Kids on shoulders

[iheartbklyn]

During the parades, fireworks, etc. I imagine there are plenty of children on their parent's shoulders. If you have one in front of you do you say something? Or just try to move to a better location? Just wondering.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

I try to move a bit to the side to see something between the folks in front of me. The parent who put the kid up on their shoulders is not likely to care about your experience - they would not have disregarded how their action would affect those around them if they were the type to care beyond what their own family experiences. I know it's hard for kids to see - I am only 5ft and can't see much...

 

[Autumnslight]

If it's a kid blocking my view, I just try to move. I really don't think it's fair to say that parents who do that don't care about anyone else. It's a tough situation, and I'm not sure there's a solution that would solve the problem for everyone. On one hand, if the child is on their parent's shoulders in front of you, you can't see. On the other hand, if the child is put down, they can't see. You both paid to be there. How are you supposed to decide who's experience is more important? Obviously, there's no answer to that.

Of course, parents can stake out a spot early, to ensure that their kids, can see, but there's always the potential for some jerk to shove in front of you. And they can try to hold their kids on their hip, so they're level with the parent's head, and not blocking anyone else's view, but that doesn't always work so well either.

The very first Celebrate the Magic and Wishes I ever went to, everyone was sitting in front of the castle. When more people came, for the most part, they saw everyone else sitting, and also sat. If not, they ended up moving off to the side, or the back. We were all able to see, and it was great. Since it was my first time, I thought sitting was the common practice. Boy was I surprised (and disappointed) to find out the next time that it wasn't.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

During the parades, fireworks, etc. I imagine there are plenty of children on their parent's shoulders. If you have one in front of you do you say something? Or just try to move to a better location? Just wondering.

~It can be annoying, but I would just move to another location. For me, it would feel so awkward to ask a stranger to take their child down. It's just not worth it.

 

[shadeauxe]

I would move. I put my kids on my shoulders because standing they have no chance of seeing anything and it's easier to hold them for longer periods of time on my shoulders.

This past December, my 9 year old was in the unfortunate situation of being too short to see anything standing and too big for me to lift by myself. So, two of us had to kind of make a chair with our arms and life him up that way. That was not fun.

If I absolutely needed to have an awesome view, then I'd get there before other people and pick a spot where someone couldn't get in front of me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Of course, parents can stake out a spot early, to ensure that their kids, can see, but there's always the potential for some jerk to shove in front of you. And they can try to hold their kids on their hip, so they're level with the parent's head, and not blocking anyone else's view, but that doesn't always work so well either.

There isn't any reason for this not to work.

 

[MattRyan]

I'm okay with it sometimes. However, I'm not okay with people holding cameras/iPads really high and blocking my view.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I never bother asking. My feelings are, if they're dumb and discourteous enough to do that in the first place, talking to them won't do any good. We just move.

I've got 2 little ones, and I would never do it. I like to think this falls under the common sense theme park etiquette of other things like taking flash pictures on dark rides, talking on attractions, etc. People are just rude and stupid.

 

[2Tiggies]

If I absolutely needed to have an awesome view, then I'd get there before other people and pick a spot where someone couldn't get in front of me.

But that begs the question why everyone can't do the same. It's the same old story as the parades when someone shows up 5 minutes before and gets mad at you because you're in their way after you've been there for upwards of 90 minutes

I will do my utmost to accommodate where I can, for the sake of children. It's not their fault their parents didn't plan. But I'm not jeopardizing my own child's experience to help someone else's. She has to sit with me and wait too. We've been going for several years now. She understands if you want something good, you usually have to wait.

As far as asking someone to take their child down, no I wouldn't do that and try to move if I can first, but I have no problem asking nicely if they could step aside slightly if both of us moving helps us all to see. The trouble is, when they move, they might help me, but now they are blocking the view of someone else. Hopefully it makes them think carefully the next time.

 

[sonofanarchy]

The trouble is, when they move, they might help me, but now they are blocking the view of someone else. Hopefully it makes them think carefully the next time.

I don't think it's so much a question of not thinking as it is not caring.

 

[Mrsjvb]

During the parades, fireworks, etc. I imagine there are plenty of children on their parent's shoulders. If you have one in front of you do you say something? Or just try to move to a better location? Just wondering.

as someone in a wheelchair I not only do NOT hesitate in saying something, I am very vocal about it. I was in the HA seating at one of the production shows, Beauty and the Beast or something. very last row as it was and the guy in front of me let his granddaughter stand in his lap. it took FOUR freaking taps on the shoulder asking( the first three, the last one was a no holds barred MOVE THE KID growl) before he rolled his eyes and moved the kid to next seat over. to stand on THAT person's lap. so it started ALL over again with my husband now being the one not able to see.

he had the nerve to whine about this being all about the children and we had no right to complain. only his grandchild's ability to see mattered.

 

[2Tiggies]

I don't think it's so much a question of not thinking as it is not caring.

You're probably right.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

There oughta be a law

 

[Jennasis]

We always stake out parade spots early enough so that we are in front. I just will not deal with having to be behind rude people (with kids on their shoulders or ipads up high).

 

[EMode]

There oughta be a law

Yeah like don't cram your theme park with so many people

 

[Mrsjvb]

my thinking is, if the kids need to be on a set of shoulders to see then the shoulders need to be in the BACK of the crowd so that they are not blocking anyone's view. one row of people sitting/squatting on the curb. one row immediately behind of all heights standing and the the parents who insists on putting their kids on high behind them.

it's not rocket science.

 

[2Tiggies]

my thinking is, if the kids need to be on a set of shoulders to see then the shoulders need to be in the BACK of the crowd so that they are not blocking anyone's view. one row of people sitting/squatting on the curb. one row immediately behind of all heights standing and the the parents who insists on putting their kids on high behind them.

it's not rocket science.

True. But then common sense is becoming increasingly uncommon.

 

[MattRyan]

We always stake out parade spots early enough so that we are in front. I just will not deal with having to be behind rude people (with kids on their shoulders or ipads up high).

Doesn't always work though either. I staked out a spot on Main Street for the MSEP once and was sitting on the curb. When the parade started, the people to my right (the direction the parade was coming from), stood up and constantly leaned out to take a bunch of pictures, blocking the view until the float was literally right in front of me, very annoying.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

my thinking is, if the kids need to be on a set of shoulders to see then the shoulders need to be in the BACK of the crowd so that they are not blocking anyone's view. one row of people sitting/squatting on the curb. one row immediately behind of all heights standing and the the parents who insists on putting their kids on high behind them.

it's not rocket science.

I have put my boys on my shoulders for parades a few times and I only did so because we were at the back. I even moved further back once to avoid obstructing the view of families behind us. I never understood why someone would do something like this with a bunch of people behind them.

That said, I have had families walk up behind us with my son already on my shoulders and the parade already well underway and say something. I never respond - just pretend not to hear them. But really? You arrive late and want me to take my son down so you can see, removing any chance that he will be able to see? Really?

People can be very self-centered.

 

[gtpoohbear]

There isn't any reason for this not to work.

Never works for me, because I'm short. If there are adults standing in front of me, they are probably taller than me, so having my kid at my height doesn't help, they still can't see. (And neither can I for that matter)

But my neck would never tolerate having them on my shoulders anyway. Probably one of the reasons we rarely do parades, unless you are in the front it's pointless for us short folk!