When was the last time you played in a play place?

Well, as for one of those indoor playgrounds, I don't remember.
But an amusement park is kind of the same thing for adults. I went to one of those a few times this year.

About 3 years ago with my twin nieces and I damn near got stuck then got yelled at for bing in there and throwing the balls at other kids

Not in a very long time, if ever. Most of them didn't have play places when I was that young, although I think some of them probably did. I don't really remember, though.

When I was younger these things did not exist but I would've loved 'em if they had.

Years ago.

Not sure. A while ago. I think the age limit is somehting like 12, so since the, I haven't been into one, I don't think.

When I was maybe...10 or 11? At the IKEA.

I have never played in a Play Place. My son plays in pretty regularly at McDonald's. The last time was last weekend. He loves it.

I *do* play on the playground at the park.

The last time I played in a play place was when I took my ex-SO's 4 year old son to a Wacky Warehouse. He played in the ball pool while I thrashed an 8 year old at Tekken.

I boycott McDonalds and BK... and most fast food places with those things.... So I haven't played in one in I don't know how long.

a friend of mine used to call those rooms full of plastic balls pee-balls, since some kids would let go while in there.

This makes no sense!

The survey, or the idea of having a mini-adventure playground inside a McDonalds?

I thoroughly hate the idea of these things being in fast food restaurants. To me, one of the worst things to do to a child is to enter them into the world of fast food, marketing and advertising. McDonalds is one big giant zit on the ass of the whole world. I have no problem with my kids playing in a fun environment, but to have it attached to such a place as McDonalds? No way. Excuse my anger about this topic, I just read a wonderful article about cross-marketing to children and it made me see red.

The fifth option applies to me.

Other. Those things did exist when I was a child. I'm not interested now - but my martial arts class is a lot about play.

Where's the article? Is it online?

It was in Mothering Magazine. I looked around on their website just now (http://www.mothering.com/index.shtml) and couldn't find it, but it might be there next month. Either way, it's a great website and a wonderful magazine.

Here's an old one I found

http://www.jbcc.harvard.edu/media2/electronic_marketing.htm

Oh, wow, thanks! Sometimes I really do think that ignorance is bliss, because the more I learn, the more I think, and the more I care, the harder life gets. Ah well. Better to know than to lead life blindly I suppose.

It's not hard for parents to counteract all the hype and marketing to kids if they really try. I think the main problem is when they allow their kids too much time watching TV. It's not hard to downplay the hype, either. If Lexie starts wanting something that I don't want her to have, I distract her with something else.

The answers in relation to the question.

I see what you mean.

Really? It scares me quite a bit. I worry that I'll be too strict with my kids, but then I think about them going to a friend's house and eating junk food and watching trashy tv, and I just feel so icky about all of it. I'm sure I'll learn as I go along, and hopefully loosen up, but ugh. I'm nervous about all of it already. I guess I just have to focus on teaching them what's right.

I'm more strict with Lexie than other parents are with their kids in this neighborhood. But then, I think they are too lenient!

When Mallory was about 8, I think...she's 13 now.

I think the last time I was in a 'play place' though it wasn't an indoor one, was when I was 13, hanging out in the ballroom

Check out the advanced stats, you'll see that this survey went through *many* revision, probably about 3 that I recall, perhaps a 4th. My guess is that it is this person's first attempt at creating a survey.

Long time ago, but have been in one recently with my 2 year old.. those places freak me out.. smelly, nasty, dirty..... i'm like 'obsessive compulsive' when we come out, i'm want to completly disinfect ethan from head to foot!!

I think my childhood predated these things. At least, the fast food ones.

Even when I was a kid I found these places lame.

I'm 51 years old and fast food places weren't even around in my area (if they even existed at all) when I was a child. When my son was growing in the 1980's, there was only one McDonald's that had a play place and it was at least 10 miles from where lived.

I never have.

When I was small enough to be allowed in them!

I'm 28 but take my 4-year old nephew to Chuckie Cheese's all the time and end up in the play area.

Yes! Within the last 6 months. Sure, I'm over the age limit... but they're so much fun, I couldn't resist.. hehe :)

It was eons ago.