Child-Friendly and/or Truly Accessible?
The Question I will explore in the following series and that I’m hoping Cape Town’s Family Venues Will Answer Honestly.
Cape Town is home to some of the most beautiful wine farms, restaurants and family attractions in the world. From sprawling vineyards and mountain views to playgrounds, picnic spots and outdoor adventures, there is no shortage of venues promising unforgettable experiences for families. As I prepare to make the West Coast my permanent home, I have found myself researching countless “child-friendly” and “accessible” destinations, eager to discover places where every member of the family can enjoy a day out together.
My interest in this topic comes from two very personal perspectives. As a wheelchair user, accessibility is something I have had to consider for many years. But I am also a very active, hands-on ouma who loves little more than spending time exploring with my two (South African) granddaughters , aged five years and two months (the other two grandkids are in NZ!).
My eldest granddaughter (in SA), in particular, is completely obsessed with monkey bars, climbing frames and anything that involves adventure, which means I often find myself accompanying her to play areas while her little sister enjoys the comfort of a pram nearby.
It is for this reason that I have come to view child-friendly and wheelchair accessible as inseparable concepts. If a play area can only be reached via deep gravel, uneven surfaces, steep slopes or steps, is it truly child-friendly for the entire family? If a parent pushing a pram struggles to reach a playground, or a grandparent using a wheelchair cannot accompany a child to the very attraction that drew them there, can we honestly say the venue is accessible?
What I have discovered is that the terms child-friendly and accessible are often used very loosely. A venue may offer a playground, but can a parent with a pram reach it? A wine farm may advertise accessibility, but can a wheelchair user independently navigate the pathways, seating areas and facilities? These are the questions that brochures, websites and social media posts seldom answer.
In this series, I will be exploring some of Cape Town’s most popular wineries, restaurants and family destinations through the lens of real-life accessibility and inclusivity. My aim is not to judge or rank venues, but rather to provide practical, honest insights that help families make informed decisions and encourage a broader conversation about what true accessibility and genuine family-friendliness actually look like.
After all, I have the unique, trifecta qualification to assess this particular subject matter…
- Occupational therapist,
- Permanent wheelchair user and most importantly
- A very devoted ouma!
So, let’s begin…