Nervous about leaving DD in Kid's Club

[SpaceSquirrel]

My DD is 4 1/2, DH and I planned to just keep her w/ us the entire cruise but as an only child she absolutely loves being around other children; I'm sure she will want to participate in some children's activities.
It looks like her age group is 3-11, that's a huge spread. How do they keep the little guys safe with older kids in the same area?
I guess I'm a nervous momma looking for reassurance that my little one will be safe and protected in the children's area if we choose to leave her for an hour here or there.

 

[Stasia5]

My daughter has been in the kids clubs since around age 4 and has loved every minute of it! The 3-11 year olds are somewhat separated in that the younger ones tend to be in the 'Club' portion and the older ones in the 'Lab'. While the kids are allowed to move freely between both, the older kids tend to stick to the lab as that has more of the stuff they like.

Every child is different and I've heard some really don't care for the youth programming, but my daughter has actually begged to stay when we've tried to pick her up sometimes. They have an arts and crafts area, where she is happy to spend most of her time, but she will also participate in any of the organized activities that occur throughout the day. The only older child who has ever bothered her in the kids clubs was her brother.

 

[ktate82]

Mine have been going since they were a bit older (9 and 8), but I saw lots of little ones running around. The club has more stuff for smaller kids, where the lab is more aimed at older kids. The counselors are really active with the kids. They play with them and keep them occupied (as well as supervised). I wouldn't be afraid to let my child who was 4 be in the clubs. You can carry a wave phone and if she wants to come out of the club or if there is a problem, they will call you. Enjoy the cruise!

 

[hardis5]

Our 5 year old was similar to Stasia5's in he was looking forward to but nervous the first time, so we said we'd come back in an hour. That hour could have turned into the whole cruise for how quickly he became comfortable. Opening up the clubs some days through to the pj party late night, he wanted to go as often and as long as we'd allow. There were multiple evenings we'd go to pick him up and he'd ask could he just stay a little longer. CM's in the clubs are great at ensuring youth are engaged, interested and have the opportunity to participate in group activity, craft or game and are safe. Once we went to pick him up for dinner, and there he was sitting with all others getting their dinner meal in the club and not wanting to leave.

Start off with a short visit (definitely doing the open house day 1) and make it a short visit she doing an activity or area she saw as interesting during the open house. For our DS it was a game steering the ship (with a big wheel). Check-in and see if you can then get her out of the club or whether she had enough for a first visit. If she's sociable, she'll likely latch onto kids of similar age going from room to room/activity to activity.

Just do not forget the password set-up for when registering her and make sure you set-up all that are able to pick her up. We did the pre-registration online when doing the online check-in and in the cruise terminal when getting his band for the club/lab, I could not remember what I set-up as the password and there was no way they would tell me or even give me any clue to.

 

[scootch]

Our first cruise, I wasn't going to let my daughters go. I ended up letting them(although oldest didn't want to) for an hour each evening after dinner, but before the show. When we got home, all my daughter talked about was the clubs!! That is when I realized my idea of fun and her idea of fun might not be quite the same thing. Since then we came to a nice balance. She goes and has a blast, it is super safe and I realize it is ok for me to relax and enjoy my time too.

 

[KingRichard]

DD started going when 3 1/2 and she loved it. Had never even gone to daycare. Couldn't get her out!

4 1/2 she did a sleep over in the club. Wish they did that on every cruise!!!

Check out the open house and you will see how safe it is and how much fun.

If your child get board or misses you, then they will call you!

 

[Laine Anderson]

My DD is 4 1/2, DH and I planned to just keep her w/ us the entire cruise but as an only child she absolutely loves being around other children; I'm sure she will want to participate in some children's activities.
It looks like her age group is 3-11, that's a huge spread. How do they keep the little guys safe with older kids in the same area?
I guess I'm a nervous momma looking for reassurance that my little one will be safe and protected in the children's area if we choose to leave her for an hour here or there.

