There is no escaping the local shopping mall. Tears and tantrums from kids, parents or both are a guaranteed side-effect of shopping.
Alarming statistics showing one in five children are injured in a retail environment, how do you juggle the shopping minefield?
motherInc.com.au went in search of smart retail outlets who are catering to parents with young children and toddlers
More and more stores and shopping centres are today focusing on child-friendly retail areas with many creating in-store creches or dedicated play areas to entertain your child while you focus on the work at hand – shopping.
Gyms were the first to acknowledge the importance of an on-site creche, but in the past few years several companies, such as Ikea, Toyota and Westpac are following suit.
Anne Doyle is a mother and co-founder of Child Friendly Solutions. The Sydney mum created her company, which designs innovative play panels for retail stores, banks, hospitals and medical centres, after her then 9-month-old daughter choked on a piece of Lego at a hairdressers.
Four years later her company has installed hundreds of play centres and panels in stores and corporate offices throughout Australia. A report she completed in conjunction with Playgroup Australia found that 98 per cent of shoppers will return to a store if there is a child-friendly area provided.
“These days, a lot of retailers see there is a need for responsible shopping and help create a safe environment for parents to shop with their kids,” Ms Doyle says. “If a store has a play area for children it creates a win/win situation because the parent can browse and shop freely and happily and the retailer gains a sale and their loyalty. In the end everyone has a happy shopping experience.”
"Shopping centres in particular are leading the child friendly retail revolution."
Steve Ogden-Barnes, programme director at the Australian Centre for Retail Studies at Melbourne's Monash University, says shopping centres in particular are leading the child friendly retail revolution.
“Over the past decade there has been a real change in the way shopping centres in particular, cater to parent shoppers,” Mr Ogden-Barnes says. “Changing stations, feeding rooms, special push buggies for kids and parent-friendly parking are all common fixtures at major shopping centres these days.
“In the past there was little choice for shoppers but today we are spoiled for choice which means the retailers really have to fight for the consumer dollar. Some, like Ikea, are really raising the bar when it comes to child-friendly shopping.
“But of course it is not economical for all retailers to create in-store creches, so they look for other ways to safely entertain kids while mum and dad shop and we are seeing more and more of this kind of thing.”
Michael Lonie, acting chief executive of the NSW Retailers Association, says factors such as a more litigious society, health and safety and cost is slowing the spread of child-friendly shopping.
“There is certainly a recognition from retailers that if they are going to attract a parent as a customer having some kind of child-friendly environment will be beneficial,” Mr Lonie says. “But many factors will limit this becoming typical, such as fear of litigation, safety concerns and, of course, cost and space issues.”
Do you provide a Child Friendly Retail environment. A protected play area or childcare? Please info@motherinc.com.au motherinc.com.au to register your business. This list will be updated regularly for readers of motherinc.com.au and remain in the online library.
LIST OF STORES WITH CHILD-FRIENDLY AREAS:
1) Ikea: Australia-wide. They have a Kid's Club for 3 to 12 year olds. Parents are given a beeper and must return to pick up their child after one hour.
2) Yummy Mummy: Paddington, NSW. Hairdresser and beauty salon offers in-house creche for customers.
3) Drop n Shop Fun Centres: Throughout Queensland. Located at many major shopping malls, these centres provide child care from $2 an hour for up to two hours.
4) Kids Central: Australia-wide. Offers an in-store play pen filled with toys to occupy children while you shop.
5) Honey Body Salon: Manly, NSW. Offers a fully-qualified child carer in-store on Mondays only.
6) Bunnings Warehouse: Australia-wide. Offer a free Kid's Playground area but children cannot be left unattended.
BELOW IS A NATIONAL LIST OF LOCATIONS WHICH HAVE PLAY PANELS AND CENTRES INSTALLED: (list courtesy of Child Friendly Solutions)
NSW
Sydney
Legal Aid
Sydney Ultrasound for Women
East
Bondi Junction
Esprit
Sydney Ultrasound for Women
Moore Park
Kitchen Connection
Randwick
Sydney Children’s Hospital
Redfern
Rhinoplay
South
Alexandria
Forty Winks
Sydney City Toyota
Style at Home
Banksia
Spotlight
Botany
Sydney Airport
Caringbah
Bova Chemist
Camera House
Forty Winks
Harvey Norman
Kitchen Connection
Run-A-Muk
