Stroller for 8 yr. old? Which one?

[maxiesmom]

The world is full of 'plenty of' pedophiles, wife beaters, drug dealers, pet abusers, nose pickers, child soldiers, child laborers, etc etc etc. Just because you have seen a behaviour exercised by someone else doesn't lend legitimacy to that behaviour.

Giving in to a healthy, but whiny 8 year old and pushing that child in a stroller clearly designed for infants and toddlers is not ok. How about leaving the whiner at home and taking an underprivileged child who would appreciate that DW is not a right and they are not princes/princesses to have their every whiny whim catered to. Seriously. If a 5 year old can make sneakers in a sweat shop for 15 hours a day every day, it's not such a stretch to think an 8 year old should be able to walk around Disney for a few days.

Talk about something being a stretch. I think you turned into gumby to try and give validity to what you see as the right side of this discussion..

 

[Granny square]

Lol, seriously!

 

[badblackpug]

For those of you that are appalled at the fact that someone may look funny at your little (big) darling in a stroller I will pose the to you:

The grade school kids in strollers is an American phenomenon. In no other country have I ever seen fourth graders in a stroller. It is also a phenomenon mostly limited to WDW. There aren't any other places where I have seen children that big being wheeled around, and if I do see it is the exception, not the norm.

Consider that many of the visitors to WDW may mot be Dis posters, American, or annual WDW visitors, and, therefore, not used to seeing this.

I will relate our 1st visit to WDW with a, then, 5 year old and 8 year old. We made our 1st visit to MK. My, then, 5 year old points to a big kid in a stroller and says, "mom, that kid's bigger than me and he's in a stroller." Being uninitiated, I nicely explained that he was probably disabled. When he jumped out of said stroller and raced up to Space Mtn. and ran through the cattle shoots to the ride, my much wiser and mature, then, 8 year old said, "that boy is NOT handicapped."

So if you think no one notices, you are mistaken. While I have never seen anyone openly mocking a child to their face, I am sure there is some snickering behind hands.

I am also sure that people will come on here with tales of "hidden disabilty" and whatnot, and I would be inclined to believe that if big kids in strollers were less common in WDW, but from the numbers we see, which is a much higher percentage then anywhere else, I am not inclined to believe that this is true in most cases.

I will say again, I really dont care what you (general " you") do with your own kids. Like I said before, you can push them into their 1st college dorm in a stroller, if you so desire, but if you choose to put them in a situation, or allow them to put themselves in a situation where they look foolish, don't be surprised if people stare.

...and I do believe the OP had reservations about this, too because the title of this thread is, "stroller for an 8 year old?" and she went on to be concerned that it would look like a BABY stroller.

 

[ConvenientTruth]

There's a website that got famous just posting pics of way old and big kids in strollers (with their faces blurred), most of them photographed at Disney.

So yes, people do notice, and do mock, and such is life.

If someone wants to push their elementary school-aged kid in a stroller, whatever, but yes, people are pointing and laughing, even if not outright while in their field of vision.

Personally, I can't even begin with the level of no to an 8-year-old who wanted to be pushed around and would whine incessantly otherwise. Want to whine? No fun (or anything else) for you, because I cannot hear that pitch and thus have no idea anyone is speaking until they use a normal human tone and speak rationally.

Just found the website....or one similar...

Rather sad to see some of the images...

 

[lucifie]

For those of you that are appalled at the fact that someone may look funny at your little (big) darling in a stroller I will pose the to you:

The grade school kids in strollers is an American phenomenon. In no other country have I ever seen fourth graders in a stroller. It is also a phenomenon mostly limited to WDW. There aren't any other places where I have seen children that big being wheeled around, and if I do see it is the exception, not the norm.

Consider that many of the visitors to WDW may mot be Dis posters, American, or annual WDW visitors, and, therefore, not used to seeing this.

I will relate our 1st visit to WDW with a, then, 5 year old and 8 year old. We made our 1st visit to MK. My, then, 5 year old points to a big kid in a stroller and says, "mom, that kid's bigger than me and he's in a stroller." Being uninitiated, I nicely explained that he was probably disabled. When he jumped out of said stroller and raced up to Space Mtn. and ran through the cattle shoots to the ride, my much wiser and mature, then, 8 year old said, "that boy is NOT handicapped."

So if you think no one notices, you are mistaken. While I have never seen anyone openly mocking a child to their face, I am sure there is some snickering behind hands.

