mrspnoble

Hello, Lots of great recommendations on here, but I'm afraid I can't marry them with my recent experience of working with Steve. Issues with communication, timeliness and some quite strong demands of money upfront. He did mention some temporary health issues and those may be mitigating circumstances for the above, but was left unimpressed. Feel free to PM if you'd like more details. Don't wish to be unfair to the guy but I did have a few alarm bells before he began, which I quietened through the previously good feedback so want to just provide a bit of balance. Pippa

Is this still on? Looking very quiet on Goose Green ...

And the adventure playground at the top of Peckham Playground and the one at Denmark Hill (as already pointed out in this thread) don?t do that already? The baby swings, smaller roundabout, sandpit/small climbing frame in the new playground clearly cater for a younger age group. Had all the equipment clearly been aimed at an older age group (as with fore mentioned areas) then guess what? I wouldn?t take my toddlers there. All I think anyone with smaller children is asking for is a bit of awareness that actually this playground is intended to be for all ages, even if the design lets it down.

So happy to know that I'm not the only one who isn't exactly overjoyed with the new playground either, ech! Don't get me wrong; I'm thrilled that there are new facilities and that children seem to be using and enjoying them. But I'm yet to actually enjoy taking my kids there (they are just over 3 and just turned 2 respectively), and to be honest I'm yet to get a sense that they have enjoyed it either. There seems to have been very little thought given to separating spaces for toddlers and older children. Every single time my kids have ventured on to the trampoline, without fail a group of 3 or 4 older kids (age 8/9/10 years+) has turned up and just bounced along like they are not there, which has scared them. They get off the trampoline to wander to the sandpit and there's swarms of older kids on scooters using the hill near the swings as a ramp, swerving around them and making them nervous. They've ended up soaking from the water pools as older children have just gone through, kicking water at their friends or worse, throwing wet sand. And don't even get me started on the totally ill-conceived water squirter, which as far as I can tell does a pretty good job of getting anyone within a 10 metre radius wet (whether they want to or not). However, I think the biggest problem by far is the complete lack of shade. Yes, I appreciate that the current heatwave is unusual, but it isn't unheard of. Half an hour in that park and I'm left looking (and feeling) like a dog that's been left in a hot car. The scrap of shade provided by the climbing frame in the sandpit appears to be the hottest piece of property in SE22, given how many parents seem to cram into it. Would it be possible to remedially fix this? Hoping that the closing of the other play area is only temporary. Managed 5 mins in the new one with my two year old on Thursday before she burst into tears and we headed to the old playground. It was age-appropriate, lovely and shaded and best of all, empty! I mean, I'm entirely aware that maybe my children are wusses but they don't seem to react the same way at Goose Green, Greenwich Park or Brockwell playgrounds. Sorry to be a moaner. Appreciate that were my children at the higher end of the age chart I would probably think it was the best thing ever but I can only give you the opinion I have. Parents, please just remind your kids to be mindful of little ones, and remember that they are unpredictable in their movements and need a bit of a wide-berth to keep them (and other kids) safe. Having waited SO LONG for the playground to open I really want to be able to enjoy it - especially now the cafe/goldmine has just reopened!

Yes, it?s open. Went with my son on the Friday just gone. Only the main bit with fountains was working though.

Second all of the above. My two (older boy, younger girl) with 15 month age gap) have shared a room since she was about 16 months old. Before we put them in together she never slept well, but I actually think having her big brother there reassured her and so she settles a lot more quickly now. Also when they wake up in the morning they have a little chat to each other, allowing us to have some sort of time to gather our thoughts rather than rushing straight into crying children (as we did when they were separate). It?s been a great bonding experience for them I think; they seem much tighter now than before.

Can?t recommend Ellie at Party Beans (sorry, on my phone so struggling to find a link but if you google it will come up). Was the entertainer at our three year old?s party in late March and was WONDERFUL. Warm, friendly, engaging with the children. Most importantly for me her pace was just right; some of the kids parties we?ve attended have been so frenetic that some kids (especially quieter ones like my son) got a bit left behind, whereas Ellie made sure everyone had a turn at each part of the activities.

http://www.edtots.co.uk/directory/monday This website has saved my sanity on more than one occasion! Thumbs up for both Tiny Gym and The Triangle as well though.