This is an indoor play area. Typically located in a mall, it has a variety of slides, swings and other activities. Targeted at the 2-8 age group, the multi-level structure comprises a metal frame wrapped in foam, and accessories like rope and plastic. The foam serves to lessen impact when a kid inevitably runs into one of the bars.
Assuming you’re not a parent of a preteen, it will come as a shock that play areas are a standard fixture in every single mall in your city or town – as essential as a multiplex or a food court. In fact, there are now multi-city chains that are exclusively in this business. Surely then, the industry deserves a closer look.
First, the economics. They charge by the hour, with prices ranging from ₹200 to ₹1000 per kid in Bangalore. In what is a sign of a maturing market, there are now venues at almost every incremental ₹100, spanning the entire value, crowd and poshness ladder. Weekday prices are lower, and a large chunk of revenue comes from birthday parties. The convenience is unmatched for the hosts. Parking is sorted, kids don’t need to be corralled around, F&B and decorations are usually part of the “package”.
Safety has been an issue. The horrific Rajkot fire happened at a similar venue, although that was a larger format with bowling and karting facilities. In fact, it was a variation called a trampoline park1 that is popular with the next age demographic – 10-18 year olds. Bangalore venues were even shut down temporarily following this incident. But even setting aside the Rajkot tragedy as an anomaly, the general attitude towards safety leaves one wanting. Poor design, overcrowding, non-existent maintenance, all these routinely lead to minor bumps and bruises, with the occasional fracture or head injury.
Perhaps the foam padding and sterile environment gives parents a false sense of safety. I believe most of us are vastly underestimating the probability of injury. Even a cursory glance at the google reviews will throw up variations of the same story: Injury due to negligence, no first aid on site, management shrugging and pointing at the waiver form you signed. No compensation, no remorse. Why would they? There is a steady stream of new customers beating down their door.
The same goes for hygiene. Let’s face it: kids are filthy2. They are roving repositories of infections and boogers. I’m not even considering the occasional pee or poop mishap. Do you really think that ball pit is emptied out and cleaned every day? Then there’s this:
Still, safety and hygiene are problems that can be addressed. One hopes that the invisible hand of the market will do what the long arm of the law can’t. The poorly designed and maintained venues will garner bad reviews, lose customers, and eventually either shape up or go bust.
My problem, and the purpose of this post, is that play areas are insidious in a way that isn’t immediately apparent. That entry price guarantees that your child will only be around other kids like her: from roughly the same socio-economic background, wearing the same brands, going to the same schools, speaking with the same accent and probably belonging to the same religion/caste. Not fair, you say. Not everything is about virtue signalling. I just want my kid to play in a safe, convenient environment. Don’t bring class or caste into this.
Fine.
Think about the actual play. The venue is designed for the busted attention span of today’s kids. Hence the vivid colours, bright lights and overstimulation of twenty different activities in an hour. There is barely any time to process or enjoy one thing before the kid moves onto the next one. Doesn’t that remind you of watching Instagram reels?
Worst of all – most activities are designed for solo play. Kids aren’t collaborating or negotiating. They are merely waiting their turn. There isn’t scope for you to play with them either. No way you’re going to keep up with them in the maze. Not with your knees. Plus, it’s a safe space for your kid. Why would you want to be a creep and tag along? Parents usually sit outside.
I know, it’s an unsafe, unpredictable world and it’s just easier to keep kids cocooned in safety: whether it’s their school, the bus ride, being chaperoned to classes or playdates. There is very little autonomy or chances of serendipity. Their friends are pre-screened by us. Either consciously or subconsciously. That’s the price we pay. I’m not judging you – I grapple with this myself.
But surely, your neighbourhood playground (if you’re lucky enough to have one) is OK? Sunlight, trees, no admission fee. Sand! Glorious sand. Parents breaking up fights, grandparents savouring their moments with little ones. And a different mix of kids each time.
I’ve found that people aren’t afraid to give unsolicited advice in parks either. To the anxious parents of the one-year-old- “Let him go! He’ll be fine.”. To other kids: “Oi! Stop hogging the swing.” Try doing that in a play area. The other parents will put you in a different kind of padded cell.
If this sounds like a sermon, it really isn’t. I was just triggered when I heard that play areas now offer subscriptions. And knowing Indian parents, they’re going to make the trip every weekend to maximise the sunk cost. That’s just how we’re wired. Please don’t doom your child to the same dungeon every weekend. Look past the shiny wrapper – these places are bad for our kids. Consider going to a park instead? You never know what might happen, or who you might meet.
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I weighed whether to bundle trampoline parks with regular play areas. They have an assortment of trampolines and a poor understanding of physics, especially momentum. Fractures are common, and there have been occasional head injuries too. At least from a safety standpoint, I do believe they deserve to be tarred by the same brush.
Not mine! Mine are angels.
Very interesting!
LOVELY