Lamenting the lack of decent places to take kids in Canberra, and wanting to maybe change that...

Jethro said :

Watson said :

It annoys me to no end how quick people are to judge parents. Especially other parents! Where in the manual does it say that you have to be a martyr at all times to be a good parent?

FFS, all the person is suggesting is a place where parents can sit comfortably with a good coffee and some food that isn’t dripping with fat and have a conversation while keeping an eye on their child playing happily in a playground. Too much to ask? Get a life, people!

Sorry Watson.

If some unsupervised child punches my kid in the face or pushes them into a wall and their parents aren’t around to stop their behaviour, I think I’m perfectly entitled to judge them.

I used to hate going to busy playground because of all the parents who DID watch their kids but didn’t think it necessary to intervene when precious little Johnny didn’t wait his turn, pushed other kids and monopolised the slide. Years later that little Johnny is probably stll a little antisocial AH even if he is now the age where he should not need constant supervision anymore.

So I get you, but it has nothing to do with the OP and all the insinuations that they are lazy and irresponsible for even considering such a frivolous activity as having a coffee whilst watching their kids.

Watson said :

It annoys me to no end how quick people are to judge parents. Especially other parents! Where in the manual does it say that you have to be a martyr at all times to be a good parent?

FFS, all the person is suggesting is a place where parents can sit comfortably with a good coffee and some food that isn’t dripping with fat and have a conversation while keeping an eye on their child playing happily in a playground. Too much to ask? Get a life, people!

Sorry Watson.

If some unsupervised child punches my kid in the face or pushes them into a wall and their parents aren’t around to stop their behaviour, I think I’m perfectly entitled to judge them.

Why not take the family out to a picnic on or near the lake? Forget paying exorbanent amounts for restaurants it was good enough for me when I was a kid you make the food, and take a frisbee with you as well. You’ll be promoting outdoor exercise for the kids and you’ll be the one making the food so you wont have to worry about chicken nuggets. The Ponds in Gungahlin has a good outdoor area for children and also hot plates for a BBQ and a flying fox. Use your imagination.

Jethro said :

I’ve always thought Canberra is one of the best places in Australia to bring up little kids.

……

Now I don’t think it is my place to discipline other people’s kids, so I usually just move my own child to another area away from the hitter. But I have to say, the huge numbers of under-supervised kids at these places is probably the biggest issue I have with going to them.

Some parents are slack. Yet they’d probably sue if their child drowned in a fish-pond at the gardens or was locked in the earthquake room at Questacon overnight. Now there’s a good idea for the really annoying vicious ones… (I am not talking about OP here, who has a different idea from just letting kids run wild in a public space.)

When I first came to Canberra I thought any child brought up here would be developmentally delayed due to its pleasant country town atmosphere, but now I can see that pollution is probably not essential for intellectual growth.

It annoys me to no end how quick people are to judge parents. Especially other parents! Where in the manual does it say that you have to be a martyr at all times to be a good parent?

FFS, all the person is suggesting is a place where parents can sit comfortably with a good coffee and some food that isn’t dripping with fat and have a conversation while keeping an eye on their child playing happily in a playground. Too much to ask? Get a life, people!

Jethro said :

I’ve always thought Canberra is one of the best places in Australia to bring up little kids.

Hear, hear. There are so many places to take kids in Canberra that we have an embarrassment of riches. If you can’t find any, you’re not looking.

I’ve always thought Canberra is one of the best places in Australia to bring up little kids.

It is a city designed around the concept of outdoor space, so almost everyone is only a few minutes from parkland, bushland and playgrounds.

Plenty of national institutions to take the kids, some truly fantastic picnic spots and playgrounds that are worth the drive across town, bike paths absolutely everywhere. I have never been left wanting for something to do with my kids.

You mentioned that your youngest is 3, and that you are looking for somewhere safe enough to take them where you don’t have to be standing over their shoulder all the time. I’m sorry but at that age, you do need to be on hand to watch your kids.

My youngest is 1 and I try to take him out at least 2 or 3 times a week – maybe once to questacon, once to somewhere like the Botanic gardens, once to a good playground somewhere. I would say that on more than half of these occassions he is hit, punched, pushed over, has his toy stolen or otherwise bullied by a child 1 or 2 years older than him. Most of the time there is not a parent to be seen to discipline the child.

I certainly don’t blame the children for this type of behaviour – they’re 3, they don’t really have a clear concept of right or wrong. But that is where the role of the parent comes in. Those kids need a mum or dad to step in and let them know what they have done is wrong. (“We don’t hit other children, look at that little boy. He is hurt because you hit him. If you hit anyone else we will have to go home.”). If mum and dad have decided that it is ok for them to be somewhere else all together, having a coffee and a chat, these children miss out on the corrective discipline they need and fail to learn right from wrong.

Now I don’t think it is my place to discipline other people’s kids, so I usually just move my own child to another area away from the hitter. But I have to say, the huge numbers of under-supervised kids at these places is probably the biggest issue I have with going to them.

fllen – he does go to day-care, but not all week – whether someone has to earn a living and use day care is not part of this conversation and your veiled accusation that I put my child in day care so I can have time off is offensive. I’m guessing & hoping you are not married and do not have children and that the realities of life have not set in, otherwise you would not make those thinkly veiled accusations about teh use of child care.

If you read the post the question was about whether the idea was of merit & not whether I was blind to the great attractions that Canberra has already. I live in Canberra so I know about all the open spaces, museums and interesting things to do. My son is three and maybe not into the war memorial right now – but hopefully will be in the future. He already attends swimming lessons and probably will be going to gym classes in the new year and little athletics when he is old enough. We take him out on his bike, and on our bikes and when we feel inclined out to tea at places like Rose Cottage to catch up with friends. We also sometimes get a baby-sitter and leave him for a few hours – shocking as it may sound.

Knowing my child and the fact that he needs to expend a lot of energy, it’s probably sometimes not fair to take him to places where he must be on his absolute best behaviour – and I wouldn’t want to inflict it on the general public either. And before you kid yourself that I am therefore saying my son is a brat, well he’s not – he’s a great kid and very well behaved – to the point where we get somments on his politeness and good demeanour, however there is no doubt that he needs to move about freely in his “leisure time” – and I’m happy to provide that for him.

Having done all of the above listed things with him, I personally feel that there is something else to be had in terms of both his and our enjoyment. This is a hard ask I know, but what about seeing someone else’s point of view?

you have got to be kidding me…. canberra has ample places to take the kids for fun safe play. war memorial, national museum, the foreshore of all four lakes, the carillion, duntroon. your need for a meal and coffee ha ha – take a thermos and a sandwich. I think your inconvenience is that you actually might have to engage with your child – i bet your child spends all week in a childcare centre too!

ps Pialligo has a couple of cafes in the outdoors too, with some play equipment.
Also poachers pantry, and the odd winery.

I finally had a looked at the Brissie cafe linked above – it looks great, but more like a once off visit – like Kid City or the like, only much much nicer.

What I would like is much simpler.

A nice normalish cafe, with bench or booth seating, a couple of smallish fenced areas directly connected to the cafe, once with a large sandpit, one with small plastic slides and see-saws, a cubby-house or fort type thing too etc.

The cafe would need to be fairly large, so as not to be too noisy from the outdoor areas, but not a huge barn like at the clubs or cafe injoy.

A courtyard space might be nice too, perhaps with a kiddy kitchen set up against one wall, and other small kiddy toys around. People could then choose to sit amongst the kids in there or with mostly adults inside, watching through the windows.

– On that note – places with courtyards are great. Gorman house is good on a saturday, and yarralumla nursery cafe is nice too on a nice day – no courtyard, but large outdoor area with minimal roads etc.

dtc said :

rogueideas said :

If you ask your kid what they would rather do ‘visit a waterfall or a shopping mall’ and they answer mall, you need to rethink your parenting!

Well, sometimes the kids get to do what the adults want to do. Such as, i dont know, have a coffee and chat to some friends.

Really – that’s cool. You’ll take t

Classified said :

rogueideas said :

Classified said :

Southern Cross Club or Hellenic Club. Both have good kids play areas that are clearly defined. Both offer coffee and snacks at reasonable prices (there’s a free basic coffee machine at Sthn Cross). Neither is busy during non-meal times.

WTF! Am I the only one horrified at this?

“OK kids, mount up, we’re off to the club. Just ignore all those exciting lights, bells and whistles coming from the gaming area – it’s the boring part of the ‘playground’! Anyone for a beer or coffee?”

Yep, if this is a suggestion on where to take kids in Canberra, we seriously have a problem.

??? The kids areas are in a completely different area of the clubs from the pokies. You’re either trolling or a fool.

Cool, that’s OK then. I suppose it has a separate entrance? Maybe one that doesn’t involve WALKING INTO A BIG UGLY BUILDING THAT LOOKS LIKE IT’S TIME WARPED FROM LAS VEGAS! The uppercase means I’m yelling at my monitor frustrated at the stupidity of the Gen X parent.

