Designing Indoor Play Areas: Why Parents Matter Too

Indoor play space designed to balance active play for children with comfort and visibility for parents.

One of the biggest mistakes many indoor play areas make is designing only for children.

At first glance, this may seem logical. After all, children are the ones playing. The equipment is sized for them, the colours are chosen to excite them, and the activities are planned around their energy and curiosity. But in focusing exclusively on children, many play areas overlook a critical stakeholder.

The parents.

In reality, indoor play areas function as parent conveniences just as much as they are children’s destinations. Parents bring their children to play with a specific set of expectations. They are looking for a space where their child can be engaged safely, while they themselves can pause, observe, and take a brief break from the demands of the day.

This context matters.

For many families, a visit to an indoor play area is not just about entertainment. It is woven into routines that include school schedules, errands, work commitments, and caregiving responsibilities. Parents are not passive bystanders. They are decision makers, time keepers, and repeat customers.

Yet many facilities fall short in acknowledging this reality.

Seating is often an afterthought. Comfort is rarely prioritised. There is little consideration for how long an adult can reasonably stay in the space without feeling physically or mentally fatigued. The environment is designed entirely around activity and stimulation, with no spaces for rest, quiet observation, or meaningful engagement for adults.

This oversight has real consequences.

When parents feel uncomfortable or bored, visits become shorter. When visits are shorter, children’s playtime is cut short as well. Reduced dwell time directly impacts the overall experience and limits revenue potential for the facility. What appears to be a design decision quickly becomes an operational and business challenge.

Designing for parents is not about distracting them from their children. It is about supporting them in their role.

A project we designed in Bengaluru, Skadoosh, addressed this challenge with intention. The play area includes a café serving hot food and beverages, separated from the play zone by a glass partition. This allows parents to sit comfortably, enjoy a moment of rest, and still maintain clear visual access to their children.

The layout of the space is organised around a central viewing zone. From this vantage point, parents can see multiple play areas without needing to constantly move, search, or hover. This reduces supervision fatigue and creates a sense of ease. Parents remain present and attentive, without being physically drained by the experience.

The result is not just longer visits, but better ones.

Children benefit from unhurried play. Parents feel supported rather than tolerated. Staff find it easier to manage supervision and flow. The space functions more smoothly, both emotionally and operationally.

At Gudgudee, every play space is designed by considering all stakeholders. Children, parents, and play supervisors are all integral to how a space succeeds. When design acknowledges the needs of each group, it creates balance.

Comfort supports patience. Visibility supports safety. Engagement supports trust.

A successful play area is not defined only by how entertained children are in the moment. It is defined by whether families feel welcome to stay, return, and build routines around the space.

When parents are cared for through design, children are given the time and freedom to truly play. And that is when a play area moves beyond being an attraction and becomes a place families genuinely value