes about everything from the ordinary moments, to the adventures they go on as a family. She has a love for interiors, and shares the journey of turning their house, into a home. To read more from her visit her website below.
Do Parents Secretly Love Soft Play?
As you scroll through social media, you will often come across a post from a parent commenting about how they are off to soft play ‘hell’ today and I think we’ve all said that at some point in our life.
But, do we secretly love soft play? I mean they are always full of parents, so surely we can’t hate them that much. I know on those cold, wet days I’ve been grateful to have somewhere to take the children, that is warm and serves a nice hot coffee.
As much as we would love to have dry, warm days, every day, the reality is we don’t. Often the thought of spending another day cooped up in the house, can make those the hard days of parenting. To have somewhere to go, meet a friend, let your child burn off that excess energy is a god send.
For many years as a parent you find yourself squeezing through the smallest of places as you follow your toddler around. Wondering what your life has become and seriously panicking that today is the day that you might actually get stuck!
But, then you see their little faces light up, as they master the slide for the first time or dress up as a firefighter and declare it the best day ever and you think it’s all worth it.
Then they get a bit bigger and more independent and over time soft play becomes your friend. As you no longer have to follow them around, but can sit and watch them. Giving them a wave, as you chat to your friend about the latest phase your child is going through, begging them for the answer. You even get to finish your coffee whilst it’s hot…..I know, this is a gift!
What I really love about soft play, no matter what age my child is. They are safe! If you’ve got more than one child, and they are both off in different directions it’s a comfort to know they can’t get out and end up in the car park. Yes, they might wander into the big kids zone, and show you what a dare devil they really are. But they call it ‘soft play’ for a reason, it’s soft.
You may even find that you love it so much, before you know its lunchtime and thankfully a lot of places now, including 360 Play, serve well balanced meals and pick your own lunches for children. There is no need to have a panic last minute, quick kids its lunchtime time to leave, which is often met with shouts of ‘I don’t want to leave’.
Yes, on a cold rainy day you may find that everyone else has the same idea as you and they are busy. But, soft play is a cheap day out and just think you will be rewarded later with either a brilliant nap from your toddler or a nice early bedtime from your child. There is no better reward!
Do you secretly love soft play?
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