Clubs, cafes, Bali… all suitable for kids. Where would bogans go on holiday if Bali didn’t exist?

As Kitty Flanagan says “kids don’t like cafes – you can tell by the f!@#in screaming”. I’ll post this link but I’m pretty sure most of the humour will bounce off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTptxhBYz9E&feature=player_embedded#!

Taking kids to clubs as a day out suggestion… BOGAN.

Grail said :

dtc said :

You dont want to be cleaning your house and cooking your own food, or dragging possibly kidless friends into the wilds of Tidbinbilla or Questacon so you can have a chat.

Its not about finding somewhere to entertain your kids. Its about participating in life as an adult

Wow. Just wow!

Provide entertainment at your own place, you save travel, you save packing and unpacking children and supplies, and most importantly you save money which could be better spent on education and health care for your kids.

Once you have children, you no longer participate in life as an adult: you participate in life as a parent. If you want time with your adult friends to spend doing “normal” adult things, hire a babysitter. This is the way it’s been done for centuries, because it works.

I’m also curious as to what constitutes “the wild” in your world, if you consider Tidbinbilla and Questacon to be “the wilds”. Real adults would revel in the opportunity to head out to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Tidbinbilla Tracking Station or even the Questacon simply because that’s something out of the routine.

If you want to take your kids, be prepared to spend the entire day in parent mode.

If you want to leave parent mode hire a nanny to take care of the kids while you do stuff that doesn’t involve constantly being aware of where the nappies and first aid kit are located.

The utopia of a café where you can abandon your children in the playground for an hour while you enjoy the company of your adult friends is an irresponsible dream. Children will always be looking for (or simply requiring) attention.

Seriously, I worry about the comprehension skills of many people on this thread, the above a prime example. Apart from taking my comment out of context by leaving off the first few sentences, the point is that sometimes people just dont want to entertain people at their own place. For a start, anyone with kids will usually have a messy house that isnt spick and span because they are spending their time looking after kids. Some people dont have coffee machines or the time to make a cake. Its not different to why you might meet friends at a restaurant instead of saving that money, entertaining your friends at home and, i dont know, spending in on comprehension workshops.

The OP question was not ‘how do I entertain my kids’, it was ‘how do I, as an adult, do something I enjoy with the kids rather than, yet again, spend my entire day and life looking after the children’. Completely different topic

And the ‘wilds’ of Tidbinbilla – well, its hardly a cafe is it. Its also 75 minutes from where I live, so its not really a practical place to organise to have a chat with some friends (being inner north, anything more than 8 minutes on my fixie is too far….).

Ever tried camping with kids – I do it all the time. Ever tried to convince your childless friends to come camping with you and your kids? And after the 15th visit to Questacon in a year, its not all that exciting. To an adult.

Dont think parents are stupid. We have done all these things. Tried all these things. We know what is fun (for us) and what isnt fun, for us. We accept there are limitations. We also push those limitations, by taking our kids out and suffering the stares of the superior non breeders when our kids are loud or cry or whatever, or complaints that the prams take up too much space. So actually the OPs suggestion works for everyone – parents get what they want and the rest get us out of the way as well.

My kids have plenty of education and health care. Its called public health system and public schools. Naturally, hiring an unknown teenage babysitter is a much more worthwhile use of my money than paying for an occasional coffee.

@madamcholet – if what you have planned is anything like the Breathing Space Cafe that was mentioned in an earlier post, then I think there is a market for something like that in Canberra for sure.

If what you are proposing has structured activities for the kids and carers about, then this is what would set it apart from what is available in Canberra at the moment and is certainly somewhere I would visit.

My husband is a stay at home dad to two little guys under 3. He is not a helicopter parent and the kids are, for the most part, well behaved but they are also very inquisitive and adventurous little guys they do require constant monitoring regardless of where they are (be it park, play group or home). I think he would feel that this kind of cafe would be a little slice of heaven. Good coffee and a little time where he can feel like he is not ‘on’.

Given that professional babysitters cost around $20 an hour, I also imagine that this kind of place would also be a hit with parents on a tight budget and who do not have family and friends they can call upon to give them a little break.

I’d come to your cafe, Madamcholet, in spite of the fact that my children are way too old to need a playground. It would be worth it to know I was unlikely to run into any of the self righteous know it alls who poo poo anything that wasn’t their idea.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Jim Jones said :

My god. I actually agree with Mysteryman.

I’m scared … hold me.

I am not sure what is going on. I disagree with Mysteryman – status quo. You agree with mysteryman – disturbing. I disagree with you – quite unusual.

I suspect that you have been a victim of identity theft.

I’ll still a total jerkwad though.

sepi said :

Sadly in Canberra the Hellenic Club, and Raiders gungahlin and Mawson are the best on offer. They have little playrooms attached to their cafe areas. It doesn’t mean you can abandon the kids for an hour while you sup coffee and caviar, but it does mean you have somewhere to take them when they get restless.

I don’t see anything wrong with wanting somewhere nicer.

Agree 100 per cent.

Sadly in Canberra the Hellenic Club, and Raiders gungahlin and Mawson are the best on offer. They have little playrooms attached to their cafe areas. It doesn’t mean you can abandon the kids for an hour while you sup coffee and caviar, but it does mean you have somewhere to take them when they get restless.

I don’t see anything wrong with wanting somewhere nicer.

Mysteryman said :

“unquestioning autobots”, “have never had to intercept your 2-year old toddler” – where did I say those things? The problem isn’t with my message, it’s with your instance that children can’t be taught to, and shouldn’t be expected to, follow instructions (a notion that goes against every piece of research I’ve come across on the issue of the cognitive development of children and toddlers). I have no doubt from your ramblings that you probably can’t teach a child to follow simple instructions. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible or that other parents can’t.

We can all play that game: where do I say “children can’t be taught to, and shouldn’t be expected to, follow instructions”?

Anyway, looks like I’m going to have to krats my question:

What. Is. Your. Experience?

Or is that question too rambling? I don’t know how to dumb it down any more.

Jim Jones said :

My god. I actually agree with Mysteryman.

I’m scared … hold me.

I am not sure what is going on. I disagree with Mysteryman – status quo. You agree with mysteryman – disturbing. I disagree with you – quite unusual.

I suspect that you have been a victim of identity theft.

Mysteryman, at risk of becoming another three-post nutbag, I am well aware that toddlers possess the cognitive abilities to understand directions. I too read ‘the continuum concept’ and parented accordingly. Nonetheless, one must also be aware that this increase in cognitive capacity is inconveniently juxtaposed with a developing desire to exert independence. Furthermore, children do not develop adult level depth perceptions or gross motor skills until much later in life. Toddlers also make mistakes, as do adults.

Watson said :

Jim Jones said :

And a big +1 on this one:

“If you teach your child to heed instructions like “stay on the playground”, or “do not go near the water”, then you won’t need fences and you’ll realise that most playground are safe. It’s very simple, and toddlers are VERY capable of understanding a obeying. In my experience the ones who don’t understand and obey have not been taught to.”

And of course you would have no problem at all testing this in a real life situation. If your “theory” that your 2yo can be trusted to always remember and obey your instructions proves to be wrong, you’ve only lost a child. You can always make a new one and try again.

My child never, ever disobeyed the “stay away from the water” instruction. How do I know this? Because for 3+ years I didn’t take my eyes of her for more than 3 seconds if we were near water!

Where did he write that you should discipline your child and then ignore what s/he was doing enitrely?

I love how this has turned into a debate on disciplining children!

I’d like to add that our child is disciplined, and loves all of the venues and locations we frequently take him to…parks, swimming pools, the dinosaur museum, train museums. We even stayed in a B&B with him so I know that we parent well, because the owner adored him. I don’t need a nanny, because I enjoy looking after him, but just sometimes what is available doesn’t quite cut it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting something better than what is available right now.

Jim Jones said :

And a big +1 on this one:

“If you teach your child to heed instructions like “stay on the playground”, or “do not go near the water”, then you won’t need fences and you’ll realise that most playground are safe. It’s very simple, and toddlers are VERY capable of understanding a obeying. In my experience the ones who don’t understand and obey have not been taught to.”

And of course you would have no problem at all testing this in a real life situation. If your “theory” that your 2yo can be trusted to always remember and obey your instructions proves to be wrong, you’ve only lost a child. You can always make a new one and try again.

My child never, ever disobeyed the “stay away from the water” instruction. How do I know this? Because for 3+ years I didn’t take my eyes of her for more than 3 seconds if we were near water!

Mysteryman said :

I have no doubt from your ramblings that you probably can’t teach a child to follow simple instructions. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible or that other parents can’t.

Such absence of doubt, iron-clad self-knowledge, peerless self-confidence.

You are TONY ABBOTT!

But .. he rides a bicycle .. cognitive dissonance .. IT HURTS!

Grail said :

Once you have children, you no longer participate in life as an adult: you participate in life as a parent.

