A shopping centre has come under fire for its children’s area, with parents expressing their concerns over the ‘lack of play equipment’.
Sydney’s Chatswood Chase recently unveiled it’s children’s ‘play pod’ with a new safety glass fence after making ‘improvements’.
But upon closer inspection, furious parents complained the space was overshadowed by a giant television screen and iPads.
The area appears to feature a giant wooden house and train, with seats placed in front of screens mounted along the tiny window sill.
A children’s play area inside a shopping centre has come under fire on social media, with parents expressing their concerns over the ‘lack of equipment’
Furious parents complained the space was overshadowed by a giant television screen
Photographs show children standing in front of the glaring TV screen, while others were playing with the devices.
Some parents are calling on the shopping centre to replace the hard objects with ‘soft equipment’ instead.
One mother wrote: ‘Would be even better if you ditched the iPads and just put more play equipment in there. I’ve seen too many little kids fall and smack their heads on the hard ground or the edge of that wooden frame where the iPads are. We’re only worried about safety.’
Another said: ‘The iPads and screens are awful… I avoid taking kids to Chatswood Chase now.’
Another posted: Less technology would be better. Small soft climbing equipment would be better.
Another said: ‘Remove the iPad and add some more soft play activity zone please!’
The area appears to feature a giant wooden house and train, with iPads mounted along
Parents are calling on the shopping centre to replace their wooden trains with soft equipment
Children can be seen playing with the glaring giant television screen at the play area
One wrote: ‘It would be great if more free play equipment is there vs I pads.’
And another said: ‘For me, the whole point of taking my daughter to a play area is so that she can enjoy some physical play on equipment we don’t have at home.
‘Not just prodding at a screen.’
However, other parents were quick to defend the play area, with one saying: ‘It’s not a daycare centre it’s a short term activity for children.’
Meanwhile, many praised the shopping mall for installing a safe fence around the area, saying their toddlers will no longer run towards the nearby escalators.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Chatswood Chase for comment.