I am also sure that people will come on here with tales of "hidden disabilty" and whatnot, and I would be inclined to believe that if big kids in strollers were less common in WDW, but from the numbers we see, which is a much higher percentage then anywhere else, I am not inclined to believe that this is true in most cases.

I will say again, I really dont care what you (general " you") do with your own kids. Like I said before, you can push them into their 1st college dorm in a stroller, if you so desire, but if you choose to put them in a situation, or allow them to put themselves in a situation where they look foolish, don't be surprised if people stare.

...and I do believe the OP had reservations about this, too because the title of this thread is, "stroller for an 8 year old?" and she went on to be concerned that it would look like a BABY stroller.

And because people push their healthy 8 year olds in strollers, people will assume my disabled 9 year old doesn't need to be in a stroller and laugh at her because people think it's OK to make fun of a kid who is too big for a stroller. Sitting in a stroller she doesn't look disabled, but if you talk to her or see her out of a stroller it's pretty apparent. I used to try to explain her to people until I realized that it's none of their business and it's not necessary to explain her to people unless they need to know. I don't mind questions like, "What's her diagnosis?" or "Is she able to ....?" Luckily, I haven't really run into problems with strangers, except for the people who swear at us at her bus stop because it takes her a little longer to get on the bus.

She doesn't normally use a stroller and I'm not sure how much we'll use one at WDW but we're getting one just because of the sheer distances we'll be walking several days in a row. And we'll be getting a handicapped placard, even though there are very few situations normally when we feel like we need one.

 

[justhat]

And because people push their healthy 8 year olds in strollers, people will assume my disabled 9 year old doesn't need to be in a stroller and laugh at her because people think it's OK to make fun of a kid who is too big for a stroller. Sitting in a stroller she doesn't look disabled, but if you talk to her or see her out of a stroller it's pretty apparent. I used to try to explain her to people until I realized that it's none of their business and it's not necessary to explain her to people unless they need to know. I don't mind questions like, "What's her diagnosis?" or "Is she able to ....?" Luckily, I haven't really run into problems with strangers, except for the people who swear at us at her bus stop because it takes her a little longer to get on the bus.

She doesn't normally use a stroller and I'm not sure how much we'll use one at WDW but we're getting one just because of the sheer distances we'll be walking several days in a row. And we'll be getting a handicapped placard, even though there are very few situations normally when we feel like we need one.

I don't think anyone is referring to a disabled kid. If your 9yo did not have a disability, odds are you wouldn't be considering a stroller right now, because most kids that age can walk in WDW.


What I don't understand is why the parents of a healthy, non-disabled 8yo would *want* their child in a stroller? Don't you want to encourage physical activity, stamina, learning to not whine/always get things your way?

Bottom line for me is that I don't *want* an 8yo who whines incessantly (in WDW or anywhere else), I don't *want* an 8yo who isn't in good physical health to walk for a day in WDW, I don't *want* an 8yo who take for granted that we are in WDW having an amazing vacation while other kids don't get that opportunity. I want my kids to appreciate that they have the opportunity to even go to WDW, since they are healthy kids I want them to be physically capable of walking in a theme park, I want them to learn that whining is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our family. My my 8yo's 8th birthday, she chose to run in the WDW Princess 5K, as well as the kids races. She could have just gone to WDW and skipped the races entirely, but she enjoys physical activity because we have made it our lifestyle. My now 6yo ran his 1st 5K at 5.25yo. And not because my kids are future olympians, far from it, but because we encourage physical activity.

 

[badblackpug]

And because people push their healthy 8 year olds in strollers, people will assume my disabled 9 year old doesn't need to be in a stroller and laugh at her because people think it's OK to make fun of a kid who is too big for a stroller. Sitting in a stroller she doesn't look disabled, but if you talk to her or see her out of a stroller it's pretty apparent. I used to try to explain her to people until I realized that it's none of their business and it's not necessary to explain her to people unless they need to know. I don't mind questions like, "What's her diagnosis?" or "Is she able to ....?" Luckily, I haven't really run into problems with strangers, except for the people who swear at us at her bus stop because it takes her a little longer to get on the bus.

She doesn't normally use a stroller and I'm not sure how much we'll use one at WDW but we're getting one just because of the sheer distances we'll be walking several days in a row. And we'll be getting a handicapped placard, even though there are very few situations normally when we feel like we need one.

