Explaining bankruptcy to a 3 year old

heppy23

Our local soft play place has just closed as the owners were struggling with money.
It was a family run place - basically a couple who put their money where their mouths were and opened a soft play place.

It had been open around a year and was a favourite place of my son who is now 3 1/4.

They had to close suddenly this week as the insurance company withdrew their cover.

We were last there on Sunday and I had a good chat with the owner who is a lovely bloke. He was very frank about it all - he stands to lose his house!

So anyway Fridays are my day off to look after my son and he wants to go to play.
I've tried to explain that it's closed because they didn't have enough pennies but my son just says "it will be open tomorrow though?"

He's had such fun there, we had his birthday party there and I have seen him come on leaps and bounds going there - from a shy 2 year old who had to be helped around to a boisterous 3 year old who would play for hours and make all sorts of friends.

So, do I just keep telling him that it's closed because they ran out of pennies?

I don't want to take him there to show it has closed down as that will upset him I think.

Any thoughts?

System

find him somewhere else to play he will soon forget it !

funky-footprints

I agree with previous commen, i think you are being over sensitive on his behalf, (as us mums often are) sad that his favourite palce has closed, but just say it has closed, there is nothing more you can do, Im sure once he starts going somewhere else he will forget all about it. something better always comes along when you are 3. xxx

Mutter_2

You might want to practise on Darwin's Evolution, Meaning of Life, and go from there!

galvanizersbaby

heppy23 wrote: »

I've tried to explain that it's closed because they didn't have enough pennies but my son just says "it will be open tomorrow though?"

Just explain to him that it won't be open again because of the above.
He will be sad but I'm sure he will get over it.

In the meantime find another place to take him

Errata

So, do I just keep telling him that it's closed because they ran out of pennies

It would be a meaningless explanation to him. Can you find a replacement activity asap ?

mrcow

heppy23 wrote: »

So, do I just keep telling him that it's closed because they ran out of pennies?

No - I think that's one of the most bizarre things you could say to a three year old

Just tell him that it's shut and you're doing/going somewhere else instead on your Fridays. There are lots of other places to go or things to do. Just get him enthused about them instead.

oystercatcher

Just tell him it's 'Gone' . I doubt he'll wonder why but small children can understand that things aren't always there. If asks about tommorrow just say 'No it's gone' .

Oystercatcher

heppy23

funky-footprints wrote: »

I agree with previous commen, i think you are being over sensitive on his behalf, (as us mums often are) sad that his favourite palce has closed, but just say it has closed, there is nothing more you can do, Im sure once he starts going somewhere else he will forget all about it. something better always comes along when you are 3. xxx

I probably am being a bit oversensitive I agree.