Reluctant 8 Year Old

[MagicallyMom]

Would anyone recommend a stroller for a 8 year old? Because right now I feel like...you're a big girl, you can walk. But she's asking for a stroller...AND she's big for her age. I'd have to rent a deluxe one with a very high weight tolerance.

I will have a 14 month old, too, though, so I could just suck it up myself and rent a double.

Thoughts, please?

 

[Tink_83]

The strollers that Disney rents can hold up to 100 lbs (for a double)... i would get what you would normally get for the actual little child and tell the older one that if she gets very tired you will rent one there. then if it gets to the point where you decide you'd rather have something for her sit in get her the stroller from Disney. 8 is right around where I'd place the cut off for a child with no physical limitations, IMO...

For the days you are at smaller parks (AK, HS) you probably won't need one for a child that age. Also, maybe this is the scenario where family training walks are useful? my DD is 4 so I don't really know what I will do when she is 8 but I already know she won't spend much time in the stroller on this trip and will insist on walking most of the time. But when she needs it we will have it. And even at her age finding a stroller that fits well is difficult...

Also in the end you have to do what works for your family.

 

[piccolopat]

Would anyone recommend a stroller for a 8 year old? Because right now I feel like...you're a big girl, you can walk. But she's asking for a stroller...AND she's big for her age. I'd have to rent a deluxe one with a very high weight tolerance.

I will have a 14 month old, too, though, so I could just suck it up myself and rent a double.

Thoughts, please?

If it were my child, I would tell her she would be walking or not going. Families can slow the pace or take extra breaks throughout the day. I know there are others here that will give their kids a stroller no matter how of or big just to avoid the meltdown. I'm not one of them and believe we need to help our kids grow up and this is one way to do that. Part of the problem is that many kids today just don't get out and walk much in everyday life. It might be helpful to get her moving more in advance of your trip. How about getting her a Fitbit zip (the cheapest one) and giving her a treat when she reaches 10K steps in a day? The treat can be edible or you can give her points that she can save up towards something like a movie or pizza out with her friends.

 

[Tink_83]

If it were my child, I would tell her she would be walking or not going. Families can slow the pace or take extra breaks throughout the day. I know there are others here that will give their kids a stroller no matter how of or big just to avoid the meltdown. I'm not one of them and believe we need to help our kids grow up and this is one way to do that. Part of the problem is that many kids today just don't get out and walk much in everyday life. It might be helpful to get her moving more in advance of your trip. How about getting her a Fitbit zip (the cheapest one) and giving her a treat when she reaches 10K steps in a day? The treat can be edible or you can give her points that she can save up towards something like a movie or pizza out with her friends.

I like that idea but I'm going to point out that if she is in school all day 10k steps can be difficult to achieve (even when I go to the gym I'll fall short if I don't run but instead bike, etc.). If you do that maybe get a baseline for her normal activity for a week and then double it on the weekends (if it's raining she can pace the house) and the set it higher for the week days but not so high it's not attainable ever. I found it to be discouraging when I wasn't making my goals and then I realized I was still running and completed a 50k so it's not like I'm not active but I have a desk job so steps don't always happen.

Also going from 0 activity to recommend can be too much for some people which is why most exercise programs increase weights, run distance, etc. so you could always chart it or come up with a plan that takes her from her baseline to increased activity levels from now until your vacation (don't know how long that is)... maybe the goal is 10k of steps but you start with 5 k a day and increase... for instance

 

[J'aime Paris]

1. By your avatar, it looks like DD has been to Disney before. She has the concept of how large the parks are, and the walking involved.

2. Maybe she's doubting her own stamina? Normally an 8 year old wouldn't request a stroller otherwise.

3. How far away is your trip? Piccolopat's idea about conditioning is a good tip to get your DD ready for the extra walking.

4. Who will push the stroller? If your DD is on the larger size, that can be physically exhausting to do for hours...

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Why does she want the stroller? At 8, if she can request one then she can tell you why she wants one. But my gut says no as long as there is no medical reason she needs one.

 

[piccolopat]

I like that idea but I'm going to point out that if she is in school all day 10k steps can be difficult to achieve (even when I go to the gym I'll fall short if I don't run but instead bike, etc.). If you do that maybe get a baseline for her normal activity for a week and then double it on the weekends (if it's raining she can pace the house) and the set it higher for the week days but not so high it's not attainable ever. I found it to be discouraging when I wasn't making my goals and then I realized I was still running and completed a 50k so it's not like I'm not active but I have a desk job so steps don't always happen.

