Dead Giveaways the Kids Need A Break

[MagicallyMom]

At all ages and stages, especially those two young to know it themselves or verbalize it well, how can you tell your kids need a break in the parks?

 

[loves to dive]

I think you just have to know your kid. We started going when my son was just shy of 3, he is 36 now. Each phase was different, when he was real little he just wouldn't want to do anything or get a little whinny. As he got older he would still get cranky and even now, if he gets real quiet I know he is hurting (he has nerve damage in his spinal cord).

 

[MagicallyMom]

I'm going to be taking a 14 month old and an 8 year old who doesn't like using her words. I mean, I know my kid's, but Disney can throw wrenches in schedules and things. Advice is welcome.

 

[Tink_83]

Tantrums and refusing to take a nap are dead give away a for my DD and always have been... she is 4 but in general when people start to become unreasonable (even adults) that's a good way to tell that they may just be tired and cranky... even at the happiest place on earth...

 

[2disneyboys]

(snipped) "but in general when people start to become unreasonable (even adults) that's a good way to tell that they may just be tired and cranky"... even at the happiest place on earth...

This exactly. My DH & I refer to them as "magical meltdowns" and we have seen nearly as many adults have them as young kids In the days that our kids were younger, if we were not going back to our hotel mid day, we tried to plan a "late lunch" and then spent the next hour or so at an inside show, or an outside quiet space so everyone could just decompress. Now that our kids are teen's it's a whole different world...

 

[DLgal]

The same way you know at home that your kid needs a break. All kids have different behaviors.

 

[Tink_83]

This exactly. My DH & I refer to them as "magical meltdowns" and we have seen nearly as many adults have them as young kids In the days that our kids were younger, if we were not going back to our hotel mid day, we tried to plan a "late lunch" and then spent the next hour or so at an inside show, or an outside quiet space so everyone could just decompress. Now that our kids are teen's it's a whole different world...

I love that, "magical meltdowns"!

 

[my2lovedisney]

We always go in September, this year it'll be August. September is HOT as crap already so, I can only imagine it'll be like we found the surface of the sun. My kids whine. Period. They act miserable, nothing pleases them..they're hot, their legs are tired..blah blah...I honestly would just plan on taking a mid day break since you'll have a 14 month old anyways. Maybe the 8 year old can swim while the baby naps?

 

[martikus]

We try to stay ahead of it. We know if DS gets hungry the grumpies come and he will never say he is hungry because so much going on. So we ensure we throw snacks his way and ensure lunch earlier than later.

DS (now 10) always an early riser so we hit parks early and head back by 3pm. Even if DS isn't quite ready, everyone is exhausted on way back to hotel and no one really minds. Evening park just doesn't work for DS's sleep schedule. So we embrace it and we all enjoy our trips more as we are building in late afternoon/evening relax time when we are pooped and recharged by morning.

Also by not doing it all. If ds wants to do small world 8 times ina row like he did when 6 then so be it. And we won't rush him off to fit in xy and z. They are only this age once. Enjoy it through their eyes.

 

[MagicallyMom]

We always go in September, this year it'll be August. September is HOT as crap already so, I can only imagine it'll be like we found the surface of the sun. My kids whine. Period. They act miserable, nothing pleases them..they're hot, their legs are tired..blah blah...I honestly would just plan on taking a mid day break since you'll have a 14 month old anyways. Maybe the 8 year old can swim while the baby naps?

OMGracious, your avatar is Rapunzel, and reading the "I'm tired, my legs are hot, blah blah blah" it totally was said in Mother Gothel's voice. "Stop with the mumbling, you know how I feel about the mumbling, blah blah blah..."

Sorry, I digress.

 

[Tattylou]

We also try to stay ahead of it. We go to the park on the early side, stay in the park to eat lunch....then we get outta dodge and go back to swim and chill....then we head back into a park for dinner and the evening. If we stay too long, it turns into the I'm hot, my legs are tired, blah, blah, blah that @my2lovedisney describes.

 

[HaveKidsWillTravel]

This exactly. My DH & I refer to them as "magical meltdowns"

Haha. We call them 'magical meltdowns' too!! disney can be overwhelming for everyone. When the kids or we get overwhelmed we try to find a 'calm' place. My favorite last trip was the bench/floral area by Swiss family tree house. DD had an epic melt down and then fell asleep in my arms there.

 

[apdismom]

Our DD (6) gets crabby when she is tired but refuses to sleep and our DD (3) gets wild so we use a double stroller. We have other places that are not Disney world but that include activities and a lot of walking and the same go-go-go atmosphere that Disney encompasses. While there the kids will walk and get in the stroller and fall asleep after lunch. at Disney that's usually when we either walk through shops or go take the monorail to the poly or GF and check out resorts or walk through world showcase. We park hop. We like to usually pick one thing that is a MUST-DO for the day, as long as we do that, we consider it a successful day and let the kids guide the rest of our day. We have spent 13 hours at MK with the kids sleeping in the stroller on and off while still hitting everything we wanted to and having one of the best days I can remember. We let the kids guide us. let them sleep when they were tired, if one was awake we swapped and rode a ride with them when both were awake we rode rides, watched parades, ate ice cream, and watched Wishes 2 times .

 

[my2lovedisney]

OMGracious, your avatar is Rapunzel, and reading the "I'm tired, my legs are hot, blah blah blah" it totally was said in Mother Gothel's voice. "Stop with the mumbling, you know how I feel about the mumbling, blah blah blah..."

Sorry, I digress.

Yes, I am mother Gothel and my daughter who is almost 10 knows it HAHA! I even have the Designer Collection Villian doll of Mother Gothel

 

[minijenny]

I know it's time for a break when my kids say no to every suggestion, even ice cream!

 

[Smittolis]

If your kids are old enough you can use a common therapists trick by using the concept of a 'thermometer'. You can work on it prior to going so your child knows its relevance...

The concept is simple, you ask your child what their 'temperature' is and they will respond with an appropriate level of response relating to their emotions and how they feel. If they are anxious, tired, frustrated, then their temperature is 'hot', if they are good then the temperature if 'cold'... and so on. While it may seem a little weird at first, it is a great way for your child to express their feelings without ever having to explain them or go into detail. That way, a simple 1 word response gets them the things they need. This is something that works great with spectrum children as well as others who potentially struggle with their verbal expression.