DC Suggestion Needed & Question

[mrsltg]

Hi All-

My dh and I are taking our girls to DC in June as a birthday gift for our animal loving soon-to-be seven-year-old. Our youngest is not old enough to do the dolphin swim so she and dh will be sitting out that portion of events. However, youngest dd is 4 1/2, and wants to do everything her sisters do. She understands the word 'no' (she hears it often enough ) but I am still a little worried at how she will take this. Any ideas on what dh can do with her while we do our swim? Also, I believe I read that non-dolphin-swimmers can join the family for a photo with the dolphin. Is this the case? If so, is this done at the beginning of the interaction, or at the end?

I appreciate any knowledge or insight you may have!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Why don't you have your DH take her to the souvenir shop to pick out and purchase a stuffed dolphin toy while you and your other child do the swim? That might make her feel like she gets something special too. Then you could toss it in your locker until you are ready to pack it in for the day.

Or maybe the two of them would like to visit the aviary together?

Far as the photos go, I am guessing (but not entirely certain) that it might be closer to the beginning of the interaction that they would do the family photo with the non-swimmers. I know for our dolphin swim, the posed pics (individually with the dolphin, the dolphin kiss, and the family pics) were done at the beginning of our interaction with the female dolphin. Then they switched out the dolphins and we had a male for our "swim" portion.

 

[mrsltg]

Thank you! And yes, a little bribery may well work wonders here! I'll be doing the swim with my two older dd's leaving only the youngest to hang with dad... She may be fine, she may be not-so-fine... We shall see!