how to convince kids who refuse to try a ride

[kstgelais4]

I don't think it's fair to make someone wait around for an hour while I'm enjoying myself.

As a parent of a child to young to ride quite a few attractions for the past 13 years, I will speak for the person you quoted in response to this...
I have NEVER made the other kids "wait around" while myself, dh, or the other kids rode something that they either couldn't ride or wouldn't ride. The beauty of Disney is that it is made for kids of all ages. The person "waiting around" wasn't necessarily sitting on their rear for an hour while the others rode. There were ice cream treats to be had, cupcakes to be eaten, playgrounds to play in, or even other enjoyable rides to ride on! My 2 year old and I rode IASW 5 times in a row while my DH took the others on BTMRR. I would never had chosen to go on IASW at all let alone 5 times, but my dd was in heaven and we made great memories. Her smile will last a lifetime. I don't know why anyone would just wait outside when the world is at your fingertips

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I was one of those kids that got pushed onto a ride by my dad. When I was 7 my dad tricked me into going on BTMRR. He told me that it was a nice little train ride and I basically screamed my head off for the whole thing.

Almost the same thing happened to me but it was a different theme park and a worse coaster!

I don't see why people want to push their kids into doing rides they don't want to do, especially something like Haunted Mansion. If it's the only ride he won't go on, it might just be him. If he didn't want to the Carousel or something similar, that's different. Even then, he should have the choice. Why force him into doing something he doesn't want to do?

 

[GovieMom]

A theme park ride is not worth making my child worry for one single minute.

Exactly! We stood in a long line for ToT right behind a couple with a young daughter who was terrified and crying her eyes out at the prospect of going on it. She kept begging her parents not to have to ride, but they kept telling her how she was going to "love it." Even if she did, it wasn't worth making her go through THAT to find out. Geesh!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Exactly! We stood in a long line for TT right behind a couple with a young daughter who was terrified and crying her eyes out at the prospect of going on it. She kept begging her parents not to have to ride, but they kept telling her how she was going to "love it." Even if she did, it wasn't worth making her go through THAT to find out. Geesh!

I've seen this so often! A child is terrified and the parents are grumbling "I've paid $xxx for this holiday and we're going to go on every ride as can!" Sadly I've seen so many children crying and screaming after getting off certain rides too.

 

[letsgoreds]

I remember that as a second grader (same age as OP) and being afraid of and refusing to ride the HM. I sat out with my Nanny when my little sister and family rode the ride.

I have since ridden it 10+ times, and have no fear of rides. He'll get there eventually...don't push it.

DS7 has no fear of roller coasters/thrill rides (we have season passes to Kings Island) but is fearful of most enclosed rides (can't see what is going to happen). This was because he freaked out when he was young at Prince Caspian. Seriously, it took some MAJOR talking to get him to ride Nemo when he was 6yo. This year I proposed that he try a new ride that he might be nervous about, Tough to be a Bug, Dinosaur, TOT...he picked Dinosaur to try out. Now if he changes his mind, no worries. He'll get there eventually ; )

 

[#1DopeyFan]

I'm the mean Mom...my kids have to try everything at least once, if they don't like it, they don't ever have to do it again until they decide they want to.

 

[Peter Fan]

As a parent of a child to young to ride quite a few attractions for the past 13 years, I will speak for the person you quoted in response to this...
I have NEVER made the other kids "wait around" while myself, dh, or the other kids rode something that they either couldn't ride or wouldn't ride. The beauty of Disney is that it is made for kids of all ages. The person "waiting around" wasn't necessarily sitting on their rear for an hour while the others rode. There were ice cream treats to be had, cupcakes to be eaten, playgrounds to play in, or even other enjoyable rides to ride on! My 2 year old and I rode IASW 5 times in a row while my DH took the others on BTMRR. I would never had chosen to go on IASW at all let alone 5 times, but my dd was in heaven and we made great memories. Her smile will last a lifetime. I don't know why anyone would just wait outside when the world is at your fingertips

Well good for you, but thats not me.

