My youngest son (7 years old) is scared of coasters, which is normal but he's very self-conscious about it.

[indoshakespeare]

We've been trying to tell him that it's okay to be scared of coasters and that there are a lot of adults who are scared of them but whenever he sees kids younger than him ride a coaster, he seems to be down and self aware that he's a scaredy-cat. Any tip to increase his confidence?

 

[walt34]

We've been trying to tell him that it's okay to be scared of coasters and that there are a lot of adults who are scared of them but whenever he sees kids younger than him ride a coaster, he seems to be down and self aware that he's a scaredy-cat. Any tip to increase his confidence?

The question is whether he himself wants to change or not. It should always be ok to not go on a coaster and resisting peer pressure is a quality by itself. But if he wants to overcome his fears I'd suggest building a very slow progression for him. Start with a coaster that looks and feels harmless to him today. Ride it until he feels really comfortable with it and it should be up to him to try the next coaster up. Take into account that there might be days when he feels more adventurous than others and this should be ok, too.

 

[fla4fun]

Do you know what aspect of the coaster scares him? Speed? Height? Darkness? I’m a coaster chicken, and for me, a lot of it is the height. At Disney, I can manage BTMRR because they built out the landscaping on either side of the track, which disguises enough of the height that I can handle it. Slinky Dog scares the living daylights out of me. I don’t like Space Mountain because of the dark and not being able to prepare for what’s coming at me. I would never go upside down. I think it’s important to know what aspect of the coasters bothers him, so that if he does want to overcome his fear you will know which coasters might not trigger a panic response as much and start with those.

 

[disneyfanlincoln]

He needs to know it is actually normal to be scared of coasters and just means his survival instinct is fully intact.he is not a scared di cat he’s actually more sensible than the rest of us. I love coasters my husband does not , he has a true flight reaction. He’s been this way since he was a child, the same way some can’t do spiders. We don’t see it as an issue and don’t force stuff on each other. My mantra to my daughter was everyone is different and to embrace that. Shw didn’t like coasters at seven but now does, no reason for it, she just changed. She didn’t have to cos she could see parents liking different things. I think I’d just reassure him that it’s not a problem and he probably has other strengths that the other kids don’t have

 

[Jwaire]

I would immediately discourage the scaredy-cat language and stop any family member from teasing him.

There's a lot of people that have anxiety about rollercoasters or any attraction for that matter. Whether they're generally scared or just have anxiety about the height, drop, vehicle, latching mechanisms, seats, ears popping, darkness, ghosts, etc.

Attractions are overstimulating by design and it's perfectly normal.

One thing you could do is have him look up all the POVs of the attractions so he knows what he's getting into.

Universal tends to make rides that have less flexibility in terms of height, weight and overall size. I'm broad, tall and somewhat overweight.

When a new attraction opens, I always make sure to check out ride POVs on YouTube before I even attempt to go on them. Makes me feel much more comfortable and secure.

 

[PollyannaMom]

It is perfectly OK not to like roller coasters, just like it's perfectly OK not to like a certain food, game, television show, whatever...

I would make sure to point out some of these other examples in daily life - both things he doesn't like and especially things others don't like, that he doesn't judge them for. (For example, if an adult doesn't like a spicy food that he does eat, remind him that he doesn't look down on them for it.)


If he wants to like coasters, because he feels like he's missing out on a fun thing, then I agree with the tip upthread to start small and work your way up.

 

[_19disnA]

No one has to LIKE going on a roller coaster. Many choose to do other things at amusement parks. Some don't like the weightless feeling or it makes them queasy or the speed/sudden turns aren't something they enjoy. The idea of being 'scared' of them seems more like someone has forced him to ride something he didn't like in the past. Has he ever been on a roller coaster? I don't think anyone should be forced to do anything they don't care for. Not clear from the OP's remarks if the child does/doesn't want to ride any roller coaster. Usually most amusement parks have rides for smaller children that are tamer/slower. He also may not yet be tall enough for certain rides.

 

[goofyernmost]

Just tell him that you heard from a 76 year old that if truth be known is now and has always been afraid of coasters. I fail to understand why it is fun to scare ourselves half to death when life itself is scary enough without it.

 

[TippyThomas]

I'll join the scared of coasters club myself. I don't mind the rolling hills and the ups and downs. I just can't stand the big drops and the sense of falling. I'll ride a smaller, less intense coaster, but avoid the big ones. Maybe get him to try a smaller, less intense to give it a shot?

 

[pezgirlroy]

Add me to this club. 46 years old and I refuse to go on them. Well other than the tiny ones.

 

[Magical2017]

Like some pp have mentioned, there are grown adults who will not ride coasters or scary rides. DH and ODS (aged 18 now) are included in this group. I'd acknowledge your child's concern because if he feels self-conscious, telling him not to worry about it will not make it go away--he feels what he feels. However, keep reinforcing that it is okay to have things we are afraid of and that many people feel the same way. Those little kids who ride the coasters might be afraid of other things that your DS is not afraid of, and that's okay, too.

With our ODS, we would get in lines at places if he wanted to try a ride and tell him he could back out at any time. He he did so, even at the last minute before we were about to buckle in. He eventually chose to ride some coasters when he was older but he is still not a coaster person. He and DH go off and do other things while YDS and I ride the faster, bigger rides and then we all meet back up.

 

[Brian Noble]

it is never a good idea to compare one’s inside (“I am scared of that”) to others’ outsides (“They ride that.”)

This is a lesson most adults haven’t learned. Learning it early in life will pay large dividends.

 

[_19disnA]

Have you asked him why he is 'afraid' of coasters? Watching the cars whiz by making loud noises or hearing the riders screaming might frighten small children. Some others may be concerned about the safety of passengers or the chance something might go wrong. To me there is a difference in being afraid of something (i.e. fearful of someone else getting injured) vs. not caring to do it yourself (i.e. makes you dizzy).