Any advice on how to calm an excited child down?

[Tnkrbelle565]

Anyone have advice how to calm DD(2) down before the trip? She's nuts. She developed a stomach bug over the weekend and I don't know if she's still not herself because of that or because she's excited or a combo of both but she is absolutely CRAZY right now. We've tried not talking about the trip but since everyone else around her is saying "are you excited to go see Mickey?" it's not really working. She's not sleeping, refusing to eat, having accidents...it's been quite a weekend

 

[pixiewytch]

Send your daughter over to see my 4yo and maybe she can rub some of the excitement off on him, haha.

Seriously, she is only 2 and that excited?! You are so lucky and I think it's very sweet. I guess the best thing you could do is just not bring it up or talk about it but that would be very hard for me. Good luck.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We are leaving the same day...YAY to us! Yup, I have one nutty 2 year old (she'll be 3 in a couple of weeks). She has been so excited to tell the princesses that she has big girl underwear on (WDW was part of our potty training motivation). Plus she asks to watch the planning video ALL the time so she has completely figured out what she is in for. A place that has flying dumbos AND gorillas (this kid is crazy about zoos) seems like heaven to her!

 

[minkydog]

I believe Mr.Jack Daniels can help you out




Just kidding, everybody calm down....I remember those days well. I'll raise you two teens who couldn't care less and think everything I do is stupid, okay?

Good luck and have a great time

 

[princesstigerlilly]

What a weekend you've had

I think I'd make a doctor's appt and have her checked out to make sure the upset stomach and difference in behavior isn't due to an ear infection or something like that. My kids usually don't run a fever with ear infections, but their behavior change is sometimes drastic and much like you described. I'd want to rule it out.

If it's simply the anticipation, I don't know what to tell you. Maybe you can have her help you 'pack' a bag. Even if it's something you will unpack later when she isn't around, it might be nice for her to focus on something to 'do' instead of waiting. Maybe even have her color a picture to 'mail' to her favorite characters. I bet other parents here will have better advise for you.

I hope she's back to herself soon!

 

[maxtomsmom]

We had a similar experience last year when our first DS was 4 and going to WDW. He was very excited and it grew with each passing day. He's that type of kid when it comes to anything new. What we did was to remain calm and not talk about it so much. We went over the plan and what he might expect to see, but we did it very matter-of-fact like to help with his excitement. We also didn't overwhelm him with too much info. We kept it brief and simple showed him the planning video and a few pics from previous kidless trips. We did this over time. As it got closer we didn't say much. If he asked us a question, we answered it but did not elaborate. This seem to help him. Don't get me wrong, we were so happy that he was excited. We just wanted to keep our routine and let him know that it is good to be excited, but not over excited.

Now he knows what to expect and we started a countdown which is helping him realize that we have a ways to go. He's 5 and knows and recognizes numbers into the hundreds. So, he and I created a very long countdown caterpillar starting from 100 - 0. He understands that 89 is a long number and a long ways to go. Let's see what happens when we're in the single digits.

 

[MissyPrissy]

it's hard to reason with a two year old isn't it?! I think in terms of the refusing to eat and having accidents I'd just turn into "Serious mommy". I'm not sure how much she understands but perhaps you should make it clear that Big girls need to show mommy good listening/eating/whatever she is refusing to do. Forget about the trip and focus on the behaviors you are seeking. Overexcited or not, if you are in a routine and have rules she knows she has to follow that don't dissolve in the face of excitement, it will be a lot easier to keep her balanced. I would tell everyone around her to stop asking about Mickey, put the trip to the side and just focus on everyday routine and the boundaries she needs to stay within. A lot of time adults add to the over excitement b/c regular routines and rules go out the window.

that's what works in our house anyhow!

Good luck and I hope you have a FABULOUS time!!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thanks for all the advice gang! Seriously wondering if it's okay to ask for a drink on a 7am flight!!!!

I haven't gotten any calls from school today so I'm hoping that she's having a great day and has gotten over it. In addition to the sickness and the excitement, she had a 4 day weekend at home with us and no little friends, PLUS her Auntie (who lives next door) left for college yesterday and that made her really sad. So I'm just hoping that the combination made for bad weekend! But a trip to the dr might be in order....

 

[the Fidge]

Anyone have advice how to calm DD(2) down before the trip? She's nuts. She developed a stomach bug over the weekend and I don't know if she's still not herself because of that or because she's excited or a combo of both but she is absolutely CRAZY right now. We've tried not talking about the trip but since everyone else around her is saying "are you excited to go see Mickey?" it's not really working. She's not sleeping, refusing to eat, having accidents...it's been quite a weekend

My son has the same problem and is 10! I vowed not to tell him , as we go for his and his dads birthday. He gets problems with his stomach and actaully gets diaheria sorry all for that piece of info!!! Its true sadly he won't sleep , forgets to bring home assignemts and tests terribly! Anyway he has alwys been this way and his Dad has a nervous stomach, thankfyully Disney doesn't set his off!

So my family and friends know you can never tell him anything that would cause him to be sleepless and however spills the beans gets a visit from DS and they will have fun staying up all night long!!!

You should be here for Christmas oh my one year he was up at 1:30am and would not go back to sleep we had folks sleeping over and were amazed at his staying power!!!!! He went to bed on 12/25 at 10-:50pm, I on the otherhand was drolling and falling in my mashed potatoes by 3pm!!!

So you can leave now or jsut get adjusted to it!! SOrry, no words of wisdom just empathy! ANyway, you may want to rethink every letting her aware until shes older and can handle the excitement. We are think that age around here maybe when he turns 53