Anyone put their kid in time-out at WDW?

[brymolmom]

I totally agree that dragging a tired child around to suit your own needs is just ridiculous -but- my daughter is a crier. It doesn't matter if she is well rested, well fed, comfortable, completely catered to. She simply cries if she really wants something and she is not allowed. That is her personality and we lover for it! She's a strong willed little girl. We can't give in to her all the time so she will cry. We have gotten dirty looks from people (happened yesterday in target) and they have no idea what her personality is. No flames here- just wanted to throw my 2 cents in!

I agree - at least part of the time it is just a kid being a kid OR just the personality of the child. I want to know with all the people who get annoyed with the parents dragging tired and cranky kids...how do you know they are tired and cranky? Really - you have to know the entire situation...whether the child is simply having a tantrum (after a two hour nap) trying to get their way since they have an audience...whether the child has any special needs that make it more likely they might meltdown in a crowd...whether the child is hurt and therefore crying...whether the child (like my 4 year old right now) just likes to rebel and say the opposite of mom (let's go see Mickey...'no - I don't WANT to see Mickey (in full whine mode)) - of course he always changes his mind if I say 'okay - let's not'.

Anyway - point is - a LOT of different situations, same result to onlookers not in the know - whining, crying children. I'm sure some of the time the parents might be pushing them too long/far, but I'm sure that's not what's happening all of the time. So, really - how do you know? You can't unless you hear the whole story. I prefer to assume it is just a child having a meltdown, as will happen from time to time with kids - sometimes a lot depending on their nature.

Again - discipline your child however is best for you and don't worry if onlookers think you're a mean parent trying to push your kids...

 

[virginiamama]

Not at WDW, but DS2 spent some time in a naughty spot at Water Country USA in VA just last week. Straightened him right up! He would not stop hopping down the steps in a wet play area, so I made him sit in the naughty spot right on those steps. After he got up he didn't hop for a while, and even when he got excited and hopped once or twice it only took a reminder about not hopping to get him to stop.

schlepsnort - I don't recall seeing anyone stretched out on the grass at any of the parks. Good idea though!

 

[mickeyfan2]

DH puts me in time-out all the time!!!

 

[crisi]

The poster who mentioned sitting on a lawn and relaxing (after avoiding the wet areas *ew*). I plan on bringing a twin size sheet (Mickey of course!) to spread out for the kids to sit down on to relax while at the park while we take break. Is it ok to sit on the lawn areas? Are there many places to do this at MK? I was even thinking that since we will have two strollers that I might just put the sheet over the tops of both strollers making a little canopy to block the sun so that our three DS's can stretch out, take off their shoes and relax for awhile. Anyone else do something like this or have seen something like this?
Thanks!

Lawns are generally discretely fenced off and are discretely "not for walking on." You'll be encouraged to use paths. There will be benches (though perhaps not as many of them as you'd like) for resting. I can't think of many places (any places) where I'd feel comfortable putting a blanket on the lawn. And, within the parks, there doesn't tend to be a lot of lawn anyway.

The gardeners who keep Disney looking great really don't want people creating paths through their grass.

 

[smschex]

Many years ago we took a trip with my siblings and their kids. My niece (then a little less than 3) was being a terror, not because she was tired, but because she did not see the need to stay with the rest of us, much less hold someone's hand so she did not get separated. Her mom (my sis) seemed unable to do anything with her, so DH took matters into his own hands and arranged a time out on a bench (with my sister's blessing). He sat at one end with my niece on the other wailing at the top of her lungs "I want my mother!" He said he felt like a child molester and got multiple glares from passersby. However, she finally calmed down enough to rejoin the group and all it took to correct her behavior for the rest of the trip was look from Uncle DH.

 

[schlepsnort]

You know you guys are right, they probably wouldn't be too thrilled with having people schlepping through their grass and mucking it up! It was an idea though, I'm sure we will find areas for the kids to chill out. I've also heard about the baby care centers and we will most definitely make good use of those!
Well, it was a good idea in theory, just not practice!