No one said it was "ok" to laugh at anyone, but, unfortunately it is a reality. Not everyone is nice and filled with pixie dust.

My point was, if you saw only a few older kids in strollers one would probably make the assumption that those kids were ill, injured, or disabled, but because it is so prominent in WDW I think most folk are thinking, and rightly so, that a good majority of those kids are just really lazy, really spoiled, or both.

It's very hard to convince oneself that a child is disabled when the stroller gets parked at Buzz Lightyear and the child runs willy-nilly all over future world, having perfectly normal interactions, then plops themselves back into the stroller to be pushed into Fantasy land, where that whole show is repeated.

 

[lucifie]

I don't think anyone is referring to a disabled kid. If your 9yo did not have a disability, odds are you wouldn't be considering a stroller right now, because most kids that age can walk in WDW.


What I don't understand is why the parents of a healthy, non-disabled 8yo would *want* their child in a stroller? Don't you want to encourage physical activity, stamina, learning to not whine/always get things your way?

Bottom line for me is that I don't *want* an 8yo who whines incessantly (in WDW or anywhere else), I don't *want* an 8yo who isn't in good physical health to walk for a day in WDW, I don't *want* an 8yo who take for granted that we are in WDW having an amazing vacation while other kids don't get that opportunity. I want my kids to appreciate that they have the opportunity to even go to WDW, since they are healthy kids I want them to be physically capable of walking in a theme park, I want them to learn that whining is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our family. My my 8yo's 8th birthday, she chose to run in the WDW Princess 5K, as well as the kids races. She could have just gone to WDW and skipped the races entirely, but she enjoys physical activity because we have made it our lifestyle. My now 6yo ran his 1st 5K at 5.25yo. And not because my kids are future olympians, far from it, but because we encourage physical activity.

I agree with you on all counts. I would give anything to not have to consider a stroller for my 9 year old. My point is that you just don't know and it's never OK to laugh at a child.

I also have a 7 year old drama queen and she can whine with the best of them. i think if she starts whining most likely my response will be, "If you can't walk we can go back to the hotel'. When we started talking about this we were discussing whether to bring the double stroller for the 2 year old and to have a place for the 4 year old and 7 year old to take turns resting. We decided not to because I don't think either one would agree to actually ride in it and they're both too big. we decided to take the adaptive stroller for the 9 year old and the single stroller for the 2 year old. I'm not even sure how much we'll use them. It's much smaller but we went to an amusement park this summer and the 3 older kids walked the whole day. i'm thinking of taking the strollers and finding a place to park them in each area and let them walk and only use the strollers when necessary.

 

[lucifie]

No one said it was "ok" to laugh at anyone, but, unfortunately it is a reality. Not everyone is nice and filled with pixie dust.

My point was, if you saw only a few older kids in strollers one would probably make the assumption that those kids were ill, injured, or disabled, but because it is so prominent in WDW I think most folk are thinking, and rightly so, that a good majority of those kids are just really lazy, really spoiled, or both.

It's very hard to convince oneself that a child is disabled when the stroller gets parked at Buzz Lightyear and the child runs willy-nilly all over future world, having perfectly normal interactions, then plops themselves back into the stroller to be pushed into Fantasy land, where that whole show is repeated.

I see your point and you're probably right. I'm just coming from the other end of it where I'm sensitive to people assuming that just because a child doesn't look disabled, she's not. My typical kids have more energy than I do so chances are, if they're tired, so am I so I don't want to be pushing them around. Strollers are great for keeping track of you kid, but when I'm out with all of my kids by myself, I have the older ones hold on to the stroller or cart so I know where they are.

 

[Happiest mommy]

I can't believe this thread is still going

 

[justhat]

I agree with you on all counts. I would give anything to not have to consider a stroller for my 9 year old. My point is that you just don't know and it's never OK to laugh at a child.

I also have a 7 year old drama queen and she can whine with the best of them. i think if she starts whining most likely my response will be, "If you can't walk we can go back to the hotel'. When we started talking about this we were discussing whether to bring the double stroller for the 2 year old and to have a place for the 4 year old and 7 year old to take turns resting. We decided not to because I don't think either one would agree to actually ride in it and they're both too big. we decided to take the adaptive stroller for the 9 year old and the single stroller for the 2 year old. I'm not even sure how much we'll use them. It's much smaller but we went to an amusement park this summer and the 3 older kids walked the whole day. i'm thinking of taking the strollers and finding a place to park them in each area and let them walk and only use the strollers when necessary.

