Great Parenting

[patchchild]

I just got back from a 4 day trip to the World and I was so happily impressed by a great many of the parents. I only ran into one family having a real breakdown, threatening the kids if they didn't behave, yelling, "I paid for this so you're going to enjoy it," that kind of thing.

The great majority of the families were clearly so happy to be spending time with one another. Even late at night, standing at the bus line with some very sleepy, over tired, grumpy children, the parents were really doing the best they could. Lots of talking about the day and planning for the next day, rather than telling the poor over tired kids to just be quiet or to stop whining. Distraction techniques were everywhere! Lots of bubbles and silly games to play in line.

Maybe it's because I got used to going in peak season where it's so much more crowded, but it seemed like a big change to me this time.

Hooray for great parenting!

 

[debster812]

This is a great post, and made me smile. Thanks for taking the time to share it!

We strive to be one of the 'greats' when we're at the World, and settle for being good.

 

[sara74]

Hope we can be one of those families in April!!! Distraction seems to be key to us, does anyone have a list of game ideas to play with preschoolers (4 and 1 1/2) while waiting in lines. I remember a lot of "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar" on my one trip to WDW as a kid!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Very good to hear. However I don't see this thread going on for 15 pages. Good things never get as much attention as bad saddly.

I hope the same for when we are there in a month. (and that others say the same about us )

 

[TammyJ]

That's great to hear. Often these boards can become a place to vent about poor behavior. It's nice to be reminded that most people are good folks doing good things.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I saw lots of good parenting last week too. On two different occasions we had children fooling around and deliberately hit our stroller where our little one was sleeping. On both occasions, the parents corrected their children immediately. It was good to see.

 

[HLAuburn]

(Note to self: bring bubbles)

 

[Nancyg56]

I love this kind of post! Thank you for sharing the magic.

 

[MareSINY]

LOL Should I wear a button or something when I go in January that identifies me as an aunt on her first single outting with her 4 year old niece? LOL Honestly, I think it's great that you saw a lot of families getting along great, and I really hope that things go smoothly with me and my DN, but I am worried about a few breakdowns, either by me or by her! LOL Hopefully I wont turn into a 15 page post about the awful woman with the little blonde girl. LOL

 

[Schmeck]

Some bubbles can cause an allergic reaction - my daughter gets a nasty rash from some types of bubble. So blowing bubbles in any confined area (including bus lines!) can be problematic - especially when kids want to go chase the bubbles and a bus is coming Bubbles can also sting eyes when they pop in your face.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Some bubbles can cause an allergic reaction - my daughter gets a nasty rash from some types of bubble. So blowing bubbles in any confined area (including bus lines!) can be problematic - especially when kids want to go chase the bubbles and a bus is coming Bubbles can also sting eyes when they pop in your face.

Oh my. Talk about bursting someone bubble.

They just ment, note to self. Remember to bring simple things that can help amuse the child but not take up much room and defuse a difficult situation.

In other planing ahead can make the job of good parenting a bit eaiser.

They blow bubbles in the playhouse disney show.

 

[Schmeck]

My daughter is 12 - we've never done Disney Play house - the bubbles at the Little Mermaid irritated her skin, though. It wasn't a full-blown rash, but it did make her skin itchy and a little bit bumpy, when a bubble popped on her arm.

All bubbles don't have the same ingredients. I wish we could figure out the 'good' bubbles from the not-so-good. I know the ones in the little wedding-size bottles gave her a nasty rash once, one brand from WalMart was OK, while another kind (the ones in the party aisle) caused a rash.

Her worst rash happened when a bubble popped in her face. Her eyes got all swollen and red!

 

[Disney Fool]

here are some ideas to keep the little ones contented:
Tiny race cars; Walmart or Target has them with Mickey, Donald, etc.
those paddles with the ball attached with elastic.
CVS/Walgreens carries miniature playing cards with Princesses, Pooh, or
Mickey on them
The Disney Store has character Rubic-cubes
PEZ candy dispensers to whip out whenever they get restless
The Dollar store carries tons of small toys you can pack in your bag to amuse children and they don't take up much room. ON a recent visit, I found Goofy, and Donald hang-gliding toys, very small, My little Pony dolls on a card with comb and brush, miniature coloring books with mini crayons attached to the book. Walmart has those very tiny Etch-A-Sketch at the check out area. I always grab those-to amuse kids on the airplane (or standing in line)

 

[akamom]

This really mad me smile because I just got back on Sunday and I definitely had a tired grumpy 4yr old. I didn't see too much yelling either.

 

[dbarker]

We like to play games like "I Spy". We also look at the maps some. They are so colorful and I point out where we are and where we've been and where we are going next. My DS loves looking at maps.