Indoor Playlands/Cafe

As per usual I'm not sure if this is the right section - Mods please move if necessary. My apologies in advance.


I'm interested to know how many mums use Childrens Indoor Playlands/Cafe's.

What do you like/dislike about them?

What changes would you like to see made to them?

If you don't go to them - is there a reason?

;)

We go about once a month. I like them because I don't have to worry about sunburn and they have good play equipment. Plus I can sometimes sit down and have a coffee if DS will let me. I think they need to have some healthy food options (and reasonably priced) for the kids. The adults you can charge normal cafe type prices but I think it is a bit rich to do that for the kids food.
I don't like that many parents don't watch their kids properly. The one near us has cars for them to drive around in (the flintstone type ones using their feet to move it). They had all the same except for one - it caused so many arguments as all the kids wanted the one that was different. Thankfully they are now all the same.
HTH

I think these cafes are awesome, although some are better than others. Some are very expensive entry. Ive got one which is run by a church. It has a massive indoor playground and is very cheap entry. Most of the food is really yummy and good prices too.

The thing I dont like is probably nothing to do with the place itself but some kids are way too old to be there and can get pretty rough. I guess thats up to the parents to control and some can be pretty inconsiderate towards to the poor kids who are getting knocked over by their big bullies.

I used to take my kids to indoor playgrounds so I could do my homework in peace. I'd buy them a bowl of chips and a drink then they'd play for hrs on end while I worked.

I found them great value for money really.

Hi CM - we go to lollipops quite a lot - I prefer it over the others as it seems cleaner. I've been inside the other 2 in town (this was last year though) and the equipment was filthy - snot encrusted, drinks spilt, torn and damaged.

I like the fast that the tables are all fairly close to the play equipment, I think the one on wool**** street is like this too - you can see the kids pplaying from the tables where as freckles you are in a completely seperate room.

I'm not 100% fond of the large slides - mainly because DD loves them and I find it hard to keep her away - I'm sure once she is older and more independent I will love the big slides because they keep her entertained

And having a son with autism - these places aren't really his cup of tea - I love the playstations! I have seen some in Brissie that have timers on them which I think is a better idea. Basically after 10 minutes timers go and ALL kids have to get up and let someone else on.

So have you got some plans happening here or just for interest sake????

Ah Saram at the moment it's just an idea ;)

Thanks for your input ladies.

We went to the Rocky one today - Crazy Jokers. And I was thinking how awesome it would be if someone incorporated a gym and an indoor play centre for adults - it would be such a fun workout - climbing walls, flying foxes, tunnels to squeeze through, and it would be a workout worth doing I think. I can imagine how much I burn following DS around.

We sometimes go to Lollipops, the kids love it but its too expensive to go often.
A friend of DD1's family opened one but it only lasted a year cause it didn't make money. There were a lot of operating costs/insurances and they just couldn't recoup them on the cover charges.

we used to go quite often when DD was alittle younger, our mothers group used to meet there.

personally, id be just as happy to go to a park, or even a mcdonalds playground!

my only problem now would be, is getting DD to understand that she cant play on the bigger kids equipment. we have the same problem with the new outdoor playground at our local shopping centre, they have 3 sections i think, but the older kids section is so high, and has a lot of those fireman pole thingys, which im scared DD is going to fall from, so i avoid that playground al together!