I agree and don't think anyone should laugh at a child. Actually, I don't even think that was the implication, but probably more that people would laugh at the parents for creating such a situation. Either way, I agree, laughing shouldn't be an issue. Of course, facts are that it will happen cause people will mock the parents who want to push their healthy 8yo in a stroller so they don't whine.

I see your point and you're probably right. I'm just coming from the other end of it where I'm sensitive to people assuming that just because a child doesn't look disabled, she's not. My typical kids have more energy than I do so chances are, if they're tired, so am I so I don't want to be pushing them around. Strollers are great for keeping track of you kid, but when I'm out with all of my kids by myself, I have the older ones hold on to the stroller or cart so I know where they are.

I love a stroller for that purpose, keeping track of small kids.

 

[pacrosby]

So if you think no one notices, you are mistaken. While I have never seen anyone openly mocking a child to their face, I am sure there is some snickering behind hands.

And lots of snickering behind hands at obese people, and handicapped people, and disfigured people, and gay people, and people using toddler leashes, and people participating in PDA, and people breastfeeding in public...and...and....and.....

If you are trying to say people are snickering at you and so that should be a sign that you are doing something wrong, I'd say you are offbase.

Who cares who's snickering. Do what you want. Your kids. Your business.

 

[badblackpug]

And lots of snickering behind hands at obese people, and handicapped people, and disfigured people, and gay people, and people using toddler leashes, and people participating in PDA, and people breastfeeding in public...and...and....and.....

If you are trying to say people are snickering at you and so that should be a sign that you are doing something wrong, I'd say you are offbase.

Who cares who's snickering. Do what you want. Your kids. Your business.

I absolutely agree. My point was exactly that. People aren't always nice. People are going to poke fun, no matter what. If you are confident about what you are doi g, who cares?

...but don't be so naive to think that because you are in WDW everyone is going to be all unicorns and rainbows. If you are that sensitive about the opinions of strangers don't put yourself out there in such an obvious position to be mocked.

If you are doing what you think is best, push your 4th grader proudly in your stroller and hold your head high.

Trust me, I've had lkts of comments made about my family. I know what I know and let it roll off my back.

 

[maxiesmom]

And lots of snickering behind hands at obese people, and handicapped people, and disfigured people, and gay people, and people using toddler leashes, and people participating in PDA, and people breastfeeding in public...and...and....and.....

If you are trying to say people are snickering at you and so that should be a sign that you are doing something wrong, I'd say you are offbase.

Who cares who's snickering. Do what you want. Your kids. Your business.

 

[cyndik1111]

The world is full of 'plenty of' pedophiles, wife beaters, drug dealers, pet abusers, nose pickers, child soldiers, child laborers, etc etc etc. Just because you have seen a behaviour exercised by someone else doesn't lend legitimacy to that behaviour.

You are right...look at all the people walking around with Mullets. There is a website mocking mullets. These unsuspecting people have no idea people are taking pictures of them, pointing and laughing. Should we all shame them, stone them, ban them from society for their bad fashion sense?

I really don't think a pedophile is on the the same level as an 8 year old in a stroller.

Come on people....LIVE AND LET LIVE!

We are usually so busy with our own trip that we hardy notice what others are doing at disney. We try to teach our daughter tolerance and respect for other's differences.

 

[Hannathy]

I absolutely agree. My point was exactly that. People aren't always nice. People are going to poke fun, no matter what. If you are confident about what you are doi g, who cares?

...but don't be so naive to think that because you are in WDW everyone is going to be all unicorns and rainbows. If you are that sensitive about the opinions of strangers don't put yourself out there in such an obvious position to be mocked.

If you are doing what you think is best, push your 4th grader proudly in your stroller and hold your head high.

Trust me, I've had lkts of comments made about my family. I know what I know and let it roll off my back.

very well put and I agree.

 

[Nancyg56]

And lots of snickering behind hands at obese people, and handicapped people, and disfigured people, and gay people, and people using toddler leashes, and people participating in PDA, and people breastfeeding in public...and...and....and.....

If you are trying to say people are snickering at you and so that should be a sign that you are doing something wrong, I'd say you are offbase.

Who cares who's snickering. Do what you want. Your kids. Your business.

I agree. I cannot imagine pushing a healthy 8 or 9 YO child but I really don't care what anyone else does. I am sure I lend plenty of opportunities for others to have a chuckle at my expense while I am in Disney, (at least according to my family I do) So what?

