Soft Play

Soft play is a padded indoor or sheltered play area for babies and toddlers, filled with foam shapes, mats, ramps and soft toys. Little ones can crawl, climb, roll and bounce in a space designed to be gentle on small bodies. It's a cosy place to play, explore and meet other little ones, with grown-ups close by.

Most soft play areas are built from chunky foam blocks covered in wipe-clean vinyl, in bright colours and simple shapes. You'll often find steps and ramps to climb, tunnels to crawl through, rockers, ride-on toys and soft balls to throw and roll. Padded mats make a soft landing for sitting, tumbling and rolling. Blocks can be stacked, pushed and knocked down again, which never seems to get old.

It's all about exploring what their bodies can do. Crawling up a ramp, balancing on a wobbly block or stepping down a soft stair are big adventures when you're small. Bright colours, different shapes and interesting textures give curious minds plenty to discover. For babies who aren't walking yet, soft mats are a comfy place for tummy time, rolling and first crawls. Confident toddlers can test their climbing, sliding and balancing and get a little braver each time. Playing alongside other children is a gentle first step towards sharing and taking turns too.

Yes. Soft play is for playing together, so a grown-up stays with their child the whole time. Sit on the mats, build a tower, roll a ball back and forth or help with a tricky climb. Little ones often find their confidence by watching a grown-up have a go first. It's also a lovely sheltered spot for a calm moment when the rest of the day feels busy.

Comfy clothes that are easy to move in are best. Soft play is usually a shoes-off space, so socks are a good idea. Take off necklaces, hair clips or anything with small parts that could come loose, and bring a drink and a spare nappy for longer visits.

You might also like Sand Pit, Wooden Play Sets and Musical Play Area.

See all Camp Kindling activities