4 year old had meltdowns!

[fanofdisney]

Was he just too young, or what? We missed quite a bit of MK b/c he had a huge meltdown, I'm talking the kind where everyone slows down to stare, he was in such a rage. Screaming, kicking, the whole 9 yards. We were expecting that he would be cranky at times, but my goodness! 2 of these happened! Did we plan wrong, or should we wait a while before returning? His favorite thing was Sci-Fi restaurant. Anyone else experience this?

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

This happened on both of our trips last year with my 4 year old son. He has anxiety- most commonly social anxiety. He often gets upset in large crowds of people. We had to take rest breaks in the middle of the day. Our first trip was the worst because he didn't know what to expect and was nervous about the rides. It's been better each time we've gone since the first because he now knows what to expect.

 

[sha_lyn]

Sounds like he was tired and or over stimulated. No I don't think he was too young. DD started going at 2 1/2. Only "meltdown" at at 3 1/2 at Universal. We were in the preshow for something and she started yelling "I want to go home now". We headed back to the room for some down time and she was fine. Didn't even nap. she jsut needed away from the heat, crowd and excitement for a bit.

here are a fews things I think are key to helping keep the meltdowns at bay

Keep them hydrated... push those fluids, espically water or sprots drinks

Take breaks..... we always to a sit down air conditioned lunch. Take time to sit and people watch, or have a snack

keep their eyes protected from the sun

If all else fails head back to the resort to nap or take a swim.

 

[DisneyArk]

I hope the meltdown didn't ruin your trip.

Can you give us more information about what you think caused the meltdown? Was it at the very beginning of the day? Was he overwhelmed? Did he want something that he didn't get?

We took our sons when they were 1 1/2 and 3 and again when they were 3 and 5. We didn't have any meltdowns. But both times we had to stop and smell the roses more times than my dh and I wanted to. We had to ride some rides over and over and skip others because of lack of time. And a few days they asked all day long to go back to the hotel and swim - so we stopped early and let them swim.

Good luck figuring out what the problem was. Hopefully you can do smaller scale things with him and work back up to WDW.

 

[ksoehrlein]

When our DD was 3.5, we invited another family with a daughter the same age to join us. Their DD had never been to WDW before. While there, they met up with her grandparents, who did not have getting to meet the characters on their agenda. They dragged DD's friend away from Minnie because they wanted to go on rides with her instead. Naturally the poor girl had a MAJOR meltdown at that point. We said "see ya" and went our own way.

Our DD had already been to WDW several times by that age, and the main difference between her and her friend was that she knew what to expect and was therefore not overloaded by all the stimuli. But it also helped tremendously that we didn't push her to do certain things the way her friend's grandparents did.

 

[AlexTina]

It sounds like he was just over stimulated. My dd who is now 3 1/2 has been going to WDW since she was 7 months old. We are going again in 3 days and now have a second child who is 5 months old. We have never experienced a meltdown at WDW but that may be because she has been there so many times already, this will be her 4th trip. I know that on my very first day at MK I always feel overwhelmed and weepy. It's just so exciting and overwhelming maybe he just couldn't handle it or didn't understand what he was feeling.

Tina

 

[minkydog]

I don't think this is so unusual. WDW is a pretty overwhelming place and I have even had olde kids (8-10) have meltdowns like this. Two years ago, it was my DH who had the meltdown!(He's claustrophobic and got caught in that melee of crowd on Main street right before the parade started, had a panic attack, and security came immediately and escorted him to the exit.) You talk about people staring~ holy cow...

So don't let this put you off the MK. It's happened to all of us. Some kids are very sensitive to the crowds and noise levels and they just can't take WDW for 4hrs straight (I have an 10yo autistic child who is definitely known to meltdown.) I agree with the previous poster who recommended taking extra time off from the parks to eat, play, walk around, cuddle in the room, read books. You can't do as much when they are this age and you have to not think about the cost or you'll get too crazed.

 

[AB&Me]

This is something I've really worried about with my child. She is one to pitch major fits and temper tantrums, and it sends my dh over the edge. When we went in October, she cried a lot - even though she was having the time of her life. We talked about WDW so much and she remembers everything from that trip, so I think this time we will be more prepared. Plus we have much more time to do relax and do more stuff without feeling so rushed. I think she'll do better, but that doesn't mean she'll do "perfect". I have got to make myself take breaks. I'm one to hit the gate running and not slow down. She can't do that.

Thank you for your post. Its nice to know I'm not the only mom who has a kid who looses it!

