At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

And when I mean unattended, I mean you sitting on a bench not having clear visuals of your child at all times.

Let me start off with last weekend I took 3 y/o DS to ChuckECheese and he insisted on going up the tube. I told him that if he needed help while he was "up on the ceiling" that he should ask an older kid to help him find the way out. After 10 minutes (which seemed a heck of a lot longer to me) I began scanning the tubes for his shirt. I didnt see him. After another five minutes I started getting a bit concerned. Finally I found him in the windowed square cube crying. And while I couldnt hear him I could read his lips as he pounded on the plastic and he was saying "I want my mama" We finally made eye contact and I tried to point him the right direction but he was not budging and was getting hysterical. I had no choice but to leave him there and find an employee to get him out. (Dont get me started on why places make things that normal sized adults cant get in). All in all it was traumatic for both of us but DS was over it in about five minutes where it has stayed with me much longer. :(

Fast forward to today. We went to Fun4All and it was an absolute zoo. Within five minutes DS was up a ladder in a tube and in the trampoline section. A second later he was climbing up and then I lost sight of him. I started having flashes to last weekend's incident except at least at chuckEcheese there is really only one way down. Here there are a million places could come out of. Ten minutes later (another LONG ten minutes) I found DS on the other size of the place. As I looked around I saw a lot of parents just sitting around chatting. I felt like I was the only one that was running after their child and having a panic attack when I didnt have eyes on him. At what age did you feel comfortable letting them "do their thing?"

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Im right there with you! My ds is also 3 and we took him to a bday party at fun4all a few weeks ago and he had a BLAST but I was literally having panic attacks as well if I didn't see him for 2 seconds because I wasn't sure which tube he went in, but the majority of other parents there were just kind of hanging back and chatting. I don't know when or if ever I'll feel comfortable not really watching. I feel like I'll always need to have some sort of eye on him

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

My girls are 5 and 2 and I watch both of them constantly at places like that.

They run around, but I keep my eyes on them.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

I shadow my 2 year old, and keep a consistent eye on my 4 year old. I dont see myself sitting down any time soon.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

I avoid places like this like the plague for this reason. I can't stand them.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

We had a similar experience at CEC when DS just turned 3. The only difference was that his friend told us that DS got stuck so we got him out relatively quickly.

Now he is almost 4 and he has no problems with those types of tunnels and climbing structures. He loves them.

Almost 2yo DS gets frustrated because he can't follow his big brother up.

eta: I did not read your post thoroughly before. I would absolutely not feel comfortable losing sight of DS for 10 minutes at a place like that. I have been to play areas where I have a seat and can have a visual of him (mall play area, My Gym, Little Gym, etc). I often have 2 kids alone so it is impossible for me to keep an eye on both of them at all times. I do need to know where my child is every 2 minutes or so. I would never attempt to go to a big place with both kids. I have gone with just 1 DS or with both kids plus DH.

I do not know when I would feel comfortable letting my DS run around unattended. It is nowhere in the near future.

Message edited 1/28/2013 3:24:10 PM.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

I can't see myself doing it ever. My cousin's 4 year old walked right out of CEC by himself, the staff said he went too fast for them to stop him.

At what age did you let your DC run around a play place

My son is 3 and half and i follow him around at those places, even at the park. I dont see it ending anytime soon. I usually dont let him up into the tubes cause he isafraid of them and i cant go get him

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Older dd us 6 and honestly it probably wasnt till a few months ago that I let her run around bybherself. But I am way overprotective. Younger dd is almost 3 and I am on top of her at play places 100% of the time. She is never ever out of my sight.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

My DD is 4 and I say the same as you. I still watch her every move, esp in places where there are loads of people we do not know.

I always say that I NEVER see any parent attend to their child and frankly it rubs me the wrong way. No one reprimands these children when they run amok, and aren't they worried about their DCs safety?

I am with you. I never ever see anyone pay much mind to their DC. They generally sit there and gab.

I am sorry you had to go through that.

Message edited 1/26/2013 11:19:31 PM.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

It depends on the kid.

