Play Areas at the Malls

We have two shopping malls in easy driving distance, The Valler River Mall here in Eugene and the Gateway Mall in Springfield. Each has a play area for young children, a feature I do not recall seeing at any UK mall. Now Edward is crawling, we're taking him to the play areas occasionally to see other children at play, and have a little play himself.

At the Valley River Mall there is this O shape in Oregon Ducks colors. Ed was interested, and children climbing on it were interested in Edward, but he never quite got up the nerve to go through.

This ring, and the other play items, a lighthouse with a slide, a train, a car and a seal, are all covered in squishy plastic so they're slightly padded.

 A couple of days later at the Gateway Mall Edward did crawl through this log (with a bear sitting on top), and appeared to enjoy himself. Having mum at the other end to encourage him helped.

Both play areas have benches round the outside for mums and dads to sit with their shopping, and shoe lockers under the benches as everyone is supposed to take their shoes off while in the play area. In this shot you can see a bridge and a 'stone' tunnel, two other play items with climb over and under potential. The areas are supposed to be limited to children under 42" tall, but at this one there were a couple of older tweenies running around, much to my chagrin, so we weren't able to let Ed explore too freely.

All this is occuring during wonder week 37 (not Ed's actual 37th week of external life btw), which makes Ed more prone to clinginess, so he was very happy to have mum there for extra reassurance. The entire floor area of the Gateway Mall play area is thickly cushioned carpet, whereas the Valley River Mall is only carpeted, but the Mall is a slightly longer drive from our house.

Both Malls have family restrooms with changing tables and enough room to park a stroller inside the restroom, and the Gateway Mall has a nursing room. This is Ed relaxing after a feed in the Gateway Mall nursing room.

We took Ed round the Gateway Mall on his little red car, which always elicits grins from moms, and envy from other children. At 22lbs he's heavy enough that carrying him any great distance in no joke. Beth told me that as I pushed Ed along every mom who passed by turned to give him another look, because he rates high on the cuteness scale. I think they were checking me out.

All this activity is very tiring, and Ed usually falls asleep on the way home, in his extremely comfortable car seat.