Mall play spaces -- not so great for the little ones
Joe Burris, a frequent Guest Dad here on Father's Day Friday, went to one of those mall play spaces with his 3-year-old daughter. It wasn't pretty.
Here's Joe:
Recently I took my 3-year-old daughter Onalenna to one of those play areas at a shopping mall where we live in Alexandria, Va. It was raining outside, and I wanted her to get some quality exercise time.
The area, about half the size of a basketball court, was lined with a soft floor surface, filled with kids and adorned with oversized plastic objects to climb and bounce on. How bad can it be, I figured.
After we departed, I jotted a personal memo to self: Never, ever, ever go there again.
I don't know who came up with the idea of such a play area, but I can't imagine it's anyone with kids. The good part about the place we went was that it had a height restriction of 42 inches. The bad part was that there no mall worker on hand to enforce it. That means that there were kids who were clearly school age running around with toddlers.
A few such boys (who appeared to be tween age) were getting a kick out of playing tag. One boy slapped another who corralled a little girl -- she couldn't have been more than 5 -- and tackled her Ray Lewis style. The girl cried loudly as her mother ran over to her in fright. The boy's father chastised him for such rough play and then apologized to the peeved mother. The rest of the kids continued playing as if nothing had happened.
We left shortly afterward.
I know the Obama administration has a long list of institutions in need of funding, but I sincerely wish they would put some of that stimulus money toward more open air spaces where kids can play. An area about half the size of a basketball court in a mall for dozens of kids simply makes no sense.
Comments
I'm laughing because it's true. My 2 year old nearly got trampled at the play place in Columbia Mall by boys that were much too big to be in there. But if you risk saying something to the parents (if they are even there), you get your head bitten off.
Posted by: Kayris | May 1, 2009 9:56 AM
We have run into this type of situation at local indoor play places like in Chick-Fil-A. My husband and I have NO problem scolding other children in these situations whether they are the appropriate age to play or not. I shouldn't have to but will do so in order for my children to use the facility. I will also gladly report it to the mall office or restaurant manager as I see fit.
Posted by: Holly | May 1, 2009 9:59 AM
I completely agree. There's nothing wrong with the play spaces - it's the clientele. I feel free to correct other children and their parents if necessary. Yet more cases of "the world revolves around me" need to be brought up to speed on reality.
Posted by: Skewed Tomato | May 1, 2009 11:48 AM
Those places may as well be pathogen labs, as well. We avoid those places like the plague (pun intended).
Posted by: Edamommy | May 2, 2009 8:43 AM
Why should the government pay for play spaces in the mall. Give me a break. Do you realize that the people paying for all of this stimulus is not the government, but you and I the taxpayers! The storeowners who receive the business in the malls should pay for play areas. I agree that they are dangerous, but this mentality that the government or (I) the taxpayer pay for everything is ludicrous! The mall should hire a retired person or student to monitor the play areas! Pay them minimum wage. Problem solved!
Posted by: Little K | May 4, 2009 10:35 AM