​Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Socks are required for all children and adults in the play areas. Please find a staff member for assistance if you forgot socks. This policy is strongly enforced to maintain a clean environment for our children. -Participating Adults: Any adult entering the dedicated baby/toddler area on the green mat and/or the custom modular play structure. Bare feet and shoes are not allowed for the safety and cleanliness, especially for our crawlers. -Our outdoor patio & Dino Digs require SHOES to be on. This policy is also strongly enforced to maintain a clean INDOOR environment for our children.Article: As the weather warms up, it’s tempting to kick off your shoes and feel the breeze on your feet – we get it. But in soft play, “shoes off, socks on” isn’t just a quirky house rule. It’s an essential part of keeping the environment clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone who comes through the doors – children and adults alike.This isn’t optional. Wearing socks forms part of each center's formal risk assessment as a factor mitigating risk which in itself is normally a requirement of insurance cover. It’s a basic but crucial part of how operators manage hygiene and reduce the risk of injury in busy, high-energy spaces designed for play.That’s why the Association of Indoor Play advises all Operators to be consistent – and yes, strict – when it comes to enforcing this policy. It’s not about being fussy or over-the-top. It’s about maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and safety in places specifically built for children’s wellbeing.Jon Dalton, Managing Director of The Play Inspection Company and Executive Committee Member of the Association of Indoor Play, explains:“Soft play operators can and do put every possible measure in place to de-risk their environments, from regular inspections to comprehensive safety protocols. But safety is a shared responsibility. Rules like wearing socks aren’t arbitrary – they’re part of a carefully considered approach to managing risk. If customers ignore them, they’re not just putting themselves at risk, but everyone else too.”The hygiene side is fairly straightforward. Bare feet – while often adorable – can carry and spread unpleasant things like verrucas, athlete’s foot, and fungal infections. Socks act as a simple barrier to help reduce that spread, particularly in high-traffic areas like ball pits, soft mats and climbing frames where feet are everywhere.Then there’s the safety side. It might sound counterintuitive, but bare feet can actually increase the chance of injury in soft play. When children use their feet to slow down on slides – as they instinctively do – bare skin can grip the surface too much and cause them to jolt forward. The result?Sudden tumbles, awkward landings, and a much higher risk of bumps, bruises or worse. Bare toes are also more likely to get caught in netting or between parts of equipment.