 

[TJDisneymama]

Well good for you, but thats not me.

huh? So what are you saying -- you WOULD make your child sit on a bench for an hour waiting for you? There are plenty of times 1 parent takes a kid(s) on one ride, while the other parent takes the other kid(s) on another ride.....or for a snack, etc. Not sure what your point is?

 

[AlixaLock]

I'm the mean Mom...my kids have to try everything at least once, if they don't like it, they don't ever have to do it again until they decide they want to.

Yeah, that's me, too. Actually worse, because (unless there is motion sickness involved) everyone gets to pick a ride and then everyone who's tall enough rides. My DD didn't love TOT at the beginning, but I do, so she rides with us and then it's her turn. We always have to follow the rules, even if I find myself sitting on that ridiculous floor at the Disney Junior Live show or riding BTMRR for the 18th time (that happens to be her favorite.) I don't believe any one person should be in control of our family vacation, particularly the 5-year-old. When she's old enough to wait outside alone, we'll re-think, but otherwise we ride together.

FYI, this doesn't mean I drag a crying kid onto the ride. Never have and never will. We leave in two weeks and have already set the expectations and consequences. EVeryone knows their kid best, but this is our way.

 

[Manda]

I prefer to call it a reward instead of a bribe.

DS knows that I wouldn't try to coerce him to go on anything that I thought would truly upset him, so he generally trusts my nudging. When he was first tall enough to start riding the bigger rides, we put out there that he'd get a "reward" - usually some candy candy chosen from a gift shop - for every new ride he tried. Then, he'd tell us when he was ready to earn his next reward. Me announcing "Let's try Haunted Mansion now!" never worked. But letting him think for a while on possible rewards usually eventually had him taking a deep breath and dragging us into line. Even the rides he came off of not wanting to try again, he's proud of himself for trying it once and tells everyone that he did it. I think nudging kids along the path of life and encouraging them to test their limits is part of parenting. And what better place to work on that life lesson?

(To the original poster: My DS is also 9.5, will ride most anything... still scared of Haunted Mansion. He's ridden it, but doesn't want to go again.)

 

[ttintagel]

I was one of those kids that got pushed onto a ride by my dad. When I was 7 my dad tricked me into going on BTMRR. He told me that it was a nice little train ride and I basically screamed my head off for the whole thing. I have been back to WDW about 5 times since then and have never been on it again.

My Dad pulled that on my mother, knowing she had a horrible fear of roller coasters. She got so scared she hyperventilated and passed out on his shoulder. It's a really rotten trick to pull on someone you care about.

 

[scoutie]

She got so scared she hyperventilated and passed out on his shoulder. It's a really rotten trick to pull on someone you care about.

Agreed. I was forced on Space Mountain when I was nine. I got sick, and I've never gotten over my fear of roller coasters or other "scary" rides. I don't think it's right to force a child to go on a ride (and I know the OP wasn't suggesting this at all!)

Forcing a child to do something that they think is scary is a good way to create anxiety.

 

[ttintagel]

However, the wheelchair entrance bypasses that scary part, so I'd think if you ask the CM for help they might be able to hook you up and calm him down a bit. They would probably drop the creepy act if that would work too.

Ever since the stretching rooms were made wheelchair accessible,official policy is that everyone has to go through them. Every once in a while a CM will be sympathetic, but most of them are so busy trying to act creepy that even people with a GAC for visual disabilities that make it unsafe to walk in complete darkness (like me) usually meet with a stone-faced refusal for any such accommodation. So, it's possible,but I wouldn't encourage anyone to count on it.

 

[runsandjumps]

I have said my kids should try everything once and leave it at that. Then again I have started my kids early so they have never said anything close to that. More like- I can't wait until I'm tall enough for that ride!

My kids are daredevils but I hope it stays limited to roller coasters.

