How safe is the new Airzone attraction for kids? FELICIA WONG reviews this hot new suspended net playground.
How safe is the new Airzone attraction for kids? FELICIA WONG reviews this hot new suspended net playground.
Imagine this: A playground made out of nets, suspended between floors in a shopping mall. As surreal as that sounds, it pretty much describes Airzone at City Square Mall.
Billed as the world’s first indoor suspended playground, it offers four levels of fun for you and your little ones.
Kids are allowed in as long as they can support themselves and walk unaided on the nets, but children under the age of six must be accompanied by an adult.
Here’s what you can expect as an “Airstronaut”:
LEVEL 1: BALL PIT
This is Singapore’s only fully suspended ball pit, containing approximately 40,000 balls.
You may have heard of the infamous “drowning” incident after a mum got stuck in the ball pit. Vivien Low, who runs parenting blog Beautiful Chaos with her husband, had the “fright of my life” when she lost her balance and fell backwards into the pit.
The 1.72m-tall mum claimed that she couldn’t stand up or reach the bottom, and her screams for help were unanswered. She added that her son was “stuck inside” in the ball pit as well, together with a few other children. She was able to pull herself up after grabbing someone’s hand.
So, is it as scary as she made it out to be? After getting into the ball pit for the first time, I sank down and did feel as if I was “drowning”.
Fortunately, there was a staffer on hand to quick pull me out – and she did this with one hand, even though she was shorter than I am. Thankfully, I was able to get the hang of it after a few minutes.
According to the staff, adults tend to have a harder time in the ball pit as they are heavier, causing them to sink deeper on the nets. If you do happen to get stuck, grab onto the nets to help you climb out.
LEVEL 2: FREE PLAY ZONE
This level introduces you to a unique “space walking” experience. You’ll feel like you’re walking on the moon as you bounce and jump around on the net.
There are also giant Zorb balls so you can engage in fun games with your little one.
When you get tired, lie down on the net and look down to experience the mall from a whole new perspective.
LEVEL 3: MAZE
Crawl your way through as you navigate the obstacle course of one of the most unique mazes in the world.
Avoid wearing shorts into Airzone as the nets are pulled very taut and may hurt your knees as you crawl through the maze.
LEVEL 4: SLIDE
There are slides on each level as they are the quickest way down, but the slide on the fourth level is the most exciting. This is perfect for adventurous kids who love an adrenaline rush.
Climb up to the highest point of Airzone, six storeys above the ground, and slide back down to the level below.
3 Things You Need To Know
How safe is Airzone? Jumping around on nets suspended up to five storeys high may sound dangerous, but Airzone reassures that the suspended playground is completely secure.
The nets, originally designed as safety nets for trapeze or high wire circus acts, are strong enough to suspend two fully laden single-decker buses lying on their sides.
Airzone conducts daily checks to ensure that the nets are safe for play, and a maximum of 20 people are allowed on each level at any time.
Where can I store my belongings? You can’t bring your belongings into Airzone, so keep them in the free lockers provided. They are password-protected so you can feel safe leaving your valuable items, including loose jewellery and mobile phones. It comes with a built-in charger as well, which is a nice touch.
For safety reasons, phones are only allowed into Airzone if they’re secured with a hands-free pouch or holder, so bring your own or buy one at the counter for $3 if you want to take photos and videos of your little ones having fun bouncing around.
How much does it cost? Prices start from $20 for a 30-minute session. It’s better to book online to secure your preferred time slot in advance. Visit www.airzone.sg.
