Using a Jumping venue as your child care provider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teens don't need childcare. I've been leaving my child to "fend for herself" since she was 12. At 14, she makes her own plans with friends. I know where she is, but the rest is up to her. I wouldn't leave her at a jump place because she's an introvert and would be overloaded, and also because it's a dangerous activity.

If she spends 5 hours at the mall, I don't think of the store staff as her babysitters. She's on her own. They have to learn to navigate the world without a parent. If she's not independent before she's 18, I have done a shitty job as a parent.

This, almost exactly. Except that my daughter is 13. She makes plans, texts me for permission if needed, and then gets on with her life. If she went to the mall jump place, the staff wouldn't be taking care of her, she would just be another customer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teens don't need childcare. I've been leaving my child to "fend for herself" since she was 12. At 14, she makes her own plans with friends. I know where she is, but the rest is up to her. I wouldn't leave her at a jump place because she's an introvert and would be overloaded, and also because it's a dangerous activity.

If she spends 5 hours at the mall, I don't think of the store staff as her babysitters. She's on her own. They have to learn to navigate the world without a parent. If she's not independent before she's 18, I have done a shitty job as a parent.

This, almost exactly. Except that my daughter is 13. She makes plans, texts me for permission if needed, and then gets on with her life. If she went to the mall jump place, the staff wouldn't be taking care of her, she would just be another customer.

I agree. Just last week when school was out on Wednesday, my 12 yo son made plans with his friends to spend a couple of hours at skyzone. I signed the on-line waiver and dropped him off. Why would I stay to watch him jump?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teens don't need childcare. I've been leaving my child to "fend for herself" since she was 12. At 14, she makes her own plans with friends. I know where she is, but the rest is up to her. I wouldn't leave her at a jump place because she's an introvert and would be overloaded, and also because it's a dangerous activity.

If she spends 5 hours at the mall, I don't think of the store staff as her babysitters. She's on her own. They have to learn to navigate the world without a parent. If she's not independent before she's 18, I have done a shitty job as a parent.

This, almost exactly. Except that my daughter is 13. She makes plans, texts me for permission if needed, and then gets on with her life. If she went to the mall jump place, the staff wouldn't be taking care of her, she would just be another customer.

I agree. Just last week when school was out on Wednesday, my 12 yo son made plans with his friends to spend a couple of hours at skyzone. I signed the on-line waiver and dropped him off. Why would I stay to watch him jump?

A couple of hours is vastly different from 12 hours day in and day out (except school days when it is just after school till closing).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how leaving a kid of any age at a jump place from 11am to 11pm is good practice? regardless of how old they are. These kids are 10-15 yrs old.

Lady, stop. There is no "childcare" being provided here.

That is exactly my point! and exactly what the problem is!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how leaving a kid of any age at a jump place from 11am to 11pm is good practice? regardless of how old they are. These kids are 10-15 yrs old.

Lady, stop. There is no "childcare" being provided here.

That is exactly my point! and exactly what the problem is!!!

You're a busybody and no one agrees with you. There isn't a problem, stop worrying your pretty little head.

[Anonymous]

Op how old are your children?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just don't see how leaving a kid of any age at a jump place from 11am to 11pm is good practice? regardless of how old they are. These kids are 10-15 yrs old.

Lady, stop. There is no "childcare" being provided here.

That is exactly my point! and exactly what the problem is!!!

Read the room OP. No one agrees with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why doesn't the place just institute a kids must be accompanied by an adult policy? I agree, they are taking advantage.

You aren't the business owner, so that's not your concern.

At this point the venue is operating an aftercare center. There are lots of rules the Jump venue has to follow.

I didn't see they were 10-15. I amend my opinion--it's not child care. I imagined little 6-8 year olds.

[Anonymous]

If it's okay with the center then you have no option but to deal or go home. Clearly the center does not have a policy that patrons need to be supervised by an adult so the liability and management of the kids is up to them.

[Anonymous]

At that age, we rode our bikes to the Mall and hung out at the arcade.

[Anonymous]

The jumping place is going to hire the lowest cost employees they can so it's no surprise that there are teenagers supervising the rec areas. They aren't going to staff up or improve the quality of their employees unless you want to start paying a lot more to take your kids there.

Probably not the place for you if you are concerned for your kids. We went to Rockin Jump a few Sundays ago and the employees were sort of engaged, but not really, and there were some really nasty kids there. My kids get it (8 & 9), the employees don't care that much and other kids can be jerks.

As to your point about dropping kids off for hours at a time, I just look at those parents as being resourceful.

[Anonymous]

OP - you do realize that most kids at that age are home alone anyway? Also, there is no way, they are jumping for 12 hours straight and I think you know that. Do you have alternative suggestions for affordable childcare that would be cheaper than the $200 pass?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - you do realize that most kids at that age are home alone anyway? Also, there is no way, they are jumping for 12 hours straight and I think you know that. Do you have alternative suggestions for affordable childcare that would be cheaper than the $200 pass?

+1. I have a lot of respect for parents who are working night shifts and found a safe care situation for older kids that doesn't involve a ton of screen time.

[Anonymous]

12 year old kids can roam the neighborhood or do whatever. This is a safe place that keeps hem out of trouble. It's not childcare, it's more like rec center where kids can meet up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - you do realize that most kids at that age are home alone anyway? Also, there is no way, they are jumping for 12 hours straight and I think you know that. Do you have alternative suggestions for affordable childcare that would be cheaper than the $200 pass?

+1. I have a lot of respect for parents who are working night shifts and found a safe care situation for older kids that doesn't involve a ton of screen time.

Seriously, OP would rather these kids sit at home playing on their Xbox for hours than getting some exercise playing around with friends.