These Soft Play Terms of Use (“Terms of Use”) apply whenever Joyful Little Spaces supplies soft play equipment, ball pits, mats, foam shapes, play fences, slides, toys or related hire items for an event. The customer/hirer must comply with these Terms of Use and must ensure that all children, guests, parents, guardians, carers and supervising adults comply with them during the hire period.
These Terms of Use operate together with Joyful Little Spaces’ Terms & Conditions, Customer Safety Rules, and Risk Acknowledgement, Safety Undertaking and Release. Nothing in these Terms of Use is intended to exclude, restrict or modify any rights, guarantees, remedies or liabilities that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.
1. Adult supervision is required at all times
The equipment must be actively supervised by a responsible adult at all times while it is in use or accessible. Supervision must be close, continuous and active. It is not enough for an adult to be nearby but distracted, absent, socialising, consuming alcohol, using a phone or otherwise not watching the children.
The supervising adult must stop unsafe behaviour immediately, including rough play, pushing, climbing, throwing balls or toys, flips, jumps from height or misuse of the equipment.
2. Age and size limits
Unless Joyful Little Spaces agrees otherwise in writing, soft play equipment is intended for children aged 0 to 3 years.
Older children, teenagers and adults must not sit, stand, jump, climb, lie, play or place weight on soft play equipment unless Joyful Little Spaces has confirmed that the relevant item is suitable for that use.
Children must be separated by age and size where necessary to avoid larger children knocking, falling onto or injuring smaller children. Babies and toddlers must be closely watched in and around ball pits, slides, steps and enclosed play areas.
3. Ball pit and enclosed play area warning
Ball pits and enclosed play areas can create risks for very young children, including suffocation, entrapment, falls, collisions and a child being hidden from view. Children must be supervised closely whenever they use a ball pit or enclosed play area.
- Do not allow children to bury themselves or other children under balls, mats, foam pieces or toys.
- Do not allow children to jump into a ball pit or throw balls at other children, adults, furniture, decorations or animals.
- Remove a child immediately if they appear distressed, hidden from view, trapped, too hot, unwell, tired or overwhelmed.
4. Shoes, clothing and personal items
Shoes must be removed before using the equipment. Socks should be worn where practical. The following items must not be worn or used on or near the equipment:
- high heels, boots, cleats, skates or hard-soled shoes;
- sharp jewellery, badges, pins, belts, costumes or accessories that may puncture, tear, mark or damage the equipment;
- keys, toys, sticks, pens, pencils, scissors, cutlery or any sharp or hard objects;
- wet, muddy, sandy or dirty clothing; and
- any item that may stain, scratch, pierce, cut, burn or otherwise damage the equipment.
5. Food, beverages, stains and messy products
To keep the equipment hygienic, safe and suitable for children, the following are not permitted on or near the equipment:
- food, beverages, lollies, chewing gum or ice cream;
- face paint, body paint, henna, temporary tattoos, makeup, sunscreen that has not dried, oils or lotions;
- glitter, confetti, slime, kinetic sand, playdough, bubbles, chalk, crayons, markers, pens or craft products;
- streamers, balloons with dye, colour powder, smoke effects or anything likely to stain or mark the equipment; and
- messy play, water play or sensory play unless Joyful Little Spaces has approved it in writing.
If equipment is returned stained, excessively dirty, wet, sticky, contaminated or damaged, cleaning, repair or replacement costs may be charged under the Terms & Conditions.
6. No rough play or unsafe use
The following unsafe behaviour is not permitted:
- No pushing, tackling, wrestling, flips, handstands, cartwheels, gymnastics, acrobatics or jumping from height.
- No climbing over play fences, gates, barriers, slides or soft play structures unless the item is designed for climbing.
- No standing, bouncing or jumping on foam blocks, mats, ball pit walls, fences or play structures in a way that may cause falls or damage.
- No throwing balls, toys, foam items, mats, fencing or other equipment.
- No moving, rearranging, stacking, dragging or separating equipment after setup.
- No use while sick, injured, excessively tired, distressed, unsafe or unable to be properly supervised.
7. Do not move or alter the setup
Once Joyful Little Spaces has set up the equipment, the hirer, guests and children must not move, alter, dismantle, reconfigure or relocate the equipment unless Joyful Little Spaces gives express permission. This includes mats, fences, ball pits, slides, steps, foam shapes, signage and decorative items.
8. Outdoor use
Soft play may only be used outdoors if Joyful Little Spaces has agreed that the proposed outdoor location is suitable. Joyful Little Spaces may require the setup area to be fully undercover or otherwise protected from sun, rain, wind, heat, moisture, mud, damp grass or other unsafe conditions.
- Use must stop immediately if the equipment becomes too hot, wet, slippery, unstable, dirty, wind affected or otherwise unsafe.
- The equipment must not be used during rain, storms, strong wind, extreme heat or other unsafe weather conditions.
- BBQs, heaters, candles, fire pits, sparklers, cigarettes, vapes and other heat or flame sources must be kept well away from the equipment.
9. No smoking, pets or hazardous items
The following must be kept away from the equipment at all times:
- smoking, vaping, cigarettes, lighters, matches, candles, sparklers, fireworks, fire pits, heaters and BBQs;
- pets and animals;
- glass, sharp objects and chemicals; and
- alcohol spills, food spills, mud, sand, water and other contaminants.
10. Cleaning, hygiene and damage
The hirer must take reasonable care to keep the equipment clean, dry and undamaged during the hire period. Joyful Little Spaces may charge reasonable cleaning, repair or replacement costs where equipment is returned stained, damaged, missing, contaminated, excessively dirty or otherwise not in the condition supplied, subject to the Terms & Conditions and any rights that cannot be excluded under applicable law.
11. Illness, injury and unsafe conditions
The hirer must stop use immediately if any child is injured, unwell, distressed, overheated or unsafe, or if any equipment appears damaged, unstable, excessively hot, wet, slippery, contaminated or otherwise unsafe. Any injury, damage, unsafe condition, incident or near miss should be reported to Joyful Little Spaces as soon as reasonably possible.