Safety Tips for Booking a Private Play Space

You're trusting a stranger's backyard with your kids for an afternoon. Here's what to actually check before you book, and what Hopscotch already checks for you.

What Hopscotch shows you before you book

Hosts verify their identity through Stripe when they connect payouts after their first completed booking, and many choose to complete an optional background check — look for the green "Background Checked" badge on listings, or turn on the Background Checked filter in Book a Space to see only those hosts. Every listing also answers a safety checklist, covered below. If something goes wrong during your visit, report it from the booking and our team will follow up.

What to look at on the listing itself

• The safety checklist. Every listing includes the host's own answers on fencing (full, partial, or none), whether there's a pool or other water feature and how it's secured, the condition and age-appropriateness of any play equipment, and whether other people or pets might be present during your booking. Read it before you book, not after you arrive.
• The photos. Look for photos of the actual play area, the fencing, and any water features — not just a flattering wide shot of the yard.
• The reviews. Past guests rate each space on cleanliness, accuracy (does it match the listing?), check-in, communication, location, and value, on top of an overall rating. A space with detailed, recent reviews is one you can trust more than one with none.
• The house rules. Hosts can set their own rules for their space — shoes off on certain surfaces, which areas are off-limits, and so on. You'll confirm you've read them before you check out.

While you're there

• Stay with your kids. A parent or guardian is expected to stay on-site for the entire booking — Hopscotch isn't drop-off childcare, and host spaces aren't staffed or childproofed the way a professional facility would be.
• Do a quick walk-through when you arrive. Confirm the fencing is intact, gates latch, and anything the listing mentioned (a pool, a trampoline, play equipment) looks the way it was described.
• Message your host if anything's off. Every booking has its own message thread — use it if something doesn't match the listing or you have a safety question once you're there.

If something goes wrong

You can report a problem from your bookings page after any visit, and our team will follow up. Your review of the space is also blind — it stays private until the host submits theirs too, or 14 days pass — so you can be honest about what you experienced without worrying about the host seeing it first and reacting in the moment.

Ready to find a space that fits what you're looking for? Browse spaces near you.