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

My oldest is 5 and I always need a visual. I worry about them getting hurt, getting stuck, getting kidnapped, getting trapped, bullied. YOu name it I worry.

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

my son will be 5 soon and i have a 1 year old. I always keep my eyes on them.

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

I have gone to Fun4All in the past and it was pretty low key, but my 4 year old DD was invited to a birthday party there a few weeks ago. Whoa! The crowds were uncontrollable. I am pretty good at keeping an eye on her, and she definitely keeps an eye on me. As you mentioned, I was standing at the same spot where she climbed in through but she came out another way. I started panicking and found her on the other side hysterical. So to answer your question, I would let her run free on a quiet day, but I think I would avoid Saturdays from here on. She really did have a great time but I was way too tense.

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

My DD is 4 and I never let her out of my sight.........especially in a busy play place. I just worry about her getting hurt, lost, or someone taking her. I don't feel ready to let her off on her own in those places, I think it will be a few years before I am.........at least a few years.

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

At chucke cheeses in the tubes I'd say around 3, but i was still always looking for my DD. And i've had to climb up in those tubes a few times, it was not fun, because my DD wouldn't come down for anyone else but me.

At fun 4 all on a crowded day I didn't do it till DD was I think 6 or 7, and that was with friends and she knew where I was and I stayed in a certain spot and watched her.

At fun 4 all on a not crowded day I think around 4-5 I would let her go and play and climb around because it was easy to find her when it wasn't that crowded.

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

When my DS was 3, the same thing happened (up in a tube..at Mcds and terrified). An older kid asked DH and I if she can help him and we shouted "YES PLEASE"! Scary stuff.

My kids are now 6 & 3 and I still keep an eye.

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

Wow, how timely. I just took AJ last night to Chuck E Cheese. Up the tube she went. She's 4 and just lately, I think, she's tall enough to make it up. They have the 'steps' very far apart at my local CEC. The CEC on the other side of town is actually closer so smaller kids go up.

Up she goes. And I watch her shadow. Me on one side, hubby on the other. We always go together to places like this when its a busy time (like a weekend) because its so easy to lose a child in the masses.

She was ok for the first time and took the slide down and happily went back up. Then she got 'lost' and looked out the window worried at me. I heard her say "im stuck" and "I dont know where to go" you could see the concern and worry starting to build in her. I just looked up and said "Youre not lost you silly goose.. go THAT way" laughing at her with smiles (thinking god let this work) and she sorta looked at me like "are you serious?" then took the path I told her too. She got sorta turned around (I could see her shadowed feet) so i called up and told her to look out the blue circle window and there I was smiling at her again "Why are you playing peek a boo? Go that way you loon" and pointed her again. Then I called up "Do you see daddy through the yellow square?" and so she ran that way and daddy was over there saying "Hey! whatcha doing? Go down the slide, over there" and on and on. She didn't WANT to do the slide but we talked her into walking the whole path always seeing us at each window. That gave her confidence to find the car at the end of the tube. She got twisted again but we talked her out.

When she came down I asked if she was scared and she thought about it and said "A little, but mama is always there" (She says the last part sing-song because I'm always saying it to her).

She's 4 and no way I let her out of my sight. Yeah helicopter mom, call me whatever you want. She tries to run around the aisles and she knows she has to see me at all times. She comes back when called. I do not hold her hand or carry her. She can and will walk/run ahead of me in a store or at a play area but she always looks back to keep an eye on me as I do her.

She followed CEC himself around the whole place last night but looked back only twice. We kept distance but always within sight of her. She was in the front for the whole dancing part but at the end I made my way to the front to stand very close to her. They toss those tickets and small kids are always trampled.

I can't and won't take her to those bouncy house type places with large ones that have tunnels and stuff where she can't see me. I just don't take her. End of story. We go to CEC once every 3 or more months (if not longer) so that's not a problem. Most other places we go, parents can and will be a part of it. I give her a ton of space but she must ALWAYS be in eye sight

And as I said, hubby ALWAYS has to be there too. We team up. 10yrs of marriage and nearly 5 of them as parents we dont need to use words to get our messages across. A look or nod will be enough.

Last night a little boy maybe AJ's age or younger was crying near the front of CEC. I saw a lady with him but she looked nervous. The boy was so sad. Finally a CEC employee came over "lets go find your daddy, what does he look like" I mean a good 5mins had gone while we waited. I looked around but didn't see any nervous dads. I took the opposite side of CEC thinking if I saw a dad searching for his son I could point him in the right direction but no one was really that nervous. poor kid. 10mins later the boy was reunited with his parents who were eating pizza with another child. It was more like "oh thanks for returning him, didn't know he wandered off" Poor baby.

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

My DD is six and I was just recently at CEC and wouldnt let her out of my sight and followed her around.

Its a zoo there and im sorry but there are many other kids that are being unattended and most are rude and push and I dont like that behavior for my DD to deal with.

I dont care for that place and only go if there is a bday party to attend.

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?"

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

I have never just let my kids run around. I try to keep eyes on all three at the same time, since its impossible to keep them all together!

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

Depends where we are -

In the park or at one of those public 'open play' places I'm like a hawk and it's very stressful w/ 3.5 and 1.5 year old boys -

I don't know if I'll ever be comfortable just not paying attention ......

If we're at a closed birthday party (like a Bounce U or something where your kid is one of 20 and the doors are closed etc) I'm much more relaxed as far as making sure I can see them at every second

Well, w/ Sean - w/ Colin, I am still on top of him b/c he's only 1.5 - Sean I trust to be ok on his own w/ most stuff