7-8 yr olds in the 5 and under playground (siblings)

[tink621]

But if the older children were not in the area that they shouldn't be then we would not have to make our children move to another area. Little ones would not understand why they had to move. I use redirection when my toddlers are doing something they shouldn't be doing. I guess I just don't understand why we have to try and make our little ones understand and not our older ones. At what age do we teach our children to obey the rules? Do we teach them we can bend some rules but not others? There are some playgrounds like indoor playgrounds that have tall tubes and slides that's it is hard to supervise because you can't always have a good view. These are also intended for certain ages. I know that's not the case in pooh's spot, but it is in other places. Pooh's spot is a place for our little ones that are usually in strollers to get out and burn off some energy. Let's just leave it for the little ones. Parents that say they only do things that the whole family can do together are at some point I believe are going to run into problems. I know my older children would resent the fact that they couldn't do something because of their younger siblings.

 

[momto2girls]

I understand that this happens a LOT (people saying one thing when it works for them then changing their tune when it doesn't) - but there are many people who have posted on this thread who have widely spaced children who have stated that they don't allow their older children to play in these areas with their younger children, so the blanket 'all these moms' doesn't apply.

My 8 yo is not allowed to play on these playground with her 2 and 3 yo sisters unless we are the ONLY people there, which never happens at Disney and rarely, if ever happens anywhere else. But there's plenty of stuff she can do that they can't and if she wants to get whiney about the playground I have no problem reminding her what she can do that they can't.

When my 2 & 3 yos outgrow the playgrounds, they outgrow them. no discussion.






It sounds like you've got it. Your older daughter is to big to play on the play areas - so you're either going to skip them becuase both can't play or you're going to have to have your 6/7 yo sit out. [honest question] Do you really tell your 6/7 yo she can't ride Space Mountain if she really wants to becuase your 3 year old can't? If you do and that works for your family - more power to you. One of the reasons we love to vacation at Disneyworld is becuase there is so very much that our family with widely spaced children CAN do together, but there is also enough for my toddlers to do while my older daughter gets to be a big kid. No other theme/amusement park offers that. I detest the summer trips to Busch Gardens Williamsburg that I get drug along to. My little ones spend 90% of the day in the stroller waiting for big sis to ride rides with her couisns (and the wait there or at any other park will make everyone appreciate fast pass more! lol) My best option for those trips is to send older dd with her cousins alone (and I don't trust my aunt to watch them AT ALL she lets 7-12 yos loose in the park and leaves!) or find a sitter for the toddlers. Give me Disney and choices anyday!

Actually, I don't have to tell my 6 year old that she can't do something because her sister can't. As I said before, right now they have similar interests. My 6 year old has no interest in going on Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or the Tower of Terror. So, it is really a non-issue at this point. That is why I said that it wouldn't be fair for my 6 year old to sit and watch her sister play.

However, I will also say that I have no interest in having my family split up every day for our whole vacation. So, in a few years when the age difference does become an issue, I suspect that we will skip WDW for a few years until both girls can ride the big rides. We have many other places we want to go anyway, like Europe.

 

[momto2girls]

But if the older children were not in the area that they shouldn't be then we would not have to make our children move to another area. Little ones would not understand why they had to move. I use redirection when my toddlers are doing something they shouldn't be doing. I guess I just don't understand why we have to try and make our little ones understand and not our older ones. At what age do we teach our children to obey the rules? Do we teach them we can bend some rules but not others? There are some playgrounds like indoor playgrounds that have tall tubes and slides that's it is hard to supervise because you can't always have a good view. These are also intended for certain ages. I know that's not the case in pooh's spot, but it is in other places. Pooh's spot is a place for our little ones that are usually in strollers to get out and burn off some energy. Let's just leave it for the little ones. Parents that say they only do things that the whole family can do together are at some point I believe are going to run into problems. I know my older children would resent the fact that they couldn't do something because of their younger siblings.

I assume that this comment is directed at me because I am the one who said that we only do what my whole family can do together. I just want to point out that if you had read my post more carefully, you would have seen that I said that this works for us now, but wouldn't in the future. To save you time from looking it up, I'll copy that portion of my post here.


My two are 6.5 and 3.5 and have very similar interests at this point. I'm sure that will change later, but right now they do similar things and would be very disappointed if only one could do something and not the other.

 

[tink621]

I did read that you said your children have similiar interests right now. That's why I said at some point. I just remember when my now 16 & 13 yr. olds were younger one would be invited to a b-day party from school and the other wasn't in school yet so wasn't invited. I don't know if you have came into that situation yet. But I would have to honor that parent's request and only my child that was invited went. Usually b-day's are pay per child attending so I understood. My little one at the time was also invited to parties from his preschool and only he was invited. All I'm saying is that siblings at some point have to understand that they can't always do what the other does. I would hate to see anyone stop going to disney because of age differences. Disney is such a magical place. You don't have to split up your whole vacation. I know my DH could take my older to ride a ride my younger couldn't and I could take the other to let's say pooh's spot. That's what Disney is such a wonderful family vacation. It has something for all ages 1-100. I ready many posts where a Dh took their ds to do something while the mom & daughter went to BBB or a princess lunch.

