If you also didn’t know this until today: you’re welcome. I’ve just opened up a whole new world of opportunity! And by ‘whole new world of opportunity’, I mean specifically for date days at IKEA. Just picture it: 45 minutes of child-free bliss! Or time to bicker over furniture without worrying that your four-year-old will start picking up swear words, at least.
That’s right, IKEA officially has everything you could possibly need, including a break from the kids. IKEA Småland is a free supervised play area for children aged 3-10, which allows parents 45 minutes of shopping time while their offspring are happily playing in a ball pit, reading books, or doing some arts and crafts.
Which IKEA stores have supervised play areas?
Now here’s the kicker. You’ll find Smålands—’small lands’—in all main IKEA stores across the country – except for Manchester, Birmingham and Croydon. IKEA Birmingham (which is actually in Sandwell) won’t be getting a Småland until 2025. Honestly? We can’t wait. In the meantime, the closest is at IKEA Nottingham. You’ll generally find them near the entrance of each store.
How does IKEA’s Småland work?
You just need to visit in store on the day, sign your child in for a session at the crèche, and fill out a registration form. It is first-come, first-served and you may have to wait a little, but you’ll be given an estimated waiting time when you arrive. From the beginning of the session, you’ll get 45 minutes of child-free shopping time before receiving a notification when it’s almost time for pick up.
The Småland, or crèche, works on 1:8 ratios with staff and kids (with the exception of children with SEN, who will have 1:1 support on their first visit to allow staff to complete a care plan). For detailed terms and safety FAQs, head to IKEA’s website.