So my local indoor shopping mall has a kids play area. It's got a rubber floor and huge plastic things for kids to play on. I've read the rules and no where does it say that kids need to take off their shoes. But it does have cubby holes for kids to put their shoes. Am I weird because I don't take my kids shoes off? Every kid there doesn't wear shoes except mine. I actually think it's kind of gross for all these kids to be running around in bare feet or socks. But I also understand that the bottom of my kids shoes are dirty too. Is it just understood that they should take off their shoes? No one has ever said anything to me or given my kids/me any dirty looks so I don't think it's an issue I am just curious as to what everyone thinks. The parents walk all over it and don't take off their shoes. It's also cleaned once a day by the mall staff.
I totally agree about the areas being germy we don't usually let her play on them but it was her birthday and there was a train etc. We went straight to the bathroom for a good scrub down with soap and water afterwards. I understand also about getting kicked in the face or fingers stepped on but couldn't this also happen at an outdoor playground? Maybe it's a different kind of play? I don't know. I've got to say I don't agree with the area getting worn down if the kids had shoes on. I used to work in a place that had this exact kind of area rubber floor and huge plastic play area and it was outside with the snow and rain. It looked exactly the same 5 years after it was built and kids didn't take off their shoes. Thanks for the responses!
Personally I dont allow my kids to play in them just for the simple fact that they are Germ Breeding Grounds and I'm a germ-a-phob. My boys know that we dont play there and they are ok with it.
I don't like it when other kids keep their shoes on. I think kids should be in socks but not shoes, because invariably, a kid steps on another kids hand, or accidentally kicks another kid in the face, etc. And shoes mean that the other kid gets hurt much worse when this happens. Socks are safer for all.
I bring socks for my kids. It's easy for kids with shoes to stomp on little kids feet or hurt each other by being accidentally kicked/jumped on... so it's more a safety thing than a cleanliness thing. It's common courtesy of most play areas like that to take off shoes, usually it's the rule.
We also do some major wiping down and anti-bacterial gel slathering after every playground adventure.
Please take your children's shoes off. The shoes make the area dirty and your child can step on other children's feet and fingers. Many times shoes also make the area wear faster and detracts from the safety of the area with worn spots. Just because no one said anything doesn't mean they don't think you should abide by the rules.
FWIW, I keep a spare pair of socks so my DD is not also sockless, but she does go shoeless.
Kids generally are supposed to take off their shoes because if they have them on and accidently step on someones little fingers or toes, it will HURT. It has nothing to do with clean or dirty. Its a safety issue that a bare foot or sock foot won't hurt you if you are stepped on but a shoe will hurt.
I think it's more of a matter of a kid getting kicked in the face by a socked foot than a shoe, than it is about damaging the surface! :)
Shoes, but not socks should be off for safety reasons, not cleanliness, they're not clean to begin with ; ) We stay away from them, too many germs breeding the other 23 hours they're not being cleaned, and since my little guy got kicked in the face by another toddler, he doesn't want to use them anymore.
When we do use the play area at the annual Christmas festival they have outdoor play equipment set up and they also require shoes to be off, and this is in early December.
I make the kids keep their shoes ON. For the reasons you've listed, that floor is yuck.
i think it's a liability thing, it hurts a lot less to get stepped on with a socked foot than a big old tennis shoe. i guess if you're sure there's no sign it's no big deal (ours DOES have signs, multiple, and at least half the kids always have shoes on anyway...grr). i would hate to have the kid with shoes on that accidentally kicks someone and really causes a fuss....
I find it gross too and make the kids take off the socks before putting their shoes back on. They go straight to the hamper. I buy a bunch of those 3 pair for a dollar at the Dollar Tree and then they change into them at the playground. Even if they get lost it's not big loss.
Mine take their shoes off but keep their socks ON! They are not allowed to go sock less around those places for sure. I also think it helps w/ the stepping on the fingers or getting kicked w/ a shoe vs a sock but to each their own mama, do what you feel most comfortable w/ especially if there are not rules stating something specifically :)
I've never been to any type play area where it wasn't required to take your shoes off. I'm guessing they are supposed to....but I guess if your certain there is not a sign, then continue on....
I don't blame you. Places like that are breeding grounds for some disgusting stuff. Your child could contract staph or some sore of warts from running around shoeless and sockless in an area like that. As far as the cleaning the mall staff does, what do they do-- vacuum? If that's all then that is not enough for a public area. ETA: I avoid those play areas as well. I think it's cleaner to play at the park.
It's safer for everyone if every ones shoes are off.
Shoes also tear up the the play equipment faster.
It's posted in the rules of the play area that shoes must be removed to play.
This is a pet peeve for me, kids that play on it with their shoes on. And I cringe anytime there are kids with their shoes on near mine. This equipment is different than those outside, there for there is different kind of play, the way they climb on the big spongie plastic stuff is much differently than ladder or climbing wall at an outside playground.