Also going from 0 activity to recommend can be too much for some people which is why most exercise programs increase weights, run distance, etc. so you could always chart it or come up with a plan that takes her from her baseline to increased activity levels from now until your vacation (don't know how long that is)... maybe the goal is 10k of steps but you start with 5 k a day and increase... for instance

I agree that starting with less steps would work. I am short (and take many more steps to cover the same distance than by tall DH), overweight, approaching retirement and work long days sitting at a desk and commuting 3+ hours by train roundtrip. On a good day I get around 3500 steps in. My goal right now is 5K steps but I almost never make it (hope to change that when I retire and have more time). When I go to Disney that suddenly jumps to 15K or more. I need to take frequent short breaks, especially during the first few days. My thought is that most 8 year olds should be able to do what I do.

 

[Hiitsme]

I hate to even put this out there, but is there maybe a little bit of jealousy over the baby? Try giving the 8 yr old the "big sister role" pushing the stroller, helping to pick out the days outfit, being responsible for lugging some of that baby gear. (stuff that isn't too important to forget) Let her know it's cool with you to take breaks. Just plop down and enjoy all the stuff many of us zoom past to get in some line. She may even see smaller/ younger kids walking and be like "no thanks mom, I got this" Our kids are always full of surprises!

 

[DLgal]

Absolutely not. 8 is old enough to walk. This sounds like a power struggle...don't give in.

 

[Thing 1]

I would agree that if you decide to rent, th double Disney one would be the way to go. Maybe she is thinking that the baby gets to ride and so does she. I have honestly seen kids older than 8 in strollers and if that works for your family that is just fine, though I agree that pushing it might be hard. We never used after age 4 but that was the kids choice, not ours. We budgeted for one the year he was five and he absolutely refused to ride in a baby stroller. If you really would be prefere she walk, maybe motivate her. Doubles are expensive. Maybe tell her than if she walks, and does not need the stroller, that rental money becomes her extra spending money. I would not use a park stroller for the baby. They are hard plastic.

 

[Juliet0778]

So...the stroller was a Godsend when my son was 4, but..we told him he's not getting one this trip at 6.5. We know we'll probably have to move slower, but he's a big, tall kid (the size of a lot of 7-8 year olds) and I don't want to try to push nearly 70 pounds all day either!

 

[Julylady]

I would be extremely reluctant to rent a stroller for an 8 year old unless there was a medical reason. Like others have suggested, I would begin a conditioning program with her if you don't already have one. Go for a 30 minute walk after dinner each night, or take turns walking on the treadmill, or go to the mall on the weekend just to window shop. As her walking improves, point out to her how well she is doing walking and that you won't even consider a stroller for such a strong girl. I would also be prepared at Disney to take things more slowly so that you match her pace, which might be slower than what you have done in the past. Also plan breaks and rest times.

 

[joannamet]

If it were my child, I would tell her she would be walking or not going. Families can slow the pace or take extra breaks throughout the day. I know there are others here that will give their kids a stroller no matter how of or big just to avoid the meltdown. I'm not one of them and believe we need to help our kids grow up and this is one way to do that. Part of the problem is that many kids today just don't get out and walk much in everyday life. It might be helpful to get her moving more in advance of your trip. How about getting her a Fitbit zip (the cheapest one) and giving her a treat when she reaches 10K steps in a day? The treat can be edible or you can give her points that she can save up towards something like a movie or pizza out with her friends.

Absolutely not. 8 is old enough to walk. This sounds like a power struggle...don't give in.

Agreed. These 2 said it well.

 

[amandaleigh2]

I'll be the dissent here. My kids will be 4 and 8 on our next Disney trip and we'll be renting a double stroller. We spend a lot of time in the parks when we go. Open to close for 6 days. I get tired so I can just imagine how my 8 year old, who's taking twice as many steps as I am, is feeling. We'll park it for a lot of the day, but I want it available for those nights when he is just done. It makes going to the parks more fun for all of us. No whiny kids to deal with at the end of the night. We only go once every 2 or 3 years, so I'd rather rent the stroller than have to slow down and take more breaks. Plus, we'll have to rent a single for the 4 year old anyway. It's not that much more trouble to rent a double over a single.