Yawn.

Grail said :

If you want time with your adult friends to spend doing “normal” adult things, hire a babysitter. This is the way it’s been done for centuries, because it works.

I love the drama that you added by including the word ‘centuries’ here. Because those peasants in the middle ages were always hiring baby sitters. And when they did spend time with them, it was only to do kid-centred activities.

I don’t know if this is just a Canberra thing or an Australian thing or a ‘certain type of people’ thing. In other countries/cities/for other people, involving kids in adult activities (NOT as in the Fyshwick kind of adult, mind you!) is just normal. And F, it’s only fair. You spent so much time doing mind-numbingly boring kids stuff as a parent. Kids need to learn how to compromise. If I want to sit down and read my newspaper and drink coffee for an hour on a Saturday morning, my daughter is told that I only want to be disturbed if there’s blood. If we’re out in public I will also warn her that I will check up on her and if I see her misbehave in any way, I will tie her to the table leg for the rest of our stay – though this is less necessary now she’s a bit older.

So many kids already think the world revolves around them, I am reluctant to make mine one of them.

No wonder interstate people think Canberra is a boring place…

My god. I actually agree with Mysteryman.

I’m scared … hold me.

Madamcholet…as usual any post about kids inevitably leads to people abusing each other on here about their obvious sub-standard parenting skills because they ‘dared’ to make a comment…anyhow

A few years ago we set up a cafe which sounds like what you are looking for in Brisbane called Breathing Space Cafe. You can check out our website http://www.breathingspacecafe.com.au for more info. Due to the popularity we decided to franchise the business, however an unavoidable move to charming Canberra and a third baby having arrived no so long ago, has forced us to sell the Franchising business.

Our Brisbane store is still owned by a franchisee, but this may be something you are looking for as we are seeking someone to take over Breathing Space Franchising. Obviously this would allow you to set one up here, but also expand with other franchisees. Happy to chat or provide further info if needed…probably better to email me via the website if it’s something you’d like to find out more about.

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

a) you have no children
b) you have children and amnesia
c) you are trolling

which is it champ?

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

You’ve taught your toddler to do everything you tell them to do?

I’m fascinated. What’s your secret?

It’s called discipline and parenting. Try it some time.

You’re telling me you have never had to intercept your 2-year old toddler? mmyeah I calling BS.

Are you being intentionally obtuse are do you just not understand how discipline and correction work? I can’t tell.

I understand the concepts of discipline and correction. They’re also very broad terms that you’re flopping around the place as if they mean something specific.

I just think your sanctimonious assertion that all parents should be able to transform their toddlers into unquestioning autobots is completely unsupported. You just provide some glib retort about ‘discipline and correction’.

Tell me what experience and success you’ve had, and I might be persuaded to come around to your side of the discussion. And explain why you’re pissing around on Riotact instead of making millions writing the Mysteryman Discipline and Correction Guide for Parents and putting the pool fence industry out of business.

“unquestioning autobots”, “have never had to intercept your 2-year old toddler” – where did I say those things? The problem isn’t with my message, it’s with your instance that children can’t be taught to, and shouldn’t be expected to, follow instructions (a notion that goes against every piece of research I’ve come across on the issue of the cognitive development of children and toddlers). I have no doubt from your ramblings that you probably can’t teach a child to follow simple instructions. That doesn’t mean it’s not possible or that other parents can’t.

aidan said :

Indeed. And quantum electrodynamics. Too few toddlers have an even passing knowledge of this important topic. I blame their parents, who are probably on drugs and constantly cycling, probably on a road, getting in the way of freedom loving car users and running red lights.

… and not paying enough taxes to upgrade roads that they ride for free on! 🙂

Mysteryman said :

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

You’ve taught your toddler to do everything you tell them to do?

I’m fascinated. What’s your secret?

It’s called discipline and parenting. Try it some time.

You’re telling me you have never had to intercept your 2-year old toddler? mmyeah I calling BS.

Are you being intentionally obtuse are do you just not understand how discipline and correction work? I can’t tell.

I understand the concepts of discipline and correction. They’re also very broad terms that you’re flopping around the place as if they mean something specific.

I just think your sanctimonious assertion that all parents should be able to transform their toddlers into unquestioning autobots is completely unsupported. You just provide some glib retort about ‘discipline and correction’.

Tell me what experience and success you’ve had, and I might be persuaded to come around to your side of the discussion. And explain why you’re pissing around on Riotact instead of making millions writing the Mysteryman Discipline and Correction Guide for Parents and putting the pool fence industry out of business.

Mysteryman said :

The fact that you equate the ability to understand a simple direction to the ability to understand quantum electrodynamics speaks volumes about your parenting ability.

It’s because I ride I bicycle. You should put me on the naughty spot.

aidan said :

Jim Jones said :

And a big +1 on this one:

“If you teach your child to heed instructions like “stay on the playground”, or “do not go near the water”, then you won’t need fences and you’ll realise that most playground are safe. It’s very simple, and toddlers are VERY capable of understanding a obeying. In my experience the ones who don’t understand and obey have not been taught to.”

Indeed. And quantum electrodynamics. Too few toddlers have an even passing knowledge of this important topic. I blame their parents, who are probably on drugs and constantly cycling, probably on a road, getting in the way of freedom loving car users and running red lights.

The fact that you equate the ability to understand a simple direction to the ability to understand quantum electrodynamics speaks volumes about your parenting ability.

Jim Jones said :

And a big +1 on this one:

“If you teach your child to heed instructions like “stay on the playground”, or “do not go near the water”, then you won’t need fences and you’ll realise that most playground are safe. It’s very simple, and toddlers are VERY capable of understanding a obeying. In my experience the ones who don’t understand and obey have not been taught to.”

Indeed. And quantum electrodynamics. Too few toddlers have an even passing knowledge of this important topic. I blame their parents, who are probably on drugs and constantly cycling, probably on a road, getting in the way of freedom loving car users and running red lights.

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

You’ve taught your toddler to do everything you tell them to do?

I’m fascinated. What’s your secret?

It’s called discipline and parenting. Try it some time.

You’re telling me you have never had to intercept your 2-year old toddler? mmyeah I calling BS.

Are you being intentionally obtuse are do you just not understand how discipline and correction work? I can’t tell.

Mysteryman said :

Grail said :

dtc said :

You dont want to be cleaning your house and cooking your own food, or dragging possibly kidless friends into the wilds of Tidbinbilla or Questacon so you can have a chat.

Its not about finding somewhere to entertain your kids. Its about participating in life as an adult

Wow. Just wow!

Provide entertainment at your own place, you save travel, you save packing and unpacking children and supplies, and most importantly you save money which could be better spent on education and health care for your kids.

Once you have children, you no longer participate in life as an adult: you participate in life as a parent. If you want time with your adult friends to spend doing “normal” adult things, hire a babysitter. This is the way it’s been done for centuries, because it works.

I’m also curious as to what constitutes “the wild” in your world, if you consider Tidbinbilla and Questacon to be “the wilds”. Real adults would revel in the opportunity to head out to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Tidbinbilla Tracking Station or even the Questacon simply because that’s something out of the routine.

If you want to take your kids, be prepared to spend the entire day in parent mode.

If you want to leave parent mode hire a nanny to take care of the kids while you do stuff that doesn’t involve constantly being aware of where the nappies and first aid kit are located.

The utopia of a café where you can abandon your children in the playground for an hour while you enjoy the company of your adult friends is an irresponsible dream. Children will always be looking for (or simply requiring) attention.

Very well said.

+1

And a big +1 on this one:

“If you teach your child to heed instructions like “stay on the playground”, or “do not go near the water”, then you won’t need fences and you’ll realise that most playground are safe. It’s very simple, and toddlers are VERY capable of understanding a obeying. In my experience the ones who don’t understand and obey have not been taught to.”

Mysteryman said :

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

You’ve taught your toddler to do everything you tell them to do?

I’m fascinated. What’s your secret?

It’s called discipline and parenting. Try it some time.

You’re telling me you have never had to intercept your 2-year old toddler? mmyeah I calling BS.

How can we blame cyclists though!?

Grail said :

dtc said :

You dont want to be cleaning your house and cooking your own food, or dragging possibly kidless friends into the wilds of Tidbinbilla or Questacon so you can have a chat.

Its not about finding somewhere to entertain your kids. Its about participating in life as an adult

Wow. Just wow!

Provide entertainment at your own place, you save travel, you save packing and unpacking children and supplies, and most importantly you save money which could be better spent on education and health care for your kids.

Once you have children, you no longer participate in life as an adult: you participate in life as a parent. If you want time with your adult friends to spend doing “normal” adult things, hire a babysitter. This is the way it’s been done for centuries, because it works.

I’m also curious as to what constitutes “the wild” in your world, if you consider Tidbinbilla and Questacon to be “the wilds”. Real adults would revel in the opportunity to head out to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Tidbinbilla Tracking Station or even the Questacon simply because that’s something out of the routine.