You are absolutely correct that there are a lot of people who use others as a source of entertainment so knowing that, I just do what I want and figures others can do the same.

The world is full of 'plenty of' pedophiles, wife beaters, drug dealers, pet abusers, nose pickers, child soldiers, child laborers, etc etc etc. Just because you have seen a behaviour exercised by someone else doesn't lend legitimacy to that behaviour.

Giving in to a healthy, but whiny 8 year old and pushing that child in a stroller clearly designed for infants and toddlers is not ok. How about leaving the whiner at home and taking an underprivileged child who would appreciate that DW is not a right and they are not princes/princesses to have their every whiny whim catered to. Seriously. If a 5 year old can make sneakers in a sweat shop for 15 hours a day every day, it's not such a stretch to think an 8 year old should be able to walk around Disney for a few days.

Really? You can actually make a comparison between pedophiles and parents who let older kids use a stroller?????????????????? Clearly you are looking to vilify those parents but I am shocked that anyone would compare a person who preys on children with a parent who may be indulging a child.

You get to decide what is appropriate for your family, your children. You do not get to determine what is okay for other families. You do not get to decide to leave said child home and look for an orphan to take his or her place. I find that it is a nonsensical response. Why does anyone ever suggest that a parent leave their kid home when that parent is not complaining about the behavior, just looking for a suggestion?

Yes, we all know there are kids who are exploited out there. The suggestion that those children should be the impetus for other parents to follow the rules that a stranger has determined to be appropriate is ludicrous.

Again, if more people would simply mind their own family and stop gawking at others life would be a lot easier. I am in that camp of people who really do not pay much attention to others while I am on vacation. I don't care if someone wears flip flops in the CG. I don't notice ECV's unless I get run over, I don't care if someone is in a stroller or not. Child leashes....go for it. You drink in front of your kids, nice because I do as well. Refillable mugs? They all look alike to me.
I don't care iI am on vacation for me, and I do not need to adhere to anyone else's rules and I don't hold anyone else to my standard.

 

[Ashlander]

Really? You can actually make a comparison between pedophiles and parents who let older kids use a stroller?????????????????? Clearly you are looking to vilify those parents but I am shocked that anyone would compare a person who preys on children with a parent who may be indulging a child.

You get to decide what is appropriate for your family, your children. You do not get to determine what is okay for other families. You do not get to decide to leave said child home and look for an orphan to take his or her place. I find that it is a nonsensical response. Why does anyone ever suggest that a parent leave their kid home when that parent is not complaining about the behavior, just looking for a suggestion?

Yes, we all know there are kids who are exploited out there. The suggestion that those children should be the impetus for other parents to follow the rules that a stranger has determined to be appropriate is ludicrous.

Again, if more people would simply mind their own family and stop gawking at others life would be a lot easier. I am in that camp of people who really do not pay much attention to others while I am on vacation. I don't care if someone wears flip flops in the CG. I don't notice ECV's unless I get run over, I don't care if someone is in a stroller or not. Child leashes....go for it. You drink in front of your kids, nice because I do as well. Refillable mugs? They all look alike to me.
I don't care iI am on vacation for me, and I do not need to adhere to anyone else's rules and I don't hold anyone else to my standard.

Well said

 

[Mabel67]

I never compared parents pushing 8 years old in strollers to pedophiles .. I stated that no matter the behaviour you can always find someone on the Internet that supports that behaviour. I then cited examples including the extremes of pedophiles to the innocuous like nose picking. I then stated that just because you find agreement for something on the Internet does not make it ok.

Children will rise to what is expected of them. If you expect little you will get little in return. Hence the sweat shop example. An obvious extreme but still serves to illustrate the point.

If someone chooses to kowtow to a whiny child that is certainly their choice. But don't be surprised when others disagree. The question was asked what stroller is best for an 8 year old. The answer is 'none' because strollers are designed to accommodate infants and toddlers. There's a reason for that. It's called supply and demand. But the appearance of strollers for dogs would indicate that perhaps the stroller market is exploding.

Perhaps now would be a good time to opt in to the grade schoolers stroller market. I can see it now: the 'my first date' stroller so parents can push their high schooler and chaperone at the same time. Awesome.

 

[Dizisfun]

I can't believe this thread is still going

Hahaha, if there was a "like" button I would "like" this comment. I was thinking the exact same thing...........