I had similar concerns for my 5 year old daughter but she loved it and there were plenty of staffers around to look out for the kids. There's a video game room, craft room, a light up dance floor in the center where special guests will visit (Peter Pan came one day) and also something in the back with consoles that look like you can fly a spaceship or something. Never figured out what that was.
There was one day that she didn't want to go so I went in with her and got her settled doing a craft making a princess and she was perfectly fine. I went back later to retrieve her for dinner and she didn't want to leave. They serve dinner and lunch and you don't have to plan ahead of time, if they happen to be there during mealtime, they get fed. They bring everyone into the area with tables and chairs, show them what's being served and they can choose to eat or not. We got something at dinner to go just in case she was hungry when we got her but she was stuffed.
The longer we were on the cruise, the longer our 2 daughters wanted to stay in the kid's club.
You have to have the password to pick up your child and they compare you to the photo they took when you boarded. Every kid has to wash hands when they arrive and all their info shows up when they check in, for example, if they have a food allergy.

 

[bumbershoot]

My older, tall, son feels more in peril from the littles running underfoot than he feels he's a danger. Olders are playing videogames or engaged in activities, not running crazily like littles tend to do.

(He was knocked over at 3 at ca adventure by a big kid so he has grown up cautious, but in his case he was playing in a kidarea, not in an area where you expect 13 year olds to be running through.)

 

[JW9DVC]

My DD is 4 1/2, DH and I planned to just keep her w/ us the entire cruise but as an only child she absolutely loves being around other children; I'm sure she will want to participate in some children's activities.
It looks like her age group is 3-11, that's a huge spread. How do they keep the little guys safe with older kids in the same area?
I guess I'm a nervous momma looking for reassurance that my little one will be safe and protected in the children's area if we choose to leave her for an hour here or there.

Not sure what you mean safe. Most kids act appropriately when younger kids are around.

 

[KT2038]

Hi! I am a youth activities Counselor. Your 4 year old will be fine! She may be upset at drop off but there is so much going on that she will find something she likes. We all look out for the younger kids but as pp has mentioned, he older ones don't really want anything to do with the little ones. If you have any questions please let ME knkw!

 

[SpaceSquirrel]

Hi! I am a youth activities Counselor. Your 4 year old will be fine! She may be upset at drop off but there is so much going on that she will find something she likes. We all look out for the younger kids but as pp has mentioned, he older ones don't really want anything to do with the little ones. If you have any questions please let ME knkw!

Thanks for your reply! Older children can not only "run over" younger children but they're so much more mature I guess I worry one could introduce my younger child to inappropriate behavior and/or vocabulary.
As a counselor how do you recommend I bring this up to her counselors, that I don't want her left alone with or reacting solely with an older child?

 

[KT2038]

Thanks for your reply! Older children can not only "run over" younger children but they're so much more mature I guess I worry one could introduce my younger child to inappropriate behavior and/or vocabulary.
As a counselor how do you recommend I bring this up to her counselors, that I don't want her left alone with or reacting solely with an older child?

Children are never ever left alone. There are two Counselors in every single part of the club or lab or even edge and vibe. If a child is displaying inappropriate language and behaviour we will be calling the parents to come and get the child. Like I said we are very protective of our younger children and in all of the time I have been a Counselor I have never come across an issue of this nature.

 

[SpaceSquirrel]

Children are never ever left alone. There are two Counselors in every single part of the club or lab or even edge and vibe. If a child is displaying inappropriate language and behaviour we will be calling the parents to come and get the child. Like I said we are very protective of our younger children and in all of the time I have been a Counselor I have never come across an issue of this nature.

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I needed to hear

 

[doubleduty]

Our 5 year old was similar to Stasia5's in he was looking forward to but nervous the first time, so we said we'd come back in an hour. That hour could have turned into the whole cruise for how quickly he became comfortable. Opening up the clubs some days through to the pj party late night, he wanted to go as often and as long as we'd allow. There were multiple evenings we'd go to pick him up and he'd ask could he just stay a little longer. CM's in the clubs are great at ensuring youth are engaged, interested and have the opportunity to participate in group activity, craft or game and are safe. Once we went to pick him up for dinner, and there he was sitting with all others getting their dinner meal in the club and not wanting to leave.

Start off with a short visit (definitely doing the open house day 1) and make it a short visit she doing an activity or area she saw as interesting during the open house. For our DS it was a game steering the ship (with a big wheel). Check-in and see if you can then get her out of the club or whether she had enough for a first visit. If she's sociable, she'll likely latch onto kids of similar age going from room to room/activity to activity.

Just do not forget the password set-up for when registering her and make sure you set-up all that are able to pick her up. We did the pre-registration online when doing the online check-in and in the cruise terminal when getting his band for the club/lab, I could not remember what I set-up as the password and there was no way they would tell me or even give me any clue to.

