We have a couple malls around us and both have play areas, one is better than the other though. We are going to go walk around the mall tonight and let LO play in the play area for something to do! Does your mall have a play area? Is it nice?
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Yep, and it's fairly nice. Lots of big...hard but rubbery kind of plastic?...things to climb on. And beside it there are those quarter rides, and close by is a big arcade.
E, however, generally just prefers to ride up and down the escalator.
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@lovehoneybee: Yeah ours has those climbing type things too! It also has a carousal but we have never been on it.
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Yes, ours has one similar to the one in @lovehoneybee's pictures. I'm always a little freaked out by germs, and sometimes there are some bullies who push Liam around, but sometimes it's nice to let him get out some energy.
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@mrs. tictactoe: Yeah I don't like the germ thing either but they close it down every day at around 1 or 2 to clean and sanitize so that makes me feel better. We have dealt with a few bullies too where their parents aren't paying any attention so I have to tell them to please stop, which is strange but a 4 year old doesn't need to hit my one year old on the head!
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No the indoor mall. But there are 2 carousel. We live very close to an outdoor mall with a new play area. It also has a carousel, ferris wheel, and a splash pad. There's an indoor a bit further away, with a play area, but we've never tried it yet.
ETA: Wow! That looks like a cool indoor playground!
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@shopaholic: your mall has a splash pad!?! sweet!
the craphole mall closest to us has some carousels and little rides, but it's pretty lame, it's fitting for that mall. my preferred mall has an amazing playspace, but it's an amazing mall.
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We do! When the weather is bad and we get bored of going to Target, we will go to that play area before the mall technically opens to avoid the crowd.
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Yes. I always see kids playing there.
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@Bao: we always go! Michigan weather sucks!
Our is just OK, but it plenty for LO's age-range. We are going when he wakes up from his nap. I can't handle being home alone with him all day in this depressing winter weather!
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@lilyann: well that's smart! I never thought to take her there before the stores open... We may have to try that sometime, then we don't have to worry about bullies or germies!
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@lilyann: Great idea!
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@mediagirl: @Bao: Last time we did this, the only other kids there were actually DS's age and they played and got along great but what are the odds of that happening again
I just get mad when 8 year olds are in there running around, jumping off things and setting bad examples so we try to avoid it during open mall times.
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Nope! I was introduced to them while visiting my cousins in TX and then again at the Bee meet up in MA.
I don't know how I feel about them....usually when I go to the mall I'm on a mission and don't need DS whining about going to the play area, lol.
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I think the local mall just opened a play area and they host monthly playdates.
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@shopaholic: I think I know what mall you're talking about! I love that outdoor mall. You're in the OC, correct?
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@lilyann: Does yours have a height limit? Ours does, but there are still always bigger kids there. I get so annoyed because they run around, full speed, and don't pay any attention to the littler kids. E has been almost knocked over a dozen times. D will sometimes tell those kids there's a height limit and they were above it. Never works, but it makes him feel better, lol.
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We used ours all the time when DS was learning to walk. Now he's kind of over it at 2.5.
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@lovehoneybee: haha, yep! Height and age limit but for some reason, those parents still let their kids come in there and act bat shit crazy (meanwhile the parents are texting or possibly leave them there?). Drives me nuts and makes me avoid busy times.
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Ours is the same mall as @lovehoneybee… DS loves it and has his routine now of going on the elevator, shop and then play! Last time we were there playing there were bigger kids too trying to jump over some of the climbing things. I was so irritated because they weren't paying attention and I was just waiting for them to fall/jump on a little kid!
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@mrs. bird: Not sure if it's as nice as real "splash pads" I always hear about. We're not exactly at the age for it yet. Here's pic I found online of it.
@COOPSMAMA: yup!
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Nope, but that'd be really nice!
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Yes but we've never used it! I can see it causing a meltdown
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yup! We have one similar to @lovehoneybee's as well. I only take the kids I watch there before 10am (when the stores open) to avoid bigger crowds.
That place is insane on the weekends...and I have seen kids that are probably 9 or 10 in there which is really annoying because they have a height limit posted. Also, it kinda freaks me out how often kids are left unattended there on weekends...the crowd is so big I'm always worried kids are going to go missing.
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Yup and it's always super overcrowded.
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@shopaholic: there is a splash pad like that just 1/2 mile down the road from us and we love biking there in the summer!
We don't have a mall anywhere near us - the outlets are about half an hour but they don't have anything.
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We have one similar to @lovehoneybee too. I love to take E there when it's icky outside. Big kids can be a problem sometimes, but I'm not shy about telling them to watch out.
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Yes they do but we haven't taken lo to them yet. Maybe this weekend!
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@Bao: we go to the mall in the next town over. the play area is okay, it's kind of weird. all the structures are made out of porcelain. How is that safe?!
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nope:(
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@lovehoneybee: That looks similar to the one at our mall!
Scary thing happened there on Tuesday, though. A little boy around 2 or younger escaped. I actually was near the exit when a woman came and asked me if I'd seen a boy leave and I said no. I saw the panic in her face and realized that he was gone. My friend was with me so I asked her to watch J and I took off running (asked the woman what he was wearing as I ran off) and she said overalls. 20 feet up I look into the first store and there is a little boy in overalls. Holy crap...I ran in and grabbed his hand (gave the item he was holding to the staff) and took him to her. She had said he wasn't her son (guess she is the babysitter) and she had a young baby and another older toddler with her, too. Holy crap...scariest 30 seconds ever! This is why my friend and I stand near the exit so that they cannot escape!!
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@Jenn23: It's in Lancaster (sorry, not to be a creeper, I just remember you from WB and remember you were in PA somewhere....near Philly maybe?)
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@lovehoneybee: Yep, it was the Exton Mall! I live right near Exton. Who are you from WB? I just started coming back on HB and WB and have no idea who anybody is since I wasn't on here much until just recently. I love visiting Lancaster and the outlets there.
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yes our mall does but on the weekends its a zoo and a free for all.
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@Jenn23: I lived in Downingtown for a few months when I first moved to PA! We're currently between Lancaster and Harrisburg, but hoping to move closer into Lancaster sometime this year. I was FutureMrsMcK on WB (totally descript name, I know
)
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@shopaholic: Ah yes! I went to college in the LA area and that was one of my favorite places to go with friends for a shopping fix.
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@lovehoneybee: Oh, I remember you! Good luck with the move back closer to Lancaster. Oh and I went to Downingtown, H.S!
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We don't have a local mall.
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I would kill for this. Okay that's extreme.
I would step on a lego for this.
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Not really. The malls within 30 miles of us, are all in bad areas. Whenever I walk by the outdated, dirty play area, I feel like it's an episode of How to Catch a Predator. Besides, I have 2 kiddos and it's easy for one to run off quickly. Instead, we go to indoor play areas, that have admission and a gate or door inside. They're becoming more common in WA state since it's rainy all year!
I just get mad when 8 year olds are in there running around, jumping off things and setting bad examples so we try to avoid it during open mall times.
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