Dolphin Shy

[JoAnnPan]

I am posting on behalf of my sister - I have been to DC and she is going for the first time with her family in 1 week. Her daughter is 8 and her son is 9; they are doing the dolphin swim and she has a slight feeling that her son may be a little scared/hesitant of the dolphin; I told her I am sure he will not be the first kid the DC dolphin handlers have seen this way; does anyone know how they handle this type of situation? Thanks for any feedback!!

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I've only been to DC once. in our group there was a little girl who seemed hesitant. she got a few extra chances to meet our dolphin, and by the time she saw how much fun people were having, she took her turn. some kids foam at the mouth waiting for the dolphin encounter, some are reluctant. the water's cold, and there's a big rubbery mammal right there. the trainer didn't push anything, (unlike her parents) she let the girl come to her own decision. it's kinda hard to describe, but it was cool to see the smile on her face when she engaged it. my daughter had seen plenty of them in the Gulf and fed them numerous times at SW. she was ready to strap a saddle to the dolphin's back and ride it all day.

 

[Northstar]

my daughter had seen plenty of them in the Gulf and fed them numerous times at SW. she was ready to strap a saddle to the dolphin's back and ride it all day.

Can't wait to try this. That would be my daughter. But if a child doesn't want to get close, I can see where this would be a bigger problem for the family (who paid $$$ for the dolphin swim!) than the trainers. That's cool that they take a laid-back approach. Maybe also if the family keeps repeating before the visit "you can get just as close to the dolphin as you want, you don't HAVE to touch the dolphin" that will help reassure?