Creche and Play Area

I am just a big kid; show me a ball pit and you cannot keep me out of it. I sit like an abnormally large child who should have her own documentary, amidst all the brightly coloured plastic spheres without a care in the world. I totally forget that I am there too interact with the little ones and drift off into my own regressed childhood as happy as can be. The Trafford Centre Crèche and Play Area unfortunately has not been created for me. If your child is between birth and 10 years old then they are in luck! They can sit watching the weird lady (moi) in a huge ball pool or tackle the climbing nets and tube crawls like mini cadets in the Territorial Army. There are rope swings that are fun– so long as the parents sit their children on the tyre seats and run with them. Once is okay but I quit or pass out after 3 times.
It makes me giggle when the rugrats (not mine. Mine are in the ball pit overcome with shame and trying to get me out) climb the wrong way up the wavy slide and the Play Area assistants, usually voluptuous 19 year olds in skintight trousers go into full U. S Army marshall mode. They act like it is a matter of national security and the offending rugrats simply laugh in their faces. Great entertainment. Parents can sit on the sidelines in squishy, soft booths, guarding shoes and trying to avoid the pong of sweaty feet. Perhaps the air conditioning needs an overhaul because it does get a bit whiffy. However, the kids don’t mind and have great fun. Prices are very reasonable compared to similar facilities: £2.10 for 30 mins, £2.90 for 45 mins, £3.60 for an hour and £4.10 for 90 mins. Top tip, pay for an hour because the staff always give children extra minutes.
The Crèche is a lifesaver for stressed parents who need to shop. They can deposit their babies (from age 2 – 7) with fully qualified staff where they can play with games, toys and equipment. I have always thought there needs to be a similar service for bored husbands; maybe a room full of lazy boy chairs, beers in the fridge and football on a large plasma.