My DS, who is almost 4.5, wouldn't do the "scary" stuff like climbing up high until very recently, and he knows to come find me or another kid if he needs help. He is very cautious and I don't have to work hard to keep an eye on him because he doesn't like to stray far from me.

My DD, who has been going nuts at these types of places since she was 18 months old has never needed my help and only looks for me to show me what she can do. She is almost 3 now and while I don't let her run wild, I'm much more comfortable sitting and talking with other parents with one eye on her in case other kids try to push her out of the way.

Unless I feel that the kids are old enough to be left at a play place alone, I would never go there and full-on ignore them.

At what age did you let your DC run around a play place

I think it just depends on the kid. I sit on the bench at Fun 4 All, and get up every now and then. My kids are independent at those types of places though, and can climb the larger stuff etc. well. I would say about age 4 I started stepping back instead of being on top of them. I would NEVER go to Fun 4 All on the weekend though. We go during the week after school, and it's literally empty. Sometimes with it just being us in there.

I should add that I sit by the bench near the door, so I'm always watching, and making sure they don't leave the building. I am not one of "those" parents who isn't paying attention, I just don't follow them around lol

Message edited 1/27/2013 7:26:32 PM.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Posted by Domino

Posted by BargainMama

I would NEVER go to Fun 4 All on the weekend though. We go during the week after school, and it's literally empty. Sometimes with it just being us in there.

This is the first time I have gone on a saturday and if it wasnt for DS' pleading I would have turned around a left. It was a zoo I am so used to having the place to myself

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

I cant keep my eyes off my 3 1/2 yr old .. I just cant.. Went to great wolf lodge and it was exhausting.. I really dont know when this will ever end.. I have terrible visions of her getting kidnapped and I am extremely paranoid.. i dont think this is ending anytime soon. I even watch her alot in my own home still .. Not to the extreme but I always need to hear her or know where she is.. Sorry :(

At what age did you let your DC run around a play place

Mine are 2.5 and 4.5 and I always have an eye on them. However, I do give them their space to do some things I know they are able to do and encourage them to be independent. They have both been climbing in the Chuck E Cheese play area since they were two. I actually like when they are up there because I know there is only one way out. I think it is important to let them be independant and not hover to much. Although I'm not sure i will stop keeping an eye on them at all times anytime in the near future.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Try Abby's Village Square in Patchogue. The village has been designed specifically for the preschool crowd. Because the environment is small, you don't have to worry about losing sight of your child. Your child will have a blast and you will be able to relax and enjoy yourself too. I am confident you will love it. Visit our website to learn more or you can call me at 447-0044.

Cindy

http://www.abigailbottoms.com/village.htm

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

We have Saturday open play.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Posted by Abby's Village Square

We have Saturday open play.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

My kids are almost 7, 5.5 and almost 2. I still watch them like a hawk. I will stand and talk to another parent in the area where the kids are but I do not sit at a table and socialize. I don't trust places at all. I also drill into my kids heads that they need to tell me where they are going once they are done with that area.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

we had a birthday party to attend at fun 4 all a few weekends ago... DD is 4.5. I almost had a heart attack on multiple occasions. Fun 4 All is NOT fun for all!! It was soo stressful never knowing which exit she would come out of, not to mention, anyone could just come in there and walk out with your child! Plus there are 13-yr-olds playing on the same things as pre-school kids. I didn't like it, and will not be bringing her back anytime soon... I do not feel comfortable yet to just let her go run and play...

Message edited 1/27/2013 3:44:57 PM.

Re: At what age did you let your DC run around a play place "unattended?"

My kids are 6 and 3. I am not necessarily worried about them getting stuck or anything but I am terribly afraid of kidnappings as it is often a crime of opportunity. So, if it s a birthday party where it is one party at a time like pump it up etc then I let them run wild and chat with friends but if it is a chuck e cheese or playground I still monitor them closely, again, because of I have an irrational fear of kidnapping.

Intellectually, I know the stats are low but even if it is 1 in a million, if your child is that 1 it may as well be everyone.