 

[tink621]

You know we all have different opinions and that's what makes the world a wonderful place. It would be pretty boring if we were all alike. I respect everyone's opinion on this subject. I guess we just need to leave it as we're all never going to agree completely on this. I'm glad someone started this thread so we could try and understand everyone's opinion on this. So next time we're at a play area we may understand what the other parents are thinking now

 

[jessica52877]

Want to know what's funny? In a couple years all these moms of "little ones" who don't want the big kids in because they "follow the rules" will have most likely have smaller children and they'll be the ones posting that their kids want to go in to play with their other child.
Just something I see happen all the time.
Thought for once I'd point it out.
Weird I'm not usually snarky like this but this topic just sets me off.

Then again I get miffed that Disney thinks kids are "adult" at 10 too, not because I have to pay more, but because in no place should a 10 year old be considered an adult, especially someplace so child centric.

Now... onto expand why I think older children should be allowed to play in the smaller area. The smaller siblings sometimes depend on their big brother/big sister, and are frightened without them, the "big kid" part might be overrun with unruly kids so having the smaller child accompany the "bigger" child isn't an option, maybe the big kids in the bigger playground are rough or mean, maybe the older child actually wants to play with their siblings (this should ALWAYS be encouraged in my eyes).
My daughter loves to help little ones do things like build sandcastles, she loves to push little kids on swings, she's not your typical rough and tumble kid. She loves to play with smaller kids, she's young for her age and very imaginative, she comes up with some of the coolest things. Would I make her get out if she weren't being careful of the small kids, absolutely, would I make her get out if she wasn't paying attention, of course! Should I make her stop having fun with her little brother? I don't think so.... she's the one all the little kids want to play with!

Funny, I was sitting here thinking I don't really know what I think. My son is 4 and I ws thinking that I would probably have a different view in a couple of years!

Right now I want to say they shouldn't be allowed, but that is only because when we were just at disney there were several obnoxious big kids playing nad my son wouldn't even go near the slide due to them! They did have younger siblings but were no where near them!

 

[DisneyPhD]

You know we all have different opinions and that's what makes the world a wonderful place. It would be pretty boring if we were all alike. I respect everyone's opinion on this subject. I guess we just need to leave it as we're all never going to agree completely on this. I'm glad someone started this thread so we could try and understand everyone's opinion on this. So next time we're at a play area we may understand what the other parents are thinking now

You know I agree. Well said.

Of course it never occured to me that people would have opinons of my 5 year old being in a stroller at WDW until I read a thread on the dis. Then I truely surprized by the strong emotions it brings out in some.

jessica52877, it sounds like those kids didn't belong.

 

[Steph9072]

Let me say first I have never been to the playground in question. That being said I don't know the age guidelines. So I will allow dd (6) to play as long as she is being respectful to others and she is being aware there are smaller kids around and she has to be careful. Now here is probably a big No No! I will also probably allow dss (11) to go into the play area to keep an eye on ds (2) just for ds protection. Not to intimidate the other kids but to deter any sickos.

 

[DaisyD]

It still comes down to the rule no matter how wonderful some kids behave. Don't see what the problem is. Pretty sure there is a large sign posted at the front for all to see and all to obey.

 

[princesspwrhr]

Let me say first I have never been to the playground in question. That being said I don't know the age guidelines. So I will allow <snip>.

But you do know the age guidelines (now) - and you will when you get there because it's posted. Why announce that you're going to knowingly break the rules? That's like saying the rules don't apply to you whether you knew them or not. It's this attitude that I really don't understand.

 

[gina2000]

But if the older children were not in the area that they shouldn't be then we would not have to make our children move to another area. Little ones would not understand why they had to move. I use redirection when my toddlers are doing something they shouldn't be doing. I guess I just don't understand why we have to try and make our little ones understand and not our older ones. At what age do we teach our children to obey the rules? Do we teach them we can bend some rules but not others? There are some playgrounds like indoor playgrounds that have tall tubes and slides that's it is hard to supervise because you can't always have a good view. These are also intended for certain ages. I know that's not the case in pooh's spot, but it is in other places. Pooh's spot is a place for our little ones that are usually in strollers to get out and burn off some energy. Let's just leave it for the little ones. Parents that say they only do things that the whole family can do together are at some point I believe are going to run into problems. I know my older children would resent the fact that they couldn't do something because of their younger siblings.

The reality though is that your child could be terrorized by another child of similar age in such a situation. It's better than children learn how to handle situations through parental supervision and redirection. Your child doesn't know that redirection is a "punishment" when he/she is misbehaving. He/She is redirected in order to avert potential difficulties with others regardless of age. Segregation doesn't promote learning how to deal with situations. I realize that a 2 year old doesn't know how to deal with social situations but no 2 year old should be left alone without supervision under any circumstances. Teaching a child how to behave socially works best when they encounter many age groups and many social situations. At least, that's how I see it.