If you want to take your kids, be prepared to spend the entire day in parent mode.

If you want to leave parent mode hire a nanny to take care of the kids while you do stuff that doesn’t involve constantly being aware of where the nappies and first aid kit are located.

The utopia of a café where you can abandon your children in the playground for an hour while you enjoy the company of your adult friends is an irresponsible dream. Children will always be looking for (or simply requiring) attention.

Very well said.

Wily_Bear said :

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

Wow, a mum looking to broaden her options for her child’s benefit sure attracts some vitriol. the OP has already indicated her lil person has perfectly acceptable behaviours, did you consider the child’s perspective? How boring to sit at a cafe with adults for longer than 3 seconds.
The attraction of a secure, interesting playground (and cafe) is that they can serve as a point of social contact for both parent and child. This is particulary relevant if you only have one kid. When most of us were kids ourselves, families were larger, with a number of siblings available to play (and fight) with. Most local playgrounds are desolate, windswept deserts in winter. Small people love to play with others their age without anxious parents hovering around directing social interactions and play. This is how kids learn, but it must be safe. Sheesh, it’s not that much to ask…

If you teach your child to heed instructions like “stay on the playground”, or “do not go near the water”, then you won’t need fences and you’ll realise that most playground are safe. It’s very simple, and toddlers are VERY capable of understanding a obeying. In my experience the ones who don’t understand and obey have not been taught to.

Postalgeek said :

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

You’ve taught your toddler to do everything you tell them to do?

I’m fascinated. What’s your secret?

It’s called discipline and parenting. Try it some time.

dtc said :

You dont want to be cleaning your house and cooking your own food, or dragging possibly kidless friends into the wilds of Tidbinbilla or Questacon so you can have a chat.

Its not about finding somewhere to entertain your kids. Its about participating in life as an adult

Wow. Just wow!

Provide entertainment at your own place, you save travel, you save packing and unpacking children and supplies, and most importantly you save money which could be better spent on education and health care for your kids.

Once you have children, you no longer participate in life as an adult: you participate in life as a parent. If you want time with your adult friends to spend doing “normal” adult things, hire a babysitter. This is the way it’s been done for centuries, because it works.

I’m also curious as to what constitutes “the wild” in your world, if you consider Tidbinbilla and Questacon to be “the wilds”. Real adults would revel in the opportunity to head out to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Tidbinbilla Tracking Station or even the Questacon simply because that’s something out of the routine.

If you want to take your kids, be prepared to spend the entire day in parent mode.

If you want to leave parent mode hire a nanny to take care of the kids while you do stuff that doesn’t involve constantly being aware of where the nappies and first aid kit are located.

The utopia of a café where you can abandon your children in the playground for an hour while you enjoy the company of your adult friends is an irresponsible dream. Children will always be looking for (or simply requiring) attention.

did you consider the child’s perspective? How boring to sit at a cafe with adults for longer than 3 seconds

Oh yeah because it couldn’t possibly be appropriate for a child to learn that sometimes they don’t get to have everything their way. My diary from the year my daughter was 3 is littered with “drawings” done by her in coffee shops and waiting rooms.

The attraction of a secure, interesting playground (and cafe) is that they can serve as a point of social contact for both parent and child. This is particulary relevant if you only have one kid. When most of us were kids ourselves, families were larger, with a number of siblings available to play (and fight) with. Most local playgrounds are desolate, windswept deserts in winter.

Local playgrounds are deserted in winter partly because so many parents idiotically believe that their children are better off if they drive more than 10km to the nearest indoor play centre. Dressing for the outdoors, walking the neighbourhood and meeting local kids and families is just soooooo boring!!

realman said :

Think about moving to Sydney or Melbourne, its much worse but at least you will realise how lucky you are living with kids in Canberra.
Try walking, bike riding, walk the dog, throw a ball, explore a creek, climb a hill, visit a place more than 4 minutes from home, teach the kids to cook, just some thoughts.

yes I agree with you . Canberra is much more kid friendly than Sydney. I think there are tons of things to do like alot of the other posts have verified. Especially boot camp stuff.

rogueideas said :

If you ask your kid what they would rather do ‘visit a waterfall or a shopping mall’ and they answer mall, you need to rethink your parenting!

Thanks for your input, two dogs…

rogueideas said :

If you ask your kid what they would rather do ‘visit a waterfall or a shopping mall’ and they answer mall, you need to rethink your parenting!

Well, sometimes the kids get to do what the adults want to do. Such as, i dont know, have a coffee and chat to some friends.

rogueideas said :

Classified said :

Southern Cross Club or Hellenic Club. Both have good kids play areas that are clearly defined. Both offer coffee and snacks at reasonable prices (there’s a free basic coffee machine at Sthn Cross). Neither is busy during non-meal times.

WTF! Am I the only one horrified at this?

“OK kids, mount up, we’re off to the club. Just ignore all those exciting lights, bells and whistles coming from the gaming area – it’s the boring part of the ‘playground’! Anyone for a beer or coffee?”

Yep, if this is a suggestion on where to take kids in Canberra, we seriously have a problem.

??? The kids areas are in a completely different area of the clubs from the pokies. You’re either trolling or a fool.

rogueideas said :

Classified said :

Southern Cross Club or Hellenic Club. Both have good kids play areas that are clearly defined.

WTF! Am I the only one horrified at this?

“OK kids, mount up, we’re off to the club. Just ignore all those exciting lights, bells and whistles coming from the gaming area – it’s the boring part of the ‘playground’! Anyone for a beer or coffee?”

Yep, if this is a suggestion on where to take kids in Canberra, we seriously have a problem.

Maybe youve never been to the Hellenic Club kids area? It is well away from any pokies, infact it is near the restaurant where kids are possibly going to be anyway. The last time I was there, there was a room with some console computer games near the restaurant, and also downstairs there was a whole separate kids area, far away from the bar and pokies.

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

You’ve taught your toddler to do everything you tell them to do? I’m fascinated. What’s your secret?

realman said :

Think about moving to Sydney or Melbourne, its much worse but at least you will realise how lucky you are living with kids in Canberra.
Try walking, bike riding, walk the dog, throw a ball, explore a creek, climb a hill, visit a place more than 4 minutes from home, teach the kids to cook, just some thoughts.

Nice one… I agree. Canberra is the bush capital – get outside people.

If you ask your kid what they would rather do ‘visit a waterfall or a shopping mall’ and they answer mall, you need to rethink your parenting!

Classified said :

Southern Cross Club or Hellenic Club. Both have good kids play areas that are clearly defined. Both offer coffee and snacks at reasonable prices (there’s a free basic coffee machine at Sthn Cross). Neither is busy during non-meal times.

WTF! Am I the only one horrified at this?

“OK kids, mount up, we’re off to the club. Just ignore all those exciting lights, bells and whistles coming from the gaming area – it’s the boring part of the ‘playground’! Anyone for a beer or coffee?”

Yep, if this is a suggestion on where to take kids in Canberra, we seriously have a problem.

Look up ‘helicopter parents’…

Mysteryman said :

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

Wow, a mum looking to broaden her options for her child’s benefit sure attracts some vitriol. the OP has already indicated her lil person has perfectly acceptable behaviours, did you consider the child’s perspective? How boring to sit at a cafe with adults for longer than 3 seconds.
The attraction of a secure, interesting playground (and cafe) is that they can serve as a point of social contact for both parent and child. This is particulary relevant if you only have one kid. When most of us were kids ourselves, families were larger, with a number of siblings available to play (and fight) with. Most local playgrounds are desolate, windswept deserts in winter. Small people love to play with others their age without anxious parents hovering around directing social interactions and play. This is how kids learn, but it must be safe. Sheesh, it’s not that much to ask…

poetix said :

TheDancingDjinn said :

I can cook up a man feed

Next time I’m feeling a bit cannibally, can I drop around?

LOL i totally missed that. it was meant to read MAD feed – but now i read it MAN feed sounds applicable. Big man feed!! lots of meat and starch and frothy amber coloured fluids 😀 man feed!!

Here’s a crazy idea… Teach your children to do as they’re told and the issue of fencing won’t be a problem.

and the daily fee for swimming is only $3 for adults and $1 for children under 18. Haig Park reminds me a lot of Riverside Park in New York, with lots of children playing on the creatively-built playground equipment, especially the large dolphin-shaped slide, which is always a treat on hot summer days. The numerous cafes surrounding the park give you ample opportunity to sip on great coffee or have a snack while watching the kids play with other kids. I forgot to mention the reasonably priced ($25) day camps that usually focus on art, music, or nature. It’s a great way to give yourself a break, and the kids love it! Haig Park reminds us of the wonderful foresight the community had generations ago and our current progressive, forward thinking government we now have to give us this truly amazing resource!

