Play Areas, How I Love You
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I recently read a horrifying article about a little boy who toppled off the side of a fast food restaurant’s play area and injured his head enough to make him developmentally challenged for the rest of his life. Yikes! Did this article make me think twice about taking my kids to the indoor play areas we frequent now, specifically the mall, fast food places and at the gym? No, it didn’t.
I first took my daughter to a play area in the mall when she was first learning to crawl. I stayed right by her side and made sure that none of the bigger, rowdy kids got near her. The look on her face was enough for me to return the next time we were in the mall; she had a look of wonderment on her face that said, “Wow! What is this place?”
Now that we are far beyond the crawling stage, my kids still love play areas. They’re older now so I can let them play without me hovering over them, but I still pay close attention to what’s going on. Are there any kids who aren’t playing nicely? Are there any shady-looking adults hanging out? Is there anything about the play area that gives me the heebie-jeebies?
I know some moms who won’t even let their kids within the confines of indoor play areas because of the germ factor. Yes, it’s true that these places probably take the cake when it comes to germy surfaces, but I stand ready with antibacterial wipes for when the kids are all done playing. Let me tell you, there have been some days when it has been so incredibly cold outside that it actually hurts to breathe (hooray for the Midwest), but I bundle up the kids and head to a nearby fast food restaurant and let them run and jump and play in the play area until they are exhausted. It’s great.
As far as the injury factor goes, I certainly don’t let my kids play in areas that seem less than safe. I show them the confines they need to stay within so they don’t try to do things they shouldn’t do. Most importantly, I keep an eye on them. I can only imagine what dangerous mischief they might get into if I ignored what they were doing, so I make it my priority to know where they are and what they are doing. I see a lot of parents who let their kids play in a play area but then get engrossed in a book or chat on the phone with their backs turned to the play areas. I saw one lady do that with her baby who was barely old enough to walk – and it was a multi-level play area with a slide – and I was flabbergasted.
If you’re keeping your babies and kids out of indoor play areas because you’re worried about germs or injuries, I have to let you know that you don’t know what you’re missing. Just keep an eye on them and wipe up their hands when they’re finished playing, and I guarantee your kids will have a great time.
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