Have Your Kids Been to Willow Bend or Stonebriar Playarea Lately?

My daughter is two, and we have been going to both play areas several times a week with no problems.

I do Strollerfit at Stonebriar 3x/wk, and we go to the play area after, and then some evening, we go to Willowbend since it is closer to my home and it is a great evening activity when the weather is really cold/rainy, etc. I have no complaints.

Also, I have been kicked out of the play area on many occasioons for them to clean it at like 6p.

I really can't complain about the illness factor that you all report. I know that some women in my playgroup have mentioned concerns about their kiddos getting sick and having just been to the play area. But we have not had anything like that.

I thought these places were a godsend when i needed to enterain my toddler in bad weather....But so do 1000 other mommies...
I know we can't put our kids in bubbles, but the things i've seen there.......It's like when they put a petri-dish of bacteria under a microscope....just picture one of these playgrounds in a petri-dish under the scope...
A while back our playgroup went and alot of kids caught that virus that occurs when barefeet and socks come into contact with the mouth... Bunch of our kids got blisters, in their mouths, and throats, plus horrible sores and blisters on their feet and hands... THis was at collin creek mall about 2 years ago.
Just one of those things in childhood that you can either steer clearly away from, or take extra precautions when cleaning up your kid after playing in one of these places.
Same thing goes for the mcdonalds playground gyms.....

Willowbend cleans frequently. We usually are booted out so they can clean. You can call the mall to find out the daily cleaning schedule. The problem isn't the malls / stores - it's the parents who take their kids out when they are sick!! I'm always seeing sick kids out in public places, preschools and gym nurserys when they should be at home! Sad!

You are NOT alone! I have children who have unfortunately been exposed to some nasty germs at the Willowbend play area. I am anal about sanitizing so we NEVER leave a play area without sanitizing hands, feet, or anything that was exposed. I no longer allow them anywhere near Willowbends play area now. One of my children went there on a Thursday and by Saturday he was sick! We didn't go anywhere on Friday so it was easy to determine where he got sick. He passed the illness through my family! It took us 7 weeks to all finally get over it! I believe it has to do with the spongy environment at Willowbend where nasty germs can be trapped because I believe they close the play area for cleaning.

The second time it happened at Willowbend, we knew it was not a coincidence that the day after my child was there for a playdate, he was sick AGAIN! We vowed to find a cleaner environment for him to play.

I read someplace that the play area at the Galleria was ranked one of the top 5 cleanest play areas in the Metroplex. We now go there once a week and have had NO illness, viruses, colds, runny noses, or anything!

Hi!

My child does not play at either of these places (she is too old for them) but, I have friends who take their children to differnt play areas around town. Latley the Rotavirus has been going around in daycares and I have friends that their children have had it. It may not be this virus, but just in case, here is a link that gives more details.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_vir...

Hope your children feel better soon!!:)

I work at The Shops at Willow Bend. And we clean and sanitize our children's play area 3 times a day. Yes we do have a housekeeping staff, and they take a full hour each of those times to clean and sanitize anything and everything your child touches in that area. I cannot speak for Stonebriar. But if your child was in the play area, it's likely that he was around lots of other children as well. And we all know how well they share their germs. ;)

I moved to West Plano about 5 years ago. I have 3 small children and we used to frequent those two malls, until we moved to McKinney. Honestly, I've never heard anything negative about those places, regarding children getting ill. However, between you and I, I think it's more of a common sense issue with the parents. We know that these places are filled with (unavoidable) germs, yet we choose that good time for our children, over that ugly reality. I think my kids did well with it, because I was anal when I brought them to those play areas. I'd make sure to bring sanitizing wipes and gel. Taking off their shoes seems totally gross, but I think it's a good idea. Directly after they were done playing, I'd line them all up (military style!) and I'd wipe them down with wipes and gel. Then, I'd go to the bathroom and wash all of our hands. When I got home, I washed hands again and put them all in fresh clothes. I know this seems crazy, but I sincerely feel like it kept them healthy in those places. Good luck and GOD bless you all (-:

We take our daughter to Willow Bend frequently, and it doesn't seem she has gotten sick after. My daughter is a daycare kid so she might be exposed to more germs there and less likely to get sick when exposed to the germs. I have seen the cleaning crews and think that it is more sanitary than Collin or Stonebriar.

I honestly think there a lot of people in this post that are overly conscientous about germs. Haven't they always been around especially in public places? I know there are cases of kids being exposed to more rare harmful germs but how do you sanitize against that??

I can understand if an establishment is knowling exposing kids to more germs or infectious diseases. However, no public place can take enough responsibility to keep your child free of all of these things. That is unreasonable. There are germs and illnesses going around and people get them.

We take our kids to Willow Bend every Sunday. While I try to wash their hands after when I go, my husband does not. We've not had problems. I will say that the equipment is starting to fall apart, leaving the foam exposed to all the germs. Don't know how they could sanitize that!

Yes, we were at Willow Bend for a play date on Thursday (17th) and since then my two little ones have been sick, now my husband & I are getting it. My daugther threw up this morning all over my couch, then I read your email & wow, I am not sure if they clean the play area. I am very picky when it comes to santizing too- I do it before & after we leave the play area so they don't get sick. We are from Florida & the malls we went to cleaned the play area at least three times a day- wonder how they do it here. I like the Willow bend because it is not as crowded- but not going back anytime soon!