So, what did you do about the password issue? I registered my granddaughter on line and I don't remember the password. Maybe I can go in and set new password???

 

[KingRichard]

Thanks for your reply! Older children can not only "run over" younger children but they're so much more mature I guess I worry one could introduce my younger child to inappropriate behavior and/or vocabulary.
As a counselor how do you recommend I bring this up to her counselors, that I don't want her left alone with or reacting solely with an older child?

You better not ever let your child leave the house or watch tv for that matter to avoid bad words!

So, what did you do about the password issue? I registered my granddaughter on line and I don't remember the password. Maybe I can go in and set new password???

When you check your child in for the first time you will give them or update the password. No harm no foul.

 

[Princess Melody]

I just got off the Dream with a 4 1/2 yr old only child. I brought her to the open house the first day. She loved it in there but when I tried to send her in alone later she didn't want to go in. Told her it was just for a few minutes and I'd be sitting right outside in the porthole where she could see me (we were on our way to dinner so only planned to leave her for 1/2 hour). She peeked at me a few times but was soon off doing something and when I went in the club to retrieve her she'd made a friend, was doing an art activity with a counselor and other kids, and was mad she had to leave! After that she asked to go to the club during the shows and at a few other times. She only asked them to call me once but I missed the call (ooops!) and when I went to get her she was happily playing. I really only left her for an hour or two at a time just to have some nice, relaxing adults only time. As she gets older I will leave her longer but that was what she and I were comfortable with now. They have activities geared towards that age at certain times (ie princess storytime) and when I picked her up the older kids were mainly doing their own activities seperately (ie the Disney Infinity room was popular with them). She went in the Tinkerbell room for crafts many times and I rarely saw older kids playing in there when I went in to get her. Your daughter will be fine. As far as what she was exposed to, I'm sure the counselors are great at curbing inappropriate behavior but she will be in kindergarten next year anyways so it's time for her to learn to deal with those types of situations (not to mention at 4 she's already seeing them at places like playgrounds & we've already had a few discussions about how different things are okay for different families, she is old enough to understand and so far it hasn't really been a problem, she says/does things once and we have a discussion and it doesn't get said/done again or she knows there will be a consequence).

 

[hardis5]

So, what did you do about the password issue? I registered my granddaughter on line and I don't remember the password. Maybe I can go in and set new password???

Guessed every word I could think of under the sun associated with our DD with the CM smiling and just telling me should could not tell me what was set-up or even give me a clue. After a few minutes and probably 30 guesses, I finally said the right word (was a multi-word phrase) and then turned around and promptly told it to the DW and older kids on file set-up to be allowed to pick him up so when I forgot again, I'd have someone else to ask (though never did forget again for the rest of the cruise). I would try and set-up or change online if you cannot remember prior to sailing (if possible).

There are too many passwords in life of my own without throwing in one for the kids. I chose wisely his favorite show to keep simple and befuddled myself in I normally set-up complex password or pass-phrases.

 

[SurroBear]

All of the kids can be in either area, but the Lab is geared towards the older kids and the club is geared towards the younger. I was nervous and also planned to keep our kids with us but they loved going and it was nice to have some alone time since we NEVER get it otherwise.

 

[Spart02]

I want to reassure you that the counselors are excellent about communicating via the wave phones. My daughter is tiny for her age and we were worried about her getting plowed over by the big kids. We observed that the kids are all so engaged in their activities that there are very few problems that occur. The older kids just naturally tended to hang with the older kids and the younger kids tended to hang with the younger kids. There are counselors everywhere watching over the kids and keeping them all busy. My daughter loves the kids clubs so much that she's begging to go at all times of the day, however, sometimes she likes to "check on us" and several times throughout the day would tell the counselor that she would like to be picked up. They immediately texted us via the wave phones and we came to get her. Also, one time she was accidentally injured by a flying coin from the pig from Toy Story and they were excellent with her. She's not a real tough kid, but they were very sweet to her, gave her ice, and texted us immediately so we could come and get her. I can't say enough about ALL of the kids club counselors! They are very caring and attentive to the kids' needs.

 

[fab1976]

I got lucky and had a cast member give me a very good clue about what the password we had set up was. I had no memory of doing it at all. KT on here who is a cast member with the youth activities has said they can easily reset it. Shame that others have made it hard for some!