The Community Children’s Center located in Haig Park Braddon is centrally located for Canberra. There’s a wonderful Children’s art and music weekend program during the summer. There’s a beautiful indoor pool both for lap swimming,

Kambah, Point Hutt Pond and Tidbinbilla still have playgrounds that are adventurous enough for big kids to break things. There is apparently one at Amaroo, but not sure about other northside locations?

I know what I am on about, and funnily enough, nearly every woman I talk to who has kids knows what I am on about

Just because we know what you are on about doesn’t mean we have to share your POV that such a place is a parenting necessity.

Yeah, I am on a constant search for fenced in playgrounds. There seem to be loads of playgrounds but they are open so that there is only grass between the kids and the road/lake/whatever.

If anyone can recommend great playgrounds for toddlers that are fully fenced in and are Northside, I’d be interested to know. 🙂

Kinda related to this but the opposite issue – now my kids are older but still interested in playgrounds,I am lamenting the fact that so many playgrounds seem to be focussed on toddlers and littlies only. My 9 and 11 year old still love them but in a lot of the playground renewals, it seems like all the great climbing frames and flying foxes are going (suspect its probably an insurance issue) but not being replaced with similar age equipment but with bouncy horses and the like. theres a great new playground at Macarthur that has a nice mix and one at Gordon but not many others and wondering if its just all too hard to provide playgrounds that provide different levels of challenge for both littlies and bigger kids. The fort at Fadden has been sealed for years and all the brilliant treehouses at Weston Park were sadly lost to I suspect the insurance demons.

They’re open to the public and nobody will shout at you for trespassing etc?

Not in the years I have been visiting our local preschool. When my child was a toddler, the preschool was only in use two days a week, so it was great. Kids still play on the school grounds in the afternoon and weekends/holidays and from time to time I see kids in the preschool, though my child has now outgrown the equipment in there.

This is one reason I will be taking on the bulldozers (Franklin River style) if we’re ever at risk of getting a prison fence around our local school.

A friend who lives across the road from a pre school has been told they are not open to the public after hours and on weekends.

On the other hand I don’t think anyone would actually shout at you.

I often see families and friends with small kids having a great time at the much-maligned Tilleys – sitting in a big booth, with the kids running around inside quite safely (other patrons tend to be quite tolerant). The kids don’t seem to need toys – they’re happily interacting with the adults and each other. And in any case those Tilleys wooden benches and tables are quite a playground, or the kids can sit and draw or cut things out at a nearby table within sight. And if a kid runs outside, a patron will notice and take them back inside.

s-s-a said :

Re fenced playgrounds in the inner north, you will find one at every preschool. They are available every afternoon, on weekends and during school hols. Also possibly some weekdays. Not so good for young toddlers, but great for 2-4y and up.

They’re open to the public and nobody will shout at you for trespassing etc? That’s awesome if that’s the case. It never even occurred to me. Cheers 😀

Re fenced playgrounds in the inner north, you will find one at every preschool. They are available every afternoon, on weekends and during school hols. Also possibly some weekdays. Not so good for young toddlers, but great for 2-4y and up.

Think about moving to Sydney or Melbourne, its much worse but at least you will realise how lucky you are living with kids in Canberra.
Try walking, bike riding, walk the dog, throw a ball, explore a creek, climb a hill, visit a place more than 4 minutes from home, teach the kids to cook, just some thoughts.

aidan said :

Australia is not, in general, a kid-welcoming culture. Exhibit A:

poetix said :

having done my time, I don’t want to have other people’s kids climbing all over me or screaming. If this means that parents only go out when they can afford a babysitter, so be it.

Even people who have kids don’t like them.

Hahahahahaha!!

I’m a member of a migration forum and the funniest thing about that is all the number of people who are moving here because they perceive Canberra is kid friendly and the place to live if you have a young family. Hahahahahaha, that really tickles me! 😀 😀

aidan said :

Australia is not, in general, a kid-welcoming culture. Exhibit A:

poetix said :

having done my time, I don’t want to have other people’s kids climbing all over me or screaming. If this means that parents only go out when they can afford a babysitter, so be it.

Even people who have kids don’t like them.

I like some of them; not all of them (same as with adults) and I don’t want any of them in my soup, that’s all.

Australia is not, in general, a kid-welcoming culture. Exhibit A:

poetix said :

having done my time, I don’t want to have other people’s kids climbing all over me or screaming. If this means that parents only go out when they can afford a babysitter, so be it.

Even people who have kids don’t like them.

sepi said :

Restaurants with a toy corner are also fantastic – the vegie place in Dickson used to have a toybox, but when they renovated, they got rid of it.

Anyone know of any ACT restaurants that have a toy area?

I don’t want toy areas in restaurants. Between the time babies can be quietened by a breast, and the time children can sit and eat with cutlery, young people should not be running around in restaurants or making a noise with toys screaming ‘Mummy Mummy, look at me!’. When my daughter was young she was reasonably quiet, so we could take her for early evening meals or lunches at cafes or casual restaurants. She quickly learnt to make conversation at a normal level of noise, but many children are hideously noisy (as are their selfish ‘Look at me, I’m out enjoying myself’ parents) and having done my time, I don’t want to have other people’s kids climbing all over me or screaming. If this means that parents only go out when they can afford a babysitter, so be it.

Or go for a picnic, as people have said.

I must check out the vego place in Dickson, now that there’s no toy area.

There may be a market for OP’s idea, but it sounds horrible to me; I’ve always hated groups of women gossiping about their children while ignoring them.

sepi said :

I was about to mention QBN park. Fully fenced – just what we want. There are also loads in little towns off the highway on the drive to both sydney and melbourne – so it seems a common concept elsewhere. Just the ACT has some sort of objection to fences.

It isn’t about not watching your kids, it is about not having to stare at them every single second, and be abler to make eye contact with another adult person to have a conversation.

Or in the case of several kids, to know that the other two are not in the road, while you chase down number 3 who is climbing the fence or falling off the slide or whatever.

This is exactly it!! Evidently ACT has a fencing paranoia so if you want a decent playground you need to go to NSW!! How bizarre. It’s not just playgrounds either. I mentioned on a parenting forum about the total lack of fences around primary schools here and the mothers from Sydney and Melbourne were quite surprised and horrified at the thought of this. Interesting other states all have fenced schools and playgrounds and ACT doesn’t?

Apologies to the OP for digressing 🙂

If the OP does ever decide to have a go at this venture, let us all know, and I’ll be there with an open wallet. My kids are way too old to need fencing in (hopefully), but I have plenty of friends with youngsters who I’d love to enjoy a relaxed cuppa and chat with, in a place that caters to their needs too. Maybe by the time it gets going, there might be some grand kiddies to entertain 🙂

I was about to mention QBN park. Fully fenced – just what we want. There are also loads in little towns off the highway on the drive to both sydney and melbourne – so it seems a common concept elsewhere. Just the ACT has some sort of objection to fences.

It isn’t about not watching your kids, it is about not having to stare at them every single second, and be abler to make eye contact with another adult person to have a conversation.

Or in the case of several kids, to know that the other two are not in the road, while you chase down number 3 who is climbing the fence or falling off the slide or whatever.

Restaurants with a toy corner are also fantastic – the vegie place in Dickson used to have a toybox, but when they renovated, they got rid of it.

Anyone know of any ACT restaurants that have a toy area?

For those on the look out for a good fenced in kids play area – Queanbeyan has at least two I can think of. One near the river that is OK (no shade over the play equipment and not much variety) and one tucked away in Queanbeyan Park which is awesome (heaps of equipment, a toddler area, BBQ, grass and shade).

The OP has e three year old boy who is as good as gold and adores being outside. I don’t have a problem with watching my own child at all, and he plays in the back garden as mush as we will let him, which is pretty much all the time.

Thanks to those who read the post, understood it and have suggested ideas or supported the notion. I know what I am on about, and funnily enough, nearly every woman I talk to who has kids knows what I am on about. I have ideas about how to make the food good (a la Jamie Oliver), but still affordable and what sort of play equipment would be great – indoor and out.

Not sure that Canberran’s per se are agressive, just the ones that frequent Riot Act! C’est la vie!

aidan said :

Jurls said :

I was more curious to know if there was a fantastic fenced playground somewhere and I’d missed it!! 😀 Thanks for replying though.

Maybe you should move to NZ (joke!). Off the top of my head I can think of a couple of fenced playgrounds I’ve been to there.

Well yes, only we actually moved here FROM NZ and my children are actually New Zealanders!! Hahahahahaha 😀 😀 😀 😀

Jim Jones said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

well done everyone who has slapped down the OP for the outrageous notion that they would like to be able to go somewhere where the kids can play safely and has decent food.

Seriously, get a life people.

What about the outrageous notion that there are already a metric f^ckload of places to take your kids to play and eat?

Seriously, I’m all for info on places to take kids, but the OP is off on an insane frolic of her own.

You can’t be serious. McDonalds and ilk do not count.

Jurls said :

I was more curious to know if there was a fantastic fenced playground somewhere and I’d missed it!! 😀 Thanks for replying though.

