Mum left in tears after autistic son was told to leave soft play
A distraught mother said she was devastated when her autistic son was left in tears at a soft play centre.
Four-year-old Toby Heal and his mum were asked to leave when he removed his socks before entering the play area.
His mum Rachel, 36, had taken Toby to the Little Dragons Softplay in Blaenau Ffestiniog on the Thursday before the Easter holidays for a fun day out.
Rachel said: "As soon as we go into reception, Toby covers his ears, a normal response for him entering a new environment but he was happy enough as we signed in, paid, and were let through. Toby straight away runs towards the play area, takes off his socks and shoes without hesitation dives right in and starts playing.
"We ran up and down the climbing frame, Toby smiling and laughing as I was chasing him."
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Young Toby is autistic and non-verbal, but is still very active and enjoys being active jumping, bouncing and spinning.
Little Toby loves playing (LittleDragonsFacebook/WALES NEWS SERVICE)
The owner said: 'Mrs Heal has been in the play centre before and is aware that socks must be worn by children and adults' (LittleDragonsFacebook/WALES NEWS SERVICE)Due to his love of playing, Rachel thought the play area would be the perfect place for him. It was the first time they had visited the centre post-lockdown, North Wales Live reported.
She added: "When we came down to the ground floor of the climbing frame, I heard a man shouting in the background but thought nothing of it and carried on playing with Toby.
"Toby runs out of the playing frame onto the outer section where another parent said to me that the man shouting [the owner] wanted Toby to put on his socks.
"Immediately, I thought this might be a problem. I grabbed Toby’s socks and sat him down to put them on, just as I finished putting the second sock on, Toby takes them straight off and runs. There was no chance I was going to be able to get them on him."
Rachel was given a refund (LittleDragonsFacebook/WALES NEWS SERVICE)Rachel tried explaining the situation to the owner, but was told it simply meant Toby couldn't go in.
She continued: "Off I go to get Toby, he immediately senses I was getting him to leave and drops himself to the floor. Toby is a solid 4-year-old boy, he’s heavy and I struggle to carry him especially when he doesn’t want to leave. Knowing that he didn’t want to go, I felt myself get upset and as much as I tried to hold it in, I felt the tears building up.
"My little boy wanted to play, we had only just got there, and he was having fun."
An annoyed Rachel asked the owner for her money back, but it was offered to her "like he was doing me a favour".
As the refund was being sorted out, Toby had let himself back into the play area and Rachel had to fetch him again.
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Rachel, who made an official complaint, said: "I appreciate that socks in soft play is a request that’s asked in all soft play venues, but I also know reasonable adjustments could, should and are made for children with additional needs."
Little Dragons Softplay owner Kevin Baldwin responded saying: "Mrs Heal has been in the play centre before and is aware that socks must be worn by children and adults at all times when using the playframe. This is standard for many if not all softplay centres because of the possibility of the spread of infection and to prevent toes getting caught in safety netting.
"Many children would prefer not to wear socks and I feel unable to make exceptions to this rule as it would make it unenforceable. Mrs Heal was asked if she had considered putting tights under his clothes as we have found this to be an effective solution for many parents in this position. I include myself in this group as I had to put tights on an Autistic grandson."
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