AB&Me

 

[Holly]

The only one of my children that had a meltdown last time we went to WDW was my oldest, who was 10 at the time. It was totally out of character for him. WDW is just such a sensory overload, it isn't surprising that kids get overwhelmed with everything.

 

[landsm99]

On our last trip our daughter (just turned 3) had the hardest time leaving the hotel to go to the parks. Almost every morning there was a meltdown about leaving the hotel to go do something. Lots of crying and "I want to go home!". It very bad-so much so I wanted to go home as well! We found that slowing down in the AM worked and once we got into a park she was so happy.
Now almost 6 months later she still talks about WDW endlessly. Every night when she goes to bed tells us a 'secret' since returning from WDW her secret is: I want to go to the Yellow Hotel (SSR) and Cinderella's Castle-and I mean every night. It is funny how she easilly forgets how upset she was and only remembers the fun things. We are planning on going next May-it will be time for her little brother to throw fits!

 

[pbharris4]

We haven't has any meltdowns at WDW. When my older DD was between 18 months and 4 she used to have them (like at the zoo or mall). She 's a red head so she gets beet red, too. Then she'd do that arching of the back and her scream was kind of funny..she'd roll her tongue and cry..everyone would laugh because of they way she cried. I've come to learn with her and my 2 yo to head off those kind of tantrums by making sure they get a nap, have a snack and a drink and let them see things. I don't try to push them. We learned from the oldest that you can't do that. She had trouble sleeping (still does). Tantrums can be avoided by distraction as well. My youngest hardly ever takes tantrums, but all kids are going to have them once in awhile. But I only know what makes my kids have tantrums.

 

[crisi]

Sorry to hear that.

We've been pretty good (and my daughter is meltdown prone) except for one incident at Boma. Since plenty of four year olds go fine, it probably wasn't too young. It probably had more to do with the boundries your child has. And there only you know.

My daughter needs a constant feed into her blood sugar. Low blood sugar will be a real problem. So we make sure she puts juice or fruit snacks or something into her body every hour or so.

Some kids react poorly to crowds and/or noise and/or color etc. If your child is sensative to sensory input this could be it.

Some just need a lot of rest. Naps help

Some don't do great away from home. Nothing on vacation will really cure it, but apparently making sure any "loveys" etc come along might help.

Some are really schedule oriented. Any change in schedule (and vacation usually changes them all) throws them for a loop.

Of course, sometimes it is a case where the child is just "a spoiled brat" or the parents just "haven't set limits." I'm pretty sure if this were the case you wouldn't be here saying "what went wrong."

(By the way, not all kids have them. My son - perhaps karma for my daughter - has never had one. He turns seven this summer. I cannot take credit for this, because then wonder what caused her instability)

 

[Taratink]

This Jan . we were there with our 3 and 5 year old children. They behaved well and only had a couple mini meltdowns. My kids have melt downs at home so it is hard to compare if they were different on vacation.. We geared the trip to our weakest link. I expected some trouble. I felt that my kids were at a perfect age.
Tara

 

[rt2dz]

Anytime I have ever been around a child who has a meltdown, he/she needs a break/rest/nap, to eat, to drink, and/or control. Of course, each child is different and my experiences are hardly all encompassing.

I think it is important to take breaks at WDW even for the child on the go-go-go at home. Going back to the hotel is a big one. Sitting down in an air conditioned attraction or taking a slow ride (train or paddle boat in MK) or getting away (Tom Sawyer's Island) can provide little ones. So can sitting in a stroller while Mom and Dad shop. I really think it is so important that little kids have a stroller at WDW, even if they *say* they don't want one or don't use one at home. WDW is much more overwhelming than a trip to the mall/zoo/Sea World/Six Flags/etc. I just always see these stressed out kids walking and I feel soooo sorry for them.

Grabbing a quick snack or sitting down (preferably in a/c) for a meal will usually do wonders also. ALWAYS have a drink on hand. We keep bottles of water on hand for the next time and not just for when needed.

And I think it is super important to follow your child's lead. If they want to ride a ride 14 times in a row, let them. Even if it means missing something else. If they want to skip an attraction, do so. Prefer to chase characters only one day, what the heck? I don't think you should try and fit a child into your schedule--or even necessarily the schedule they have at home (although for some kids that helps more). That doesn't mean if you have other children in your family they should get their wants/desires ignored. Give a child SOME choices and they'll go along most of the time. Everyone should get their turn being in charge.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, if your child does have a melt down... Give them a couple of minutes to regain control and if they don't, no matter what it means, remove them from the situation totally. Don't ruin someone else's meal or enjoyment of an attraction. It obviously isn't going to get better at that point, and you can always come back.