 

[nikki7680]

Well I have to admit that I am that mom standing in line with the crying kid who doesn't want to try the ride. But, I am also the mom who's kid is skipping and laughing coming off the ride because he ended up LOVING the ride. You know your kid the best. If "making" him try the ride will give him a complex, then don't do it. But if your kid is like mine and it's is the fear of the unknown that is causing him to not want to ride, then give him a push just once. If, after, he still hates it then I wouldn't make him do it again. Good luck!

 

[ttintagel]

Well I have to admit that I am that mom standing in line with the crying kid who doesn't want to try the ride. But, I am also the mom who's kid is skipping and laughing coming off the ride because he ended up LOVING the ride.

I'm sure that makes all the innocent bystanders whose ears are still ringing from the screaming and crying feel MUCH better.

 

[finbait]

I laugh at this post because this is my life! My son will think nothing of swimming with wild sharks, but will not ride most rides! He doesn't like the lack of control he has on them. That said, He begs to go on Rockin' Roller Coaster, beams until it's time to get on, Screams and cries hysterically when they strap him in. Smiles ear to ear on the ride. We get off, he begs to go again.... and so the cycle continues! I know every parent there thinks I am am being so mean and horrible to him. But, he loves the ride, just cannot get over his fear of being strapped in! One day, (hopefully on our trip in a few weeks) he will stop the crying and just get on!

 

[mill4023]

Encouraging kids to overcome their fears and experience new things is a good thing. Throughout their lives, they will continually encounter things that make them nervous and scared. If they never do anything they are scared of, they will miss out on so many opportunities and experiences. And when they do go and do something that they were scared of, they will be proud of themselves for overcoming that fear.

But encouraging them is not the same as forcing them. Making them do something they are terrified of is only going to cause anxiety, stress, and resentment.

So I'm all in favor of bribery and persuasion, as long as the final decision is theirs.

I still remember the first time I jumped off a high dive. I think I was probably about 10 years old. My dad bribed me with some toy that I really wanted. It took me a really long time of psyching myself up and I was really nervous and scared. But I remember being so proud of myself after I did it.

 

[nikki7680]

I'm sure that makes all the innocent bystanders whose ears are still ringing from the screaming and crying feel MUCH better.

I NEVER said my kid was SCREAMING. You know, I thought this board was a way to help people who want to travel to Disney. 8 out of 10 times though, it seems to just be a board for snobs to make people feel like crap. Excuse me for not having perfect children who behave like angels 24/7. And if you don't like listening to whining, crying kids, maybe Disney isn't the best place to take your family on vacation.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Well I have to admit that I am that mom standing in line with the crying kid who doesn't want to try the ride. But, I am also the mom who's kid is skipping and laughing coming off the ride because he ended up LOVING the ride. You know your kid the best. If "making" him try the ride will give him a complex, then don't do it. But if your kid is like mine and it's is the fear of the unknown that is causing him to not want to ride, then give him a push just once. If, after, he still hates it then I wouldn't make him do it again. Good luck!

That is my 2yo right now! He cries every time we put him on a new ride, and I know everyone else is thinking what a mean mom I am, dragging him on. But EVERY single time he ends up LOVING it, and begging to go again. It is exactly that - the fear of the unknown, and sometimes it takes a little force to get kids to overcome that. He would have missed out on so much fun if I wasn't always dragging him to these rides the first time, plus afterwards, he has so much more confidence and is ready to take on bigger things.

I'm sorry if people have to listen to a little crying in the line (usually just the 5-10 seconds before we actually sit down on the ride), but it's not like he screams through the whole ride. And I wouldn't do it if I wasn't confident that he would stop as soon as we start moving.

I don't think there is anything wrong with expecting your kid to try something once, even if they are apprehensive. Not if it's to the point of them having a total meltdown, but some encouragement, and even bribery, are not uncalled for, imo. They might thank you later And even if they don't, at least you'll know you tried.