Age-restricted areas at soft play places | ExpatWoman.com
 

Age-restricted areas at soft play places

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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 16:50

I'm interested to know what other mums think of age restrictions at soft play areas, such as the section for under-threes at Mini Monsters.

A few times when we've been there, there have been bigger kids in this area running around, jumping on things and generally doing what bigger kids do. No problem, but they've knocked DS (11 months) and other smaller babies flying more than once.

Today, a mum gave the staff a hard time for trying to kick her elder daughter out of the toddlers' area, with her argument being that she wanted to play with her sister and besides, there were adults in the section (?). The elder child was jumping into the ball pit from the top of the slide, running and pushing past the smaller kids and climbing on top of the wendy house. She knocked DS out of the way while trying to get up on the wendy house.

I know it must be difficult if you've got two children who want to play together and their ages mean they're meant to go in separate areas, but surely if it's for the safety of the smaller ones you'd comply with the rules?

2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2011 - 20:28
I am not going to be huge this time. I am going to have a petite, delicate little peach of a bump as opposed to the hippo belly I sported out front last time. Who am I kidding?! OK cool will text Sunday.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 May 2011 - 19:47
Any day is fine with us except for thurs. We're off on the 7th to sit out the summer in cooler conditions so it will prob our last playdate before we're both HUGE!
2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2011 - 19:44
We go home Thursday so any day before then. I need to get out in the daytime or I'll go stir crazy! It's so much better value than Mini Monsters and parking is much safer, too. Message me on FB and we'll get it arranged.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 May 2011 - 19:41
We must have missed you! See you there next week then :D. For sure! Let me know which day and time.. We're happy to go twice in one week too. Alex is starting to get bored and whiny at home so I'm always at one of these places in the afternoons. :)
2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2011 - 19:38
We must have missed you! See you there next week then :D.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 May 2011 - 19:35
We were in oasis this afternoon as well and after trying out peekaboo at MOE, mini monsters, time square and the soft play area in magic planet, this is by far our favorite and what's better is it's only 20 dhs per hr as opposed to 40 in most of the other places.. And the added bonus, DS hasn't been trampled on once and it's spool quiet and small enough to keep an eye on the wee one from a distance.
2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2011 - 19:29
We went to the Oasis Centre play area today - the play and learn one at the back of Fun City - and WOW! We loved it! Nice and quiet, nice and clean, loads of toys, the most amazing wall-mounted wooden toys, just brilliant! We'll definitely be going back there next week :D.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 21:37
I'm going to try this one later in the week as well I think. I'll be the one on the prowl for 6 year olds in the toddler area :D
2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 17:13
I am planning to try the Oasis Centre one later this week - maybe Wednesday or Thursday? I'll be the one chasing after the one-year-old who thinks he's capable of climbing to the top of everything.
829
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 11:43
This is all brilliant info! I'm constantly on the look out for somewhere to take my 18mo son. He's my third and if I'm being perfectly honest, I'd be happy to never see the inside of a soft play again for the rest of my life but needs must.... I totally agree about the older kids at MM. I have no hesitation in telling them to leave the area especially when they're behaving inappropriately. I don't care what the mothers think but you usually find that the mothers are too busy enjoying their coffee to even know that their big kids are jumping all over the babies. If they were responsible it wouldn't be happening in the first place. Perhaps I'll see some of you at some of these recommended places some time :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 10:49
I know exactly what you mean about Mini Monsters, my DD has just turned 1 and I don't know how many times I've had to rescue her from big kids throwing themselves from the top of the ball pit or throwing the balls at her!! The staff need to grow a back bone and stand by the rules! I go there for a break, not to look after other people's children. We went to a 1st birthday party in the top level of the Oasis centre last week (Fun City) and we all thought it was fantastic! I'd heard it was grubby, but I didn't find that at all. There's a small padded area with a ball pit and the rest of the area is filled with toys, the ones we played with were all very new and the walls were painted with nice bright pictures, I think it must have had a makeover recently. What makes it even better is that it's only AED20 per hour on week days! I also think Favourite Things is way over priced (for the little ones at least) but if you go on a Tuesday at 10am they have a special deal through 'Mums in Dubai' Facebook group and it's only 35 for the first hour and 10 for each additional hour so it's a good opportunity to try it without it costing a fortune.
