Ball Pit - Good Idea Or Not?

[sahm1225]

What are your opinions on ball pits?

[Blackcat31]

What are your opinions on ball pits?

Had one a while ago...but don't any more because all they ever did was throw the balls and they are hard plastic so I did away with it. The idea was good but the actual use is not.

[SilverSabre25]

I have a bag of ball-pit balls that are very squishy (got 'em from Target) and will form the Superyard into a big circle and toss the balls in there. Balls are soft enough that throwing them doesn't worry me much and the kids have a blast! I need more balls though. You could also use a plastic wading pool.

We were given one of those inflatable princess ball pits for DD's bday in September and while it was MUCH loved, it got destroyed within a few days--the plastic ripped in a way that makes it impossible to fix.

[DCMomOf3]

Had one a while ago...but don't any more because all they ever did was throw the balls and they are hard plastic so I did away with it. The idea was good but the actual use is not.

this is what would happen here so I have never acquired one.

[AmandasFCC]

Yeah I can't even have balls out for them to play with without constantly having to watch for flying objects. They KNOW we do not throw in the house, but it's just far too tempting with balls! So ball play is done outside in the yard. I would never be brave enough for a ball pit.

[e.j.]

Had one a while ago...but don't any more because all they ever did was throw the balls and they are hard plastic so I did away with it. The idea was good but the actual use is not.

Same here. The kids loved it but I found that in addition to dealing with balls flying everywhere, I was picking them up from every corner of the room and slipping on them if I didn't see them.

[countrymom]

mine is outside in my enclosed porch, so I have them in a turtle sandbox. A couple of years ago someone at a yard sale sold me 500 balls for 5.00 so I have plenty.

[angelpayne24]

be ready to watch for flying objects and lots of picking them up constantly!

[E Daycare]

I have a childs pop-up tent from Ikea set up with various size balls in it and 100 small balls that I also got at target. Ive had it set up in the corner forever and the kids love it. I never have much issue with having to clean up much and if they do go crazy I have them clean up with me and turn the entrance to the wall and call it a day. I dump the balls in the sink to clean them and we are good to go.

[nannyde]

I don't have balls out in play. My rule is "no throwing" so having something that is for throwing would be confusing to them.

We pull our bin of balls out now and then and everyone sits and does "roll the ball". As soon as someone hurls one they go back into the bin for the next time.

[Sunny Day]

I had one for, literally, a few days! Kids loved it, but it drove me CRAZY! The balls were everywhere all the time, every time a kid stepped on them, the ball would squish and be destroyed and they were constantly throwing them at each other. The kids just got to rammy and ended up hurting themselves and each other. I sold mine.

[QualiTcare]

my MIL got my kids a ball pit before i even did daycare and it only lasted a few days with the two of them. they didn't want to stay inside of it and play. what they DID want to do was sit inside of it long enough to throw all of the balls (100+) OUT of it. that got old and FAST. i have one of those huge leaf gathering trash bags full of the balls in my basement that has been there a couple years. i don't even know where the actual "pit" is - and my kids have not once asked what happened to it.

hope that helps.

btw, i think the "ball pits" at mcdonald's and the like are just disgusting. kids pee, puke, you name it in those things - i've always tried to keep my kids away from ball pits in public places bc i can assure you that nobody who is getting paid minimum wage is going to take (or have) the time required to sanitize a ball pit EVER.

[Abigail]

I would try it because every group of kids is different. DON'T use a blow-up item to contain the balls in because they all rip so fast. I would use a little kid pools, even those that inflate will hold up better than what they advertise as ball pits. If it doesn't work, the balls are great to use for a game of organized toss-in-the-bucket while standing behind this line for older infants-preschool.

[WImom]

The balls are great to use on their own. We use them outside and have relay races to fill up a basket. The kids also like sorting them by colors.

I like the play yard idea and pool ideas. I think that would last alot longer than one of the blow up ones.

[snbauser]

We use the baby pools to contain them. They are not out all the time but instead brought out for something fun to do usually when we have a string of days that we can't get outside. The balls do end up everywhere, but the kids are responsible for picking them all up when we are done and cleaning up.