Got A Play Area?

I went looking through my daughter's clothes this morning for something long-sleeved and realized that there were only 2 choices - yikes. I also couldn't find the one clean jacket we bought for her - yikes again. The weather has taken a 20 degree drop in the last 2 weeks and I want to make sure my 2 year old was kept nice and toasty outside at the park.

Those not living in Arizona are probably laughing right now at the thought of someone calling 68 degrees "cold". I can't explain it myself, seeing as how I grew up in Heidelberg, Germany where it rained more often than it didn't, but I guess you acclimate to the extreme heat here and therefore have a new perspective on cold!

But I digress...

I decided that since we're trying to curb our spending I would go to the only used children's clothing/toy store in Queen Creek: The Children's Attic. I saw their ad in a recent Savvy Shopper magazine and wanted to check the place out anyway. They are located at Ellsworth and Ocotillo road and as I parked the car and walked inside I was optimistic that I would find at least 1-2 jackets for my daughter to wear.

The first thing my 2 year old does is (of course) try to climb into a large, sandbox-like, train. The 40-something bald man working the register asks for my attention to the matter, "Ma'am, we ask that she not play in that for her own safety". As he says this to me, and as I pull Davey out of the train box, I look around for what seems to me to be a no-brainer -- a play area for kids -- but to my now-annoyance, there isn't one.

I mention that a play area for kids (or even a couple of toddler chairs in front of a TV playing cartoons like you see at some kids clothing stores at the mall) would be a huge benefit to shopping moms. The salesman (who was obviously the unlucky husband manning the shop for his wife) says they don't have enough room. I say it's a shame and leave it at that.

I have to shop hurriedly with my very inquisitive toddler testing as many toys as she can. If there was a play area for kids, however, I could have taken my time and perhaps made a larger purchase (in addition to all but ensuring my return!).

How can ANY children's store/boutique not have a play area? I think it behooves a shop owner to include that in the store layout to guarantee the most pleasant shopping experience for moms, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Anything you can do to make life easier for moms will be appreciated by return patronage, and isn't the best kind of customer a returning one?

Am I right Moms?