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 09:24
You all need to discover Lamcy!!!!!!!! It has a brilliant huge soft play area for under 2's and loooooads to do for up to I guess 6 yrs - it is well separated AND there is a decent cafe for coffee/lunch/newspapers etc AND it's only 50 for the whole day (less for under 2's). It's also nice and quiet!!!! The only thing it is missing is wifi!!!! It's the BEST!!! (not as glam/polished as Favourite things, but fine.....) I think the layout is good and price is good but it's grubby, doesn't feel particularly clean. If only there was a clean version of Lamcy closer to the meadows end of town!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 May 2011 - 00:17
I think Favorite Things is a total rip off. I've been boycotting it for ages now! Utterly overpriced and the toys/equipment are all in various states of disrepair. Rubbish. Fat Burger on Beach Road has a really nice (newish) little soft play area. Age restrictions can be difficult when you have two but at the very least I'd be making sure that my older one was considerate and well behaved if I wanted to bend the rules.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 22:33
Mini M, big slide did used to lead into the toddler bit, but they sealed the opening (was an opening like you get on trampolines).. There is a small walkway between so you could get from toddler bit to balls at bottom of big slide. Mirdiff Play area is v nice, Oasis is OK, slide, ball pit & whole host of toys & musical instruments. Quite similar to Mercato.
2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 21:46
Thanks, we'll give that a go. I tried the soft play place at the entrance to Magic Planet at MOE and heavens, it was a state! Ripped equipment so DS tried to pull foam out and eat it, rubbish - including half-eaten boiled sweets and paper wrappers - in between the floor mats, just yuck. He's absolutely rapid and I ended up chasing him everywhere just to make sure he wasn't eating something he shouldn't! PS Just out of interest, do you eat granola? And if so, do you know a) if it's low-GI and b) where I can get it from? Thanks! :D
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 21:41
I really love Favourite Things for the littles. There's an area (not huge, but never been too busy) that is just for little ones right at the start. I love the art area for my (less) little one and I can keep an eye on both from the ball and toy area. The cafe has surprisingly good food, I would recommend it. Wow, it's been a good year, but I just looked on their website and it was 85 dh an hour! Last time I was there they charged me about 60 dh (which I thought was high), but they only charged for one of my two. Quite different. Fun City in Mercato is ok with the special room for the little kids. And very affordable. Not as nice or clean as Mini Monsters.
2937
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 21:25
Eeeeek - do I get to take the equipment home with me for that price?! Er, no. Thanks :). Any others? I seem to remember someone mentioning one at Times Square.
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 21:16
Hmmm - I'm confused. I haven't seen where the big slide leads out into the toddlers' area :\:. Are we thinking of the same bit? I haven't tried Favourite Things. Is it worth a go, even if it's expensive? It depends if you are happy to pay 80 dhs an hour? I think that was what it was last time I went, and I went 10 mins over and they charged me an extra hour! If it was 40 dhs an hour it would be much more reasonable. You can join and be a member too at a price!
255
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 21:03
I really love Favourite Things for the littles. There's an area (not huge, but never been too busy) that is just for little ones right at the start. I love the art area for my (less) little one and I can keep an eye on both from the ball and toy area. The cafe has surprisingly good food, I would recommend it.
2937
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 19:49
Hmmm - I'm confused. I haven't seen where the big slide leads out into the toddlers' area :\:. Are we thinking of the same bit? I haven't tried Favourite Things. Is it worth a go, even if it's expensive?
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 19:28
I agree with you DC, however, I think the layout of that place is more the problem. They should have seperated the younger area more, as it is the kids have to come out of the big slide into the little ones area. I don't think it's particuluarly well planned. For little ones somewhere like favourite things is much better but just so expensive, it's ashame!
671
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 May 2011 - 19:25
I know it must be difficult if you've got two children who want to play together and their ages mean they're meant to go in separate areas, but surely if it's for the safety of the smaller ones you'd comply with the rules? You'd think, wouldn't you. I really hate it when there are height restrictions in place *for good reason,* and they are ignored.
 
 

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