discipline????

[worm761]

how would you go about disciplining a child in the parks? i dont ask this to be mean but i am scared the need to do so may come up. my son will be 5 when we go and as far as discipline goes we do the corner. if i am at a local store and he starts to misbehave to a point that discipline comes into the picture then i leave the store and take him home. i cant do that at disney.....i will be 20+ hours from home. any thoughts on this subject?

angela

7/01-offsite

 

[Lucky4me]

You know, I bet thats why you see so many out of control kids at Disney; No one is giving time outs! lol I do the corner at home too. Works like a charm. She'll come out of there after 5 minutes like a new person.


Maybe you should tell your 5yo ahead of time that Disney World has a rule that naughty children have to stand in the corner too. If you are consistent with the corner at home I think it just may work. If it doesn't then I'm sure you can find a corner somewhere! (I wish I would have thought of this before our last trip!!)

 

[eeyore0662]

We threatened 2 different manners of discipline for 2 different problems--luckily we never had to use either. For breaking away and running---I bought a child's wrist leash at the baby store before we went in BRIGHT Yellow. I even forgot to take, it but she didn't know that--never tried to run once For general misbehavior of any other kind we told her that someone would have to take her back to the room and she would have to pay them $5 Disney Dollars an hour because they were missing out on the fun because of her. She certainly didn't want to use her hard earned Disney Dollars in that way, nor did she want to miss out on the fun herself...so that worked like a charm, too! DD was 6 years old at the time and will be 7 when we go in May, and believe me those rules are still going to be in effect

Have a Wonderful day, Eeyore

 

[CarrieAP]

Great question! I am a firm believer in discipline anywhere or anytime as consistency is critical. My concern will my 2 year DD as we are struggling to learn appropriate behaviors. I do not hesitate to choose any location to be a time-out spot, even if just to set her off to the side of a floor of a restaurant. Typically works like a charm, but I have to be willing to let her throw her little tantrum and get it out of her system without dying of embarrassment.

I also have a 5 year DD, but have lucked out with her as she is quite well behaved. At this age you have a few more options you can work with as the discipline does not need to be so immediate. You could try by setting rules each day and explaining consequences if broken, i.e. loss of spending money, no treats or soda for the day, loss of swimming privileges, no dessert at dinner, inability to go on a favorite attraction etc.

'83,'84,'88 off site
3/98 CSR
6/98 Dolphin
4/99 CSR
5/99 DL
7/99 Yacht Club
5/01 CSR

 

[Spinning]

this is a good topic. We have been going to Disney with our kids since DD was 15 months and Ds 4 months. Each time we think it will be worse because of their ages and the normal fighting between siblings. But we have been very lucky. We use the time out also we just pick a spot and their they sit! They are now 5 &3. Also if they are really acting up they may miss a ride and the other child gets to do it. But one thing we make sure they get plenty of rest and FLUIDS! we also have taken away treats too, which for us is Mickey ears. That is a killer to do....but I think if you have good rules at home and the kids know you plan to stick with it you will be fine!

 

[tinaluis]

We've threatened to leave the park, and even went so far as to go back to the car one time when my daughter (at age 3) was completely out of control. Most important (and I have to remind myself of this sometimes) is that WDW is sensory overload for the kids. There is SO much to do. I try to be patient, but then I just try to go with the flow if (and when) a meltdown happens. It's not the end of the world, even if every parent is staring at you with disapproving looks!

 

[Sharmaine]

My kids are 4 and 7. Face it, most of the places we'll be will be for thier benefit. From all reports I've heard, I'd like Universal or IOA the best. We aren't doing either.

Therefore, if they act up - which would probably mean running away, fighting, or inscently whining because of whatever - we will be packing up and heading back to the hotel for the day. If they are very good, they might convince us to go back to the park later.

This works well at home, but they are real good kids. We only have to do it once a year or so - it makes a lasting impression and they remember it for a long time. And they know we will do it, so a warning is usually enough. However with all the excitment, I expect to have to do it one day early in our vacation, after which, they should settle down and understand what behaviour is required for the priviledge of visiting the park

 

[skeezixspud]

Many people have trouble with the "go back to the hotel" strategy because the passes are so expensive, and once they have been used that day, the money is spent, even if you were only there 10 minutes. (I won't even discuss UMP's!) I think with older kids, making them literally pay for misbehavior is probably the best solution in that case. If not money, then maybe create tokens for special things and give out a finite number?

With a little kid? I found that with my then 3 yo, the baby care center was a good place to get him re-centered when he got overstimulated. It's usually quiet, and there are proper chairs there. I've never had a problem with the wandering-off thing in parks at WDW; the crowds intimidated him so much that he insisted on staying in the stroller most of the time.

It's been my observation that many of the tantrums I've overheard at WDW parks seem to have to do with snack treats and souvenirs. We don't buy either one in any parks, ever. We created the rule to save money, but I think maybe it has also helped to prevent meltdowns; he doesn't even bother to ask, so the evil "N" word isn't necessary. I hope the intimidation holds for a while longer!

 

[Laz]

The child thinks that we are punishing ourselves as well, but we explain that one parent will sit with the child while the other goes and has fun. Then we will switch. Just don't let the child know its not as fun when alone.

 

[Julia M]

I have found that most problems with my kids (when we are at Disneyland) have stemmed from the kids being tired.

when we head back and take a nap (and I do mean a nap, not just a swim break), we have few, if any, discipline issues

Julia

First trip: July, 1983
Second trip: April 17-20, Dixie Landings
April 20-28: Orange Lake COuntry Club

 

[Spinning]

Hi one of the other things we do that isn't a punishment but we make sure they know when they are good! Not over praise or anything but I just say to DD when we are out shopping, "today was such a treat! I love when we have fun like this together, makes me want to do more things." This seems to really help in the whole picture. I had a tendency to always focus on the wrong behavior, growing up we were expected to be good so no praise should be given. But I feel kids need to hear the positive too. It is amazing how well it works! especially if you start before the vacation!