The Luggage House
Cronulla
Allaccessories
Cronulla Original Surf Co
Cronulla Plaza
Northies Hotel
Rundles
Triple Bull
Two Spot Clothing
Westpac
Kirrawee
Ace Renovations
Miranda
NIB Health
Kogarah
St George Medical Centre
Sydney Ultrasound for Women
Ramsgate
Ramsgate RSL
Rosebery
NRMA Care & Repair Centre
Sutherland
Sutherland Hospital
Nthn Beaches
Brookvale
Warringah Mall Shopping Centre
Esprit
Kitchen Connection
Myer
NIB Health
Westpac
Curl Curl
Secret Women’s Business
Manly
Dr James Ferry
Wicked Candles
Manly Hospital
Mona Vale
Pittwater Plaza Shopping Centre
Mona Vale Hospital
North
Artarmon
Eurocars Mazda
Chatswood
NIB Health
Sydney Ultrasound for Women
Westfield
Homebush
Pairs Footwear DFO
Hornsby
Kitchen Connection
Westfield Shopping Centre
Roseville
Watkins Coffey Martin
Ryde
Macquarie Shopping Centre
St Leonards
Royal North Shore Hospital
Willoughby
Kitchen Connection
North West
Castle Hill
Heartland Holden
Sydney Ultrasound for Women
Your Home Centre
North Rocks
Westfield Shopping Centre
Pennant Hills
Doors Plus
Richmond
Teach-A-Tot Preschool
Seven Hills
Wiggly Play Centre
West Ryde
Koorong
West
Auburn
Kitchen Connection
Bass Hill
Just Cuts
Birrong
Birrong Bowling & Sports Club
Blacktown
Kitchen Connection
NIB Health
Burwood
Sydney Ultrasound for Women
Westfield Shopping Centre
Granville
Doors Plus
Minchinbury
Doors Plus
Parramatta
Terry Shields Toyota
Penrith
Kitchen Connection
Koorong
Penrith Valley Tourist Information Centre
Silverwater
Sidgreaves Group
Smithfield
DMS
Westmead
Westmead Children's Hospital
South West
Bankstown
Bob Jane T-Marts
Centro Shopping Centre
Campbelltown
Bob Jane T-Marts
Earlwood
Club Kid Playhouse
Menai
Westpac
Country
Armidale
Koorong
Cooma
Bombala Street Surgery
Cessnock
NIB Health
Koorong
Edgeworth
Edgeworth Child Care
Green Hills
Stockland Shopping Centre
Hamilton
Hunter City Auto Group
Kotara
Kitchen Connection
Westfield
Lake Haven
Lake Haven Shopping Centre
Lake Macquarie
Centro Lake Macquarie Fair
Maitland
Centro Maitland Hunter Mall
Doors Plus
Merewether
Sharpe’s Nursery
Nowra
North Nowra Medical Centre
Port Macquarie
Koorong
Raymond Terrace
DOCS
Tamworth
Kitchen Connection
Tamworth Shopping Centre
Terrigal
NIB Health
Tuggerah
Westfield Shopping Centre
Tumbarumba
RD Scragg Surgery
Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga Marketplace VICTORIA
East
Blackburn South
Koorong
Chirnside Park
Saddle Up Saddleworld
Doncaster
McDonalds
Stockland - The Pines Shopping Centre
Ferntree Gully
Time Out For Kids
Knox
Knox City Shopping Centre
Montrose
Swansea Road Clinic
Mooroolbark
Ace Space
Nunawading
Toyota
Richmond
Cotton On Kids
Ringwood
Centro Ringwood Shopping Centre
Wantirna
Knox Shopping Centre
Watsonia
Concord Playgroup
South East
Centrelink – South East Region
Chadstone
Chadstone Shopping Centre
Bizzarr Beads
Clayton
Niki Office Furniture
Dandenong
Dandenong Plaza Shopping Centre
Malvern
Malvern Central Shopping Centre
Louie's Deli & Cafe
Little Paddington Child Care
Moorabbin
Pairs - DFO
Mornington
Centro Shopping Centre
Narre Warren
Webb St Dental Surgery
West
Altona
Circle Surgery
Melton
Sertoli Services
Woodgrove Shopping Centre
Carpet Court
Taylors Lakes
Eye Clarity
Tullamarine
Gladstone Park Medical Clinic
Country
Albury
Forty Winks
Ballarat
Cool Cuts 4 Kids
UFS Dispensaries
Daylesford
Daylesford General Practice
Geelong
Forty Winks
Wodonga
Blazing Stump Hotel
QUEENSLAND
North
Cairns
The Doctors
Toowoomba
Koorong
Townsville
Forty Winks
Virginia
Shopfitting Solutions
Sunshine Coast
Mooloolaba
Koorong
Sippy Downs
Chancellor Park Services
Brisbane
Pairs - DFO
Koorong
Booval
Harvey World Travel
Bundamba
Ian Boettcher Motors
Capalaba
Forty Winks
Indooroopilly
Rabbit Photo
Riverview
Riverview Child Care Centre
Warner
Warner Family Medical Practice
Gold Coast
Ashmore
Spotlight
Victoria Point
National Australia Bank
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide
Angus & Robertson Bookstore
Koorong
Pairs Harbourtown
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Shopping Centre
Greenwith
Greenwith Child Care Centre & Kindergarten
Hallett Cove
Super Play Café
Northgate
Northgate Childrens Centre
TASMANIA
Hobart
Koorong
Mures Fish Lower Deck
Camera House
Moonah
Bob Jane T-Marts
Launceston
Koorong
Ulverstone
Victoria Street Clinic
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Casuarina
Casuarina Square Shopping Centre
Milner
Pairs
Nightcliff
Nightcliff Medical Centre
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Perth
Koorong
Pairs Harbourtown
Melville
Me Day Care
North
Morely
Centro Galleria
ACT
Belconnen
Westfield Shopping Centre
Civic Square
Develins
Fyshwick
Barlens Event Hire
Kitchen Connection
Koorong
Shop Basics
Garran
Child at Risk Assessment Unit
Gunghalin
Chief Ministers Department
Tower 7
Holt
Cranleigh School
Queanbeyan
Amcal Pharmacy
Spotlight
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