Maybe you should move to NZ (joke!). Off the top of my head I can think of a couple of fenced playgrounds I’ve been to there.

There is an amazing playground in Levin (NZ), the whole thing isn’t fenced, but there is a small section of it that is (area of blue soft-fall):

http://g.co/maps/yat63

Come to think of it, I’m not sure why they don’t do it here. I guess they don’t want to limit access to the park for kids?

They could easily fully fence part of John Knight. It is a real PITA if you’ve got more than one child and one or more is toilet-training, having to gather them all, troop off to the loos …

Or OCPD even…

Jim Jones said :

colourful sydney racing identity said :

well done everyone who has slapped down the OP for the outrageous notion that they would like to be able to go somewhere where the kids can play safely and has decent food.

Seriously, get a life people.

What about the outrageous notion that there are already a metric f^ckload of places to take your kids to play and eat?

Seriously, I’m all for info on places to take kids, but the OP is off on an insane frolic of her own.

COPD: Compulsive obsessive posting disorder.

jules_from_latham said :

Seriously people, there are loads and loads of places in and around Canberra, many of which have been included in posts to this question. I reiterate my previous point though – expecting to be able to go out and not watch your kids is perhaps expecting too much.

I don’t think that is what is being suggested.

I interpreted it as “it would be nice to *sometimes* be able to go to a cafe and chat with friends *without having to be constantly on the lookout for the kids”.

jules_from_latham said :

For the record, I have a three year old. I regularly go out, sometimes taking my own coffee and food, other times we purchase stuff. We meet friends with kids all the time. Generally we take it in turns – one person will be on main lookout with the kids while the others chat and drink a coffee, and then we swap.

See, you’ve qualified it already: “with kids”, “one person will be on main lookout”. I’ve been to a little cafe with a fully enclosed back garden, with some things for the kids to do and it was bloody heaven. I didn’t realise how I was constantly on the lookout for the kids until I didn’t have to do it. It was really nice.

jules_from_latham said :

I disagree with the original post – there are places offering exactly what you want. However, you still need to keep a pretty close eye on your kids – I don’t think you will ever get away from that when the kids are still young.

I haven’t seen a single suggestion for a place like that. I agree you can’t ignore the kids for prolonged periods, but is is nice to be able to have a chat for a few minutes and know they’re in a safe area and that you can glance over there every few minutes to make sure they’re ok.

aidan said :

Jurls said :

If anyone can recommend great playgrounds for toddlers that are fully fenced in and are Northside, I’d be interested to know. 🙂

It is pretty pissweak, and they’ll get covered head to toe in tanbark dust, but there is a little fenced playground out the back Gold Creek Village

http://g.co/maps/6q7jr

You’re right, I can’t think of any fully-fenced playgrounds. Have you joined a playgroup? Sure they are pretty much the same as a backyard play area, but it is with other kids.

Yeah I’ve been there, it’s not great to be honest and it’s not gated either. Haha. There’s also one 3/4 fenced by Lake Gininderra which is OK as well but not fully fenced and gated either.

Yes, I go to playgroups instead and use my backyard on days when we’re at home so it’s not really a major thing for me. I was more curious to know if there was a fantastic fenced playground somewhere and I’d missed it!! 😀 Thanks for replying though.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

well done everyone who has slapped down the OP for the outrageous notion that they would like to be able to go somewhere where the kids can play safely and has decent food.

Seriously, get a life people.

What about the outrageous notion that there are already a metric f^ckload of places to take your kids to play and eat?

Seriously, I’m all for info on places to take kids, but the OP is off on an insane frolic of her own.

Jurls said :

If anyone can recommend great playgrounds for toddlers that are fully fenced in and are Northside, I’d be interested to know. 🙂

It is pretty pissweak, and they’ll get covered head to toe in tanbark dust, but there is a little fenced playground out the back Gold Creek Village

http://g.co/maps/6q7jr

You’re right, I can’t think of any fully-fenced playgrounds. Have you joined a playgroup? Sure they are pretty much the same as a backyard play area, but it is with other kids.

Seriously people, there are loads and loads of places in and around Canberra, many of which have been included in posts to this question. I reiterate my previous point though – expecting to be able to go out and not watch your kids is perhaps expecting too much.

For the record, I have a three year old. I regularly go out, sometimes taking my own coffee and food, other times we purchase stuff. We meet friends with kids all the time. Generally we take it in turns – one person will be on main lookout with the kids while the others chat and drink a coffee, and then we swap.

I disagree with the original post – there are places offering exactly what you want. However, you still need to keep a pretty close eye on your kids – I don’t think you will ever get away from that when the kids are still young.

sepi said :

Anyone who can remember what their parents did with them is older than the target market. Toddlers need a fence to contain them, if the parents have more than one child, or actually want to talk to someone else.

Yeah, I am on a constant search for fenced in playgrounds. There seem to be loads of playgrounds but they are open so that there is only grass between the kids and the road/lake/whatever. As a parent of toddler twins I’m a bit paranoid that they’re going to run off in different directions so all I really want is fences round the playgrounds. A bit like a preschool playground idea. Why are these few and far between? I’ve found a few which have 3/4 fenced and no gate. Very odd.

I have actually lost my daughter in the Belconnen Mall play area as it isn’t fully fenced and gated. I was focussed on my son and talking to another Mum and she snuck by without me noticing. She’d only gone round the corner to the coffee shop but it was incredibly scary!!! I don’t go there now.

During the week I get round this by using the back garden or going to playgroups which are inside. At the weekends my husband is with us so it’s not a problem, we just watch a child each. I can’t imagine what it would be like with another child as well though, or if you have several under 5. Fencing toddler playgrounds seems such an easy solution.

If anyone can recommend great playgrounds for toddlers that are fully fenced in and are Northside, I’d be interested to know. 🙂

sepi said :

Anyone who can remember what their parents did with them is older than the target market. Toddlers need a fence to contain them, if the parents have more than one child, or actually want to talk to someone else.

Both important points concisely put.

sepi said :

And as for Cafe Enjoy, it is hideous – a tiny fort in a fenced area th size of my bathroom, the eating area is wrapped in clear plastic, it is like a huge barn, serving mass produced muffins, and you hav to queue up to order. AWful.

Havta disagree. VALUE FOR MONEY. Sure the ambience isn’t great, but you can get out of the place without it costing $50 and the food is fine. However, it isn’t safe to leave the kiddies in the playground — right next to a car park, the gate doesn’t close and unless you’re one the outside tables you can’t see the kids.

The Bot Gardens are nice, but you have to keep an eagle eye on littles. Drowning hazard.

I’d be interested to know the ages of the OPs kids. There is definitely a real black tunnel from the 1-5 age where they need to be constantly supervised and it is pretty frankly impossible to have a sit and chat with friends. The best that can be done is have a “sacrificial adult” doing the kid wrangling.

When they get a little older it isn’t such an issue.

i suppose what I want is similar to mcdonalds – only nice.

So with some fenced in outdoor space with trees and a climbing frame, leather curved booths like on Happy Days, sophisticated food, with small options for kids, and table service. Such a place would be booked out daily I’d say. People are desperate in the inner north. LIbrary time for under twos is standing room only. There is nowhere to go – they keep building units on all the open space.

Anyone who can remember what their parents did with them is older than the target market. Toddlers need a fence to contain them, if the parents have more than one child, or actually want to talk to someone else.

And as for Cafe Enjoy, it is hideous – a tiny fort in a fenced area th size of my bathroom, the eating area is wrapped in clear plastic, it is like a huge barn, serving mass produced muffins, and you hav to queue up to order. AWful.

neanderthalsis said :

It sounds like what you want is a McDonalds… I pity your children being that wrapped in cotton wool.

When I were a lad, my parents took me to the park. I played, the folks sat at tables, drank tea and read the paper. Quite often we went to the beach or to one of the many national parks/state forests that are scattered around the part of QLD I grew up in. If it was too cold or wet we stayed at home. There was no expectation that that entertainment and cheap food would be laid on for us. We packed a picnic and took a thermos of tea. We went for walks, bike rides, sat and talked/ate. It was relatively cheap, just the cost of a few sandwiches and tea or cordial made at home and packed in the esky plus fuel costs to get to wherever we went.

I would suggest you forget about free wifi, don’t fret about the skinny soy latte and whether little Tarquin will fall over and hurt himself on the nasty tan bark and go out and explore the Canberra surrounds. Go to Tidbinbilla or drive out to Wee Jasper. Take a longer trip down through Kangaroo Valley or to Jarvis Bay. Ride around the lake, feed the ducks, eat ice cream at the Carillon. The opportunities are endless and your kidlets will enjoy the change.

+1. Great ideas there.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

well done everyone who has slapped down the OP for the outrageous notion that they would like to be able to go somewhere where the kids can play safely and has decent food.

Seriously, get a life people.

