daughter doesn't want to do kids club

[ez]

We are going on our first cruise in September (3 night), and my 9 year old daughter had made it perfectly clear that she will not be attending any kids clubs. We are also traveling with our 19 year old son, and g/b 19 year old twins from another family. I'm sure she will want to be hanging out with "the big kids". I don't really care if she doesn't go in the kids club, I'm just thinking she might be missing out on a fun time, and making new friends. Any suggestions? Thanks-Eileen

 

[findingnemofan]

there are definitely places where your nine year old won't be allowed to hang out with the 19 year olds in your party--she should know that in advance
also----let her see how it is just hanging around--she might not like it when the teens go off into the teen-only areas!!!
The clubs could be fun if she knows ahead of time the types of activities that her age group will do---or maybe she will meet another girl her age who encourages her to come to the club with her!!! oftentimes they just want to find out for themselves---not hear it from Mom or Dad!!! she is kind of in a tween age group^^^not a teen--but doesn't want to come across as a baby!! Good Luck!!!

amy

 

[TnRobin]

Stop by the LAB, sign up and pick up a schedule. Let her look at it. She may find something that interest her. Just because she signs up, she doesn't have to go if she doesn't find anything that appeals to her.

You may also remind her that the "Kids" will be in the Club. (3-7) Only people 8+ aged young people belong to the "Lab."

 

[mlshields]

Ask her to check it out the first night and see what she thinks! I have a son and a daughter who had to be pulled out of there everynight. I think my daughter would have slept there if they let here!!!

First cruise DS-7 DD -5
Second cruise DS-9 DD-6

 

[jfis1020]

DS9 was cool about the lab until he experienced it. After that we didn't see him all that much. He made neat friends and the councelors were "cool" as well! He even told his friends at home how "cool" the lab was!

 

[dclwdwlover]

Never had this problem, but I was wondering if maybe she could check out the teen boards & possibly connect with kids that might be her age &/or in the lab on that cruise. I've seen 12yo posts there, but I'm not sure if younger ones, also.
I originally posted on this Board the date of our cruise & found a family that has a teen my teen's age & they have corresponded by e-mail already. Also, you can check out the thread about "who's sailing when" & possibly inquire.

 

[jlp651]

you might want to check out the navigators on Barbs web site...that way she might see what she's missing...

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Just try to get here there--my daughters 8 and 11 also had to be pulled out--on our Freeport day they were there from 9 to 4 straight through and later on after Hercules.
Also, the 19 year olds probably don't want her hanging around! Yes it's cool to have a little sister, but not when you want to be an adult on a cruise ship!
Robin M.

 

[rae519]

It's not unusual for the kids to want to be with Mom and Dad - at least mine is always afraid he is going to miss something special! I told him that if he stays with us, he has to take an afternoon nap with us and that did it for him!!!!! Now he has to be pulled out of the club!

And who is to say that Mom and Dad aren't taking a little afternoon nap! ; )

Rae

 

[outahere]

rae,

I love your "nap" idea. I will definitely have to remember that one so DW and I can get some adult time.

 

[Julma]

DD 12 and DS 10 were just okay with the club until day 3 then we were begging them to leave so we could go to sleep. So keep with it. Start slow, I don't think they can help but like it. They also get some great gifts for participating. Mine got a cool hat and t-shirt.

 

[Robert and Kelley]

We had the same problem with our 11 year old son. He just wanted to stay in the cabin and watch ESPN or go to the arcade and play airhockey with me. Our daughter (9) ran into a friend she had met in club on our last cruise so she was fine. She did go to club a lot and had a great time. We plan to make our son go to club the first couple of days next cruise to try to meet some kids. Thats pretty much when they make their friends on the cruise.

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

Bribe her!

 

[ivanova]

the 19 year olds won't be able to get into the teen club ... they'll be considered "adults" ... so there will definitely be areas (adult only) they 19 year olds may go, that the 9 year old cannot tag along ... I agree, take her the first day to the lab, sign her up, pick up a schedule, if she changes her mind later on she's already signed up and no problems.

 

[MagicMouseketeers]

You might want to post a thread with your cruise date in it looking for children your daughters age. You might find some children willing to e-mail with your daughter. That way she would have a friend before th cruise.

Both my DS and DD have done this and have been carrying on e-mail conversations for quite sometime. They are looking forward to meeting their new friends when we leave in a week or so.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Definitely let her know about the adult only areas the 19 year olds will be able to frequent and she won't. And get her signed up.

But if she is one of those kids that enjoys her "by herself time" she may want to make sure she has some books packed. Our DD is that way (DS we never see except at dinner and "scheduled" check ins!) and although she signs in for the age level kids activity she rarely attends. She usually finds some friends that she meets up with from time to time but one of her favorite activities is sitting on the verandah with a book watching the ocean go by. Or sitting by the pool with a book watching the ocean go by.

Deb

 

[LAMPSKIES]

On our last two four nighters DD's were 10 and 8 the first time and 12 and 10 the second.......they had no interest in the clubs. And to be perfectly honest with you the cruise was too short for them to spend a day at the clubs.

 

[rae519]

I agree with that - the 3 and 4 nighters are too short for them to really enjoy the clubs. Too many things to do, see and of course, there is always the pool!!!!!

Rae

 

[lulu201]

JMHO, but I wouldn't worry too much about her club participation. Look over the Navigators with her, and if she doesn't see anything that interests her, leave it alone. I was concerned about my DD (soon to be 13) meeting people and signing up for the club on our upcoming Wonder cruise, but the truth is, as Rae said, there's just not much time for the club! On our four nighter we'll be in three ports with things to do as a family each day, and DD seems quite content with the idea of hanging out with us. At first I was thinking I needed to really encourage the club or teen scene, but now that I think about it, I'm really glad she wants to be with us. . .there may not be too many years like that left!

 

[platypus123]

We just returned from a 7 day a few weeks ago. Our DD was only lukewarn on the club idea until she found out she could sign herself in and out. (parents need to give permission first) She would usually sigh in and wait for a friend of two to arrive. If they liked the activity, they stayed, and if not they would sign themselves out and hang out on deck 9 (get a soda, ice cream or whatever) We told her that if she signed herself out she had to have us paged to let us know where she was. The counselors were happy to do this for us. It worked great for all of us!