 

[piccolopat]

I'll be the dissent here. My kids will be 4 and 8 on our next Disney trip and we'll be renting a double stroller. We spend a lot of time in the parks when we go. Open to close for 6 days. I get tired so I can just imagine how my 8 year old, who's taking twice as many steps as I am, is feeling. We'll park it for a lot of the day, but I want it available for those nights when he is just done. It makes going to the parks more fun for all of us. No whiny kids to deal with at the end of the night. We only go once every 2 or 3 years, so I'd rather rent the stroller than have to slow down and take more breaks. Plus, we'll have to rent a single for the 4 year old anyway. It's not that much more trouble to rent a double over a single.

What will you do for your next trip when the kids will be 7 and 11?

 

[amandaleigh2]

What will you do for your next trip when the kids will be 7 and 11?

I can't see 3 or 4 years into the future. Not sure why the age of my stroller-using children matters to you.... Will it personally affect your vacation? I'm sorry older kids in strollers offends you, but everyone has to do what's right for their family. The question the original poster asked was whether her 8 year old needs a stroller at Disney. I merely shared my personal story and why we'd be renting a double for my 4 and 8 year old. I'm not saying every 8 year old needs a stroller at Disney, but it's what works for our family.

 

[Juliet0778]

I'll be the dissent here. My kids will be 4 and 8 on our next Disney trip and we'll be renting a double stroller. We spend a lot of time in the parks when we go. Open to close for 6 days. I get tired so I can just imagine how my 8 year old, who's taking twice as many steps as I am, is feeling. We'll park it for a lot of the day, but I want it available for those nights when he is just done. It makes going to the parks more fun for all of us. No whiny kids to deal with at the end of the night. We only go once every 2 or 3 years, so I'd rather rent the stroller than have to slow down and take more breaks. Plus, we'll have to rent a single for the 4 year old anyway. It's not that much more trouble to rent a double over a single.

Just as a random aside, my 6 year old is already 3/4 of my height, so I doubt he takes double the steps I do. I'm sure his endurance is less though. I do have a friend who used a stroller at Disney until about 7, but only because she has younger ones and the 7 year old took a turn every now and again. Not to imply that everyone can't do what they feel is best for their family, of course.

 

[piccolopat]

I can't see 3 or 4 years into the future. Not sure why the age of my stroller-using children matters to you.... Will it personally affect your vacation? I'm sorry older kids in strollers offends you, but everyone has to do what's right for their family. The question the original poster asked was whether her 8 year old needs a stroller at Disney. I merely share my personal story and why we'd be renting a double for my 4 and 8 year old. I'm not saying every 8 year old needs a stroller at Disney, but it's what works for our family.

You miss the point of my question. I will be retiring soon and now wonder whether I should develop and market a stroller designed for pre- and early teens. Might be a way to make some money in the future.

 

[MagicallyMom]

Ok y'all, I asked for advice, yes, but not everybody asked for 2 cents on their method. Let's all be cool.

I appreciate everyone's advice, I really like the fitbit/conditioning ideas. I might still get a double for evenings (we'll have to take midday nap breaks with the baby) but I'll see closer to time how she's doing. Her cousins are coming, and with there being 3 of them I'm pretty sure their oldest will be hoofing it most of the time, and she's a year younger than my girl, so peer pressure may help me, too.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Firsttimer15]

I think the problem ist neither the kid nor the size of the park but maybe your idea what a day in the park should be like.
I think it's not in the children's interest to drag them from opening till close through the whole thing. Instead of giving them a nice vacation that is way too much for a child and I don't mean just the walking. That is very tiring for an adult how terrible must children feel?
You should plan much less time in the parks maybe a midday nap in the hotel or leave the park early. Let the children set the pace, then the 8 year old will also have a good time. She probably feels overburdend already that's why she asked for a stroller.
I think 8 is way to old for a stroller, I'd never get one for a child that old.
I went with my then 4 year old twins and didn't get one.
Once I dropped all the expectations I had about what the trip should be like and what I wanted the kids to see or do or what not we had such a wonderful time. After all, the reason why I went was to make my children happy and let them have a good time. What makes them happy is not necessarily what we think what will make them happy.