Yeah, but I think we all unfortunately knew what flavour of response this post would mostly get on RA… Kinda sad really.
Maybe they report on ACT twitterers was right! Perhaps we Canberrans are a bunch of depressed, negative and agressive people…?! hahaha! Chalk up another win for scientific study! 🙂

Postalgeek said :

While we’re pissing on this idea, we should also get rid of useless nightclubs. Adults are old enough to entertain themselves in the evening and don’t need to be mollycoddled. What’s wrong with a nice game of Canasta FFS?

And there’s no need for pubs. There’s plenty of bottleshops and parks around the place.

As for the whiners who bang on about restaurants, use your own kitchen you lazy bastards. Same goes for wanky cafes. S**** me how people get so hung up about coffee made by someone else.

plus elevnty billion.

well done everyone who has slapped down the OP for the outrageous notion that they would like to be able to go somewhere where the kids can play safely and has decent food.

Seriously, get a life people.

Postalgeek said :

While we’re pissing on this idea, we should also get rid of useless nightclubs. Adults are old enough to entertain themselves in the evening and don’t need to be mollycoddled. What’s wrong with a nice game of Canasta FFS?

And there’s no need for pubs. There’s plenty of bottleshops and parks around the place.

As for the whiners who bang on about restaurants, use your own kitchen you lazy bastards. Same goes for wanky cafes. S**** me how people get so hung up about coffee made by someone else.

Haha! That made me lol.

TheDancingDjinn said :

I can cook up a man feed

Next time I’m feeling a bit cannibally, can I drop around?

While we’re pissing on this idea, we should also get rid of useless nightclubs. Adults are old enough to entertain themselves in the evening and don’t need to be mollycoddled. What’s wrong with a nice game of Canasta FFS?

And there’s no need for pubs. There’s plenty of bottleshops and parks around the place.

As for the whiners who bang on about restaurants, use your own kitchen you lazy bastards. Same goes for wanky cafes. S**** me how people get so hung up about coffee made by someone else.

I’d suggest that what you are after does not exist. I think you need a little DIY: find the things you want and combine them yourself.

Yes, yes. And you all walked barefoot through the snow to get to school, uphill both ways and you make your own kids’ shoes from possum skin and your kids can survive for days on a couple of apples and their own urine without whingeing.

What confuses me most is that there are so many complaining here about kids being spoiled and wrapped in cotton wool but apparently it is wrong for parents to want a place where they can have some fun while their kids play. Because apparently parents have to adapt to their kids’ needs but not vice versa? Make up your minds people. Or find something else to feel superior about because it’s not making any sense.

OP, let us know if you ever do go ahead with this. I reckon it’s a real niche in the market in Canberra and I’ll be there with bells on.

EvanJames said :

I don’t recall my parents ever whinging about stuff like this… but that was back in the days where you worked things out for yourself, I guess, and kids didn’t have to be waited on hand and foot and wrapped in cotton wool.

Its interesting how times they have a changed. Agree with this sentiment. I have 4 littl’uns and if my kids are happy I am happy. So I end up in playgrounds (ample in ACT) with a packed lunch or pop into a cafe afterwards for a feed. I do believe that there is a market for pampering mum and dad while the kids stay safe though. Of an evening we have a friendly baby-sitter and we tend to reserve our special occassions for those times. Good luck

It sounds like what you want is a McDonalds… I pity your children being that wrapped in cotton wool.

When I were a lad, my parents took me to the park. I played, the folks sat at tables, drank tea and read the paper. Quite often we went to the beach or to one of the many national parks/state forests that are scattered around the part of QLD I grew up in. If it was too cold or wet we stayed at home. There was no expectation that that entertainment and cheap food would be laid on for us. We packed a picnic and took a thermos of tea. We went for walks, bike rides, sat and talked/ate. It was relatively cheap, just the cost of a few sandwiches and tea or cordial made at home and packed in the esky plus fuel costs to get to wherever we went.

I would suggest you forget about free wifi, don’t fret about the skinny soy latte and whether little Tarquin will fall over and hurt himself on the nasty tan bark and go out and explore the Canberra surrounds. Go to Tidbinbilla or drive out to Wee Jasper. Take a longer trip down through Kangaroo Valley or to Jarvis Bay. Ride around the lake, feed the ducks, eat ice cream at the Carillon. The opportunities are endless and your kidlets will enjoy the change.

dtc said :

Do any of the critics have children? If they do, do they have friends?

Yes.

I’m really sorry to have to say this, but if you can’t figure out how to have children and have a life, it’s most definitely *not* because there aren’t suitable venues.

National film & sound archive, nma, Nga, oph, lake, com park and a million other options… Need to explore more & complain less

plus i can surf the net outside with my laptop and very good network set up and my kindle is the greatest invention ever made 😀 relax for mummy – kids run wild

dtc said :

Do any of the critics have children? If they do, do they have friends?

The OPs point was entirely reasonable. You want to meet friends, at a cafe (like ‘normal’ people) but be able to take your kids along and have them do something. You dont want to be cleaning your house and cooking your own food, or dragging possibly kidless friends into the wilds of Tidbinbilla or Questacon so you can have a chat.

Its not about finding somewhere to entertain your kids. Its about participating in life as an adult, which involves not having to deal with kids whining and climbing over tables and yelling and being the subject of complaints from people much like the critics in this thread

I have children, and funnily enough i was a child once too not long ago. Why not cook my own food – people are on here about how crap the coffe is and food is always bland or not well cooked. I can cook up a man feed and my coffe is freekin awesome! – investing in your own backyard is the only idea i have where i get everything done the way i like it. and i dont have t put up with dicks! and thier “jayydenn’s”

Botanic gardens has a nice grassy knoll just begging to be rolled down, situated right next to a reasonable cafe. No entertainment though, just plenty of space in sylvan surrounds.

Like Watson, if I were to look at trying a new venture, it would be hard to go past Weston Park. The existing facilities were a favourite timewaster with my kids when they were little. With a good cafe, (incorporating indoor/outdoor space that brings the surrounds in) and the addition of a more secure playground for the under fives, it would be a winner.

Jim Jones said :

madamcholet said :

For clarification, the OP knows of Questacon, parks and what our parents used to do. However the OP is looking for something that she believes does not exist that is a good mix of adult requirements and kiddy requirements. It’s not a substitute for looking after one’s child, merely a place to go and meet friends that doesn’t require an inordinate amount of attention to attractions such as at Questacon, and is still nice to be at. I was thinking that it is a cafe type environment with no entry fees that is a very kid friendly environment. It’s not necessarily a dedicated indoor place, more predominantly outdoor, with great outdoor play areas that are useable winter or summer.

Those who decry it will clearly not be patrons, for which I will be thankful.

Oh just go hire a nanny already FFS.

This may very well be a first, but I agree with Jim Jones. My parents took me to parks and playgrounds, played sport on the oval/basketball court with me, took me to museums, the pool, events, the mall (when I was a bit older) and on the occasions when they were busy or couldn’t, I would ride my bike, play with my siblings, play sport with mates, or find other ways to entertain myself. If they really needed some time to themselves then I got to hang at a friend’s house or even have a sleepover.

dtc said :

Do any of the critics have children? If they do, do they have friends?

The OPs point was entirely reasonable. You want to meet friends, at a cafe (like ‘normal’ people) but be able to take your kids along and have them do something. You don’t want to be cleaning your house and cooking your own food, or dragging possibly kidless friends into the wilds of Tidbinbilla or Questacon so you can have a chat.

Its not about finding somewhere to entertain your kids. Its about participating in life as an adult, which involves not having to deal with kids whining and climbing over tables and yelling and being the subject of complaints from people much like the critics in this thread

Sounds like what you are after is a baby sitter. You have kids, entertain them. And wow, the “wilds of Tidbinbilla”??? It’s the best place for kids (admittedly more accessible from sth Canberra), i no longer live in Canberra, & miss weekends at Tidbinbilla, yeah we used to ask friends & kids their & all had a had a great time kids can run wild, all have a bbq, fresh air, even in the wilds of winter, just rug up, wont kill them!!! It makes for tired happy & hardy kids, believe me! As for winter, trying to crack the ice on the river at Molonglo Gorge is great for kids. So here is my advice, pack a thermos & some sangers, head to Tidbinbilla, pack a thermos & a picnic & head to the Cotter, head to the botanic gardens, head to Black Mtn Peninsula, head to Kambah playground, head to Woods Reserve, take them on an easy 6km walk to Yankee Hat, (yes my kids did this at age 4 & 5, with help), IMHO Canberra is overflowing with healthy, fun, FREE, stimulating, adult friendly (f you wanna set an example for your kids as being an active participator, not just a coffee sipper) and when i asked my adult friends to come along, they thought it was great, (wow “not just another coffee/play/chat date). Just try it 🙂

I have two toddlers but I’m not sure this is something I’d visit on a regular basis. I think it would really come down to cost to be honest.

I find there’s quite a lot to do in Canberra, which can vary from either free or really cheap to relatively expensive. To be honest I’m not (and I’ve never been) a big frequenter of cafes anyway, so I’d probably still opt for options like the botanic gardens, parks etc.

