Using a Jumping venue as your child care provider

[Anonymous]

Went to one of those trampoline jumping type places with the kids and they were playing dodge ball which got out of hand (head shots, angry words, hurt feelings). The HS student staff who was supervising the kids, told them to stop and seemed to really know personally about 6 -8 of the kids (all pre-teen or young teen boys). We got to talking and the staff person told me that there are at least 10-12 boys that come there every day from after school till closing and on Saturday and Sunday from open till close (12 hours!). They get pizza to eat and pretty much jump all day (and apparently fight and cause trouble too). The staff also stated that the parents got a cheap season pass for unlimited jumping (under $200) and pretty much use this place to keep their kids while they go to work. The parents work evening shifts.

This seems crazy to me. I know people need affordable child care, but this borders on child neglect in my opinion. No kid should be jumping for 12 hours straight. A jumping venue is not a day care center. Teen staff members are not the best supervisors for hormonal, testosterone teen boys and these kids were acting aggressively towards other young patrons, hurting some (not seriously, but still). This arrangement seems like a disaster waiting to happen. I am shocked parents would have this poor judgement and that the venue even allows it.

[Anonymous]

I think you need a hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

So you think it is ok to dump your kid at a jumping venue for most of their waking hours??? You must be "mother of the year"!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

So you think it is ok to dump your kid at a jumping venue for most of their waking hours??? You must be "mother of the year"!

I'm not mother of the year. But I don't understand why this bothers you so much. It may not be something you would do but I think you should mind your own business. Everyone parents differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

So you think it is ok to dump your kid at a jumping venue for most of their waking hours??? You must be "mother of the year"!

I'm not mother of the year. But I don't understand why this bothers you so much. It may not be something you would do but I think you should mind your own business. Everyone parents differently.

That is bad parenting-these kids are pretty much left to fend for themselves. They seem miserable too, and act out accordingly.

[Anonymous]

These kids are also a major liability to the venue-i don't care about that. I do care that these kids were hurting other patrons kids, mine included. I was there to supervise my kid though and stopped it, along with the (at times ineffective) teen staff member.

[Anonymous]

OP, the issue with your post is that teen and even pre-teen boys typically don't have or need childcare.

And whatever the staffer may have said to you, as the parent of a 12yo I seriously doubt that any tween or teen is spending 12 hrs per day at a trampoline park -- I don't know a single kid that age who would willingly stay away from some kind of screen for that duration, certainly not on a daily basis!

My kid doesn't get many unsupervised opportunities yet, mostly because we have younger kids too. But I know many of similarly-aged kids who hang out at the neighborhood pool for much of the day without parents during the summer, which is the same principle. They're all nice kids and well-behaved, so it's not an issue.

Your complaint is with the facility and its enforcement of rules about behavior and safety. Direct your frustrations there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

Same. Not sure of the point of this post.

[Anonymous]

So like 12 and 13 years old? I was regularly watching other younger kids at that age.

[Anonymous]

Well, talk to the venue about it then.

[Anonymous]

Take it up with management. Either this is a problem that they can fix with a change in policy or they're ok with it and you should find somewhere else to take your kids. As far as the other parents are concerned they probably believe that their kids are doing something they love, are supervised, occupied and are having a wholesome, good time.

I know mommy wars are super engaging but chances are those other parents aren't as horrible as you like to think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need a hobby.

Same. Not sure of the point of this post.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids are also a major liability to the venue-i don't care about that. I do care that these kids were hurting other patrons kids, mine included. I was there to supervise my kid though and stopped it, along with the (at times ineffective) teen staff member.

The place needs to staff up then and can't expect a teenager to be able to manage all that.

[Anonymous]

Is it within walking distance to a school? How are the kids getting there?

[Anonymous]

If I were there with my own kids and felt that other patrons were not being safe or managed properly, I'd speak with the management. If there was no improvement, I'd vote with my feet.