You could always invite your friends over and make them a cuppa while you watch the kids play in the backyard.

when I was a kid, we would go for “drives” almost every weekend. We would drive here. there and everywhere, stop, have some lunch, have a play, go home. As much as I bemoaned going when I was a surly teenager, we saw and did plenty of cool stuff.

Pick a road, get in the car, go for it. Not everything on this earth has to be provided for you or cost an arm and a leg.

Do any of the critics have children? If they do, do they have friends?

The OPs point was entirely reasonable. You want to meet friends, at a cafe (like ‘normal’ people) but be able to take your kids along and have them do something. You dont want to be cleaning your house and cooking your own food, or dragging possibly kidless friends into the wilds of Tidbinbilla or Questacon so you can have a chat.

Its not about finding somewhere to entertain your kids. Its about participating in life as an adult, which involves not having to deal with kids whining and climbing over tables and yelling and being the subject of complaints from people much like the critics in this thread

I suspect in this day and age the insurance premiums for a kid’s play area would be prohibitive. If TAMS had a clue they’d spend a bit of money on Weston Park.

TheDancingDjinn said :

May i suggest investing in doing up your own backyard? – cool climbing/ play centre things can be bought from bunnings – they look great!. a gazeebo and some nice outdoor furniture? personally i would rather spend heaps doing that so i dont have to bother with assholes i don’t want to be near, i can regulate who comes in. Other than that an old pearl of wisdom from mum ” your only bored if your a boring person”!

+1 we had our backyard remodeled, put up a tree swing put in a great riding track but there are costs.it is worth it. We haven’t looked back..Although we are content to live in a smaller house for the privilege.

Cafe Injoy at Federation Square? A little fenced in play area for kids and tables and chairs with service for the adults.

May i suggest investing in doing up your own backyard? – cool climbing/ play centre things can be bought from bunnings – they look great!. a gazeebo and some nice outdoor furniture? personally i would rather spend heaps doing that so i dont have to bother with assholes i don’t want to be near, i can regulate who comes in. Other than that an old pearl of wisdom from mum ” your only bored if your a boring person”!

Having kids means your life changes. I’d suggest going with the flow rather than fighting it.

madamcholet said :

For clarification, the OP knows of Questacon, parks and what our parents used to do. However the OP is looking for something that she believes does not exist that is a good mix of adult requirements and kiddy requirements. It’s not a substitute for looking after one’s child, merely a place to go and meet friends that doesn’t require an inordinate amount of attention to attractions such as at Questacon, and is still nice to be at. I was thinking that it is a cafe type environment with no entry fees that is a very kid friendly environment. It’s not necessarily a dedicated indoor place, more predominantly outdoor, with great outdoor play areas that are useable winter or summer.

Those who decry it will clearly not be patrons, for which I will be thankful.

Oh just go hire a nanny already FFS.

s-s-a said :

Canberra has a distinct lack of places where you can take your young’uns at the weekend

That is BS. You are expecting one venue to fulfil a million functions. Canberra has a myriad of venues that meet all of your requirements, however not all at the same time.

+ 1

There are so many places to take kids in Canberra that the problem is actually deciding on an option.

National museum of Australia, and a thermos/packed lunch?

tidbinbilla nature reserve, and a thermos/packed lunch?

For clarification, the OP knows of Questacon, parks and what our parents used to do. However the OP is looking for something that she believes does not exist that is a good mix of adult requirements and kiddy requirements. It’s not a substitute for looking after one’s child, merely a place to go and meet friends that doesn’t require an inordinate amount of attention to attractions such as at Questacon, and is still nice to be at. I was thinking that it is a cafe type environment with no entry fees that is a very kid friendly environment. It’s not necessarily a dedicated indoor place, more predominantly outdoor, with great outdoor play areas that are useable winter or summer.

Those who decry it will clearly not be patrons, for which I will be thankful.

Pooks said :

Um, are you serious? Go to Questacon and take a thermos and a sandwich. The whole family will have fun there for hours.

Sure, lets fork out torist dollars for the whole family every weekend, and still not get a moment to put the feet up!

I think the OP is looking for something Like McDonalds, but with food, and table service.

You know, a nice cafe, with the playground of a fast food joind bolted onto the side of it.

I don’t recall my parents ever whinging about stuff like this… but that was back in the days where you worked things out for yourself, I guess, and kids didn’t have to be waited on hand and foot and wrapped in cotton wool.

Canberra has a distinct lack of places where you can take your young’uns at the weekend

That is BS. You are expecting one venue to fulfil a million functions. Canberra has a myriad of venues that meet all of your requirements, however not all at the same time.

Winter does not require inside activities unless it’s pouring rain or gale force winds. Neither does summer unless it’s extreme heat wave (although shade between 11-3pm is muchly appreciated).

You might be targetting people who actually like indoor play centres though, of which I am not one.

TL:DR

Sheesh, take the kids somewhere to play/run/kick a ball/ride then take them to a cafe.

Pooks said :

Um, are you serious? Go to Questacon and take a thermos and a sandwich. The whole family will have fun there for hours.

+ 1 was just thinking this.
They have good staff (in the exhibitions) and provide some level of cleanliness – we always seem to bring home a virus from kidcity et al

I had a conversation once with someone at a party – with other adults – who talked at me non-stop about nothing other than her baby.

You kind of sound like that person.

I think there are heaps of great places in Canberra! The Botanic Gardens is good, Ricardos is right next to a playground which is wonderfully convenient, as is Rodney’s as someone else suggested. Really though, you need to think about trying to balance your needs with the needs of your child / children, and contemplate maybe a park – wanting to regularly go out and relax might be expecting a bit too much! It really is important to consider the impact on other people while you relax.

I have been wanting to do that ever since I took my daughter back to the playground in the European town where I grew up. The playground is big, in a massive park. And the cafe/restaurant rocks. We once had lunch and dinner there on the same day. They also serve alcohol, but that’s Europe for you, would never go down here.

The spot I would choose if I had any capital to invest is Weston park. I thought the miniature railway was going to be up for sale a while back, but I don’t think that ended up happening. It’s a dump so would need considerable investment.

Children are for life, not just for Christmas.

Um, are you serious? Go to Questacon and take a thermos and a sandwich. The whole family will have fun there for hours.

sepi said :

for mine:
– cute booth seating
– a fenced out door area with pool gate
– nice snack food – wedges, fruit toast, mini ice cream cones etc
– table service

Except for the table service, that sounds suspiciously like McDonalds!

It does sound like you’re maybe aiming too high. Just how long do you want the littlies to play by themselves? Any more than 20 mins is really stretching it.

You can’t see it from this review, but the Brown Sugar Cafe in Taihape (NZ) is brilliant. Completely fenced yard, lovely garden to explore, and a really nice big clean sandpit with interesting toys. Not hard to do, but just enough to keep the little kids amused.

Maybe Rodney’s fits the bill? Don’t know, haven’t tried it.

A place where other parents moderated the behaviour, or in some cases mereley observed, their red cordial hyped up thug children would be nice.

OH totally.

Although everyone says they are going to open a kid friendly decent restaurant when they have their first, and noone seems to do it – but please – go for it!!!

for mine:
– cute booth seating
– a fenced out door area with pool gate
– nice snack food – wedges, fruit toast, mini ice cream cones etc
– table service

Strangely we found a great club at BArgo near sydney that was fantastic – a huge kids fort type thing with slides and music pipe etc, all inside a high fence with gate. Also a filed of grass for runnning wild, and drinks and food with table service all brought outside with a smile.

Sadly the food was ordinary – otherwise we’d probably go out of our way to go there again. It was fantastic to relax with some food and real drinks while the kids actually enjoyed themselves too.

Southern Cross Club or Hellenic Club. Both have good kids play areas that are clearly defined. Both offer coffee and snacks at reasonable prices (there’s a free basic coffee machine at Sthn Cross). Neither is busy during non-meal times.

I have a couple of young-uns – 4 and 6. This wouldn’t be for me. The sort of thing you’re talking about would be extremely expensive, given that those dodgy indoor play centres with almost no staff cost an arm and a leg. Include staff to supervise the children, and higher quality everything, and the cost would be well beyond my budget. It might be something I’d do once, but not regularly.

However, I think it’s a good idea if there’s enough people out there with the money to spend. My friends and I have often bemoaned the fact that if you’re looking for, say, morning tea with mates, you generally have to choose either a kidspace or an adult space. There’s really nothing that does both.

If you were going to do it I reckon a cafe where nothing is fried would be an excellent step in the right direction. For some reason most place that cater for kids think that unless it’s fried they won’t eat it. Nuggets. Chips. Fried fish. Ugh. It’s repulsive. As for play, exploratory things are great – fairy gardens, dinosaur digs, pirate ships, water play, fish, interactive art (like drawing/ modelling clay/ painting places). I’ll just shut up now.