when do you stop needing a stroller?

[DSLRuser]

When I was a child, during the summers, we left the house in the morning and we came home that night. we were our feet most of the day (or on our bicycles). The rare "fat" kid from those days would barely be considered husky today.

.

Exactly. You put into words very eloquently what i was unable to.

 

[Minnesota!]

we went in Jan of this year - just before my youngest turned 4. I thought he would be able to hang. After 1 day we got the length of stay stroller (we hate bringing our own...). It was much needed. We are going in October and getting it again....I figure even if he doesn't always want/need it...we can use it to put stuff in, or my 7 year old can take a break (he did AWESOME in January...the last time we had gone before that we had gotten a double stroller rental for the week and he really appreciated it.

We just make sure to take frequent breaks, enjoy the sites, etc. vs rushing here and there.

 

[rtravels]

I'm renting a double - not from Disney - for our trip. My DD is 9 and DS is 6. No idea how much they'll use it, but when they do, I'm sure it's going to look funny. And you know what? I don't care. As a matter of fact, I almost hope that when they use it, we get the ole stink-eye from some people. I'll look right back, smile the biggest, goofiest smile I can muster and give a little wave. Then we'll keep on keepin' on, having a wonderful time.

A nine year old in a stroller? I can distinctly remember being nine years old, and that would have been beyond humiliating for me.
At nine, I was playing soccer and baseball and standing for hours in choir and spending days in theme parks with absolutely no problem.

We are turning into the humans from Wall E! Unable to move or support our own body weight. Gross!

 

[mill4023]

Exactly. You put into words very eloquently what i was unable to.

While I understand the point and can certainly understand the sentiment, the fact is that you are still making huge assumptions about people, the way they raise their kids, and the reasons they may choose to use a stroller.

My child who used a stroller for occasional rests when she was 6 is not even close to being out of shape and fat. She's actually very thin and very active.

Some of you are assuming that just because a parent chooses to let their child take a break from walking on a week long vacation that involves 10 times the amount of physical activity of regular life, that the child is fat and out of shape. It's an incorrect assumption.

Making derogatory comments about how a person raises their child is insulting. Doing it when you actually don't have a clue what you are talking about and have no idea how that person raises their child is ignorant.

 

[DaisyMaisie]

As I said before I would never make any assumptions about any individual cases. I have never even noticed the age of kids in strollers.

I was responding in part to the poster who stated quite clearly that they are putting able bodied 9 year olds in strollers as a "strategy."

I was also responding to the fact that while there are so many individual situations the fact that a trend is taking place is sad and disturbing. Things have changed.

This is similar to the increase of adults in hoover-rounds. When I see one I assume that person is struggling with their health and would love to be up and walking. However, I cannot help but be saddened by what is clearly a disturbing trend, which in some cases is caused by our nations unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise. (Since I have had my own weight struggles, I def. see it as but for grace go I.)

 

[DSLRuser]

While I understand the point and can certainly understand the sentiment, the fact is that you are still making huge assumptions about people, .

I am. In fact I use message boards like this, and other means, as a way to prepare my kids to be better than the average person. No disrespect, if average is what you are shooting for.

But I am teaching my kids to be leaders, not followers. The type of person when they get older if something bad were to ever happen, they would take charge and help resolve the situation, not sit back and wait for orders.

Every little aspect of their life is a building block. When they fall and skin their knee, they dont look up and cry expecting mommy and daddy to come pick them up. they get up, brush them selves off, and assess the situation.

I am very proud of how loving and caring my 4 and 9 year old girls are. yet I know that if I fall off the face of this earth tomorrow, they already have strong foundation to grow on.

So again, little things like asking them to walk at a theme park do make a difference. We stop for breaks, and always go back to the room mid day.

All myself and a few others are saying is, your kids are capable of a lot more than you give them credit for. Being handicapped aside, push your kids, you will be surprised at what they can do if you only let them. Physically, and mentally.

 

[ses1230]

I am. In fact I use message boards like this, and other means, as a way to prepare my kids to be better than the average person. No disrespect, if average is what you are shooting for.

But I am teaching my kids to be leaders, not followers. The type of person when they get older if something bad were to ever happen, they would take charge and help resolve the situation, not sit back and wait for orders.

Every little aspect of their life is a building block. When they fall and skin their knee, they dont look up and cry expecting mommy and daddy to come pick them up. they get up, brush them selves off, and assess the situation.

I am very proud of how loving and caring my 4 and 9 year old girls are. yet I know that if I fall off the face of this earth tomorrow, they already have strong foundation to grow on.

So again, little things like asking them to walk at a theme park do make a difference. We stop for breaks, and always go back to the room mid day.

All myself and a few others are saying is, your kids are capable of a lot more than you give them credit for. Being handicapped aside, push your kids, you will be surprised at what they can do if you only let them. Physically, and mentally.

And all that myself and others are saying is stop making assumptions and sweeping genrralization about other people's parenting decisions. It works for you, great! But don't get down on others who don't share your opinion. And please, don't say that a kid is going to be a "follower" because s/he was pushed in a stroller on vacation. There are a lot more stops btwn point A and point B.

 

[mill4023]

I am. In fact I use message boards like this, and other means, as a way to prepare my kids to be better than the average person. No disrespect, if average is what you are shooting for
...
All myself and a few others are saying is, your kids are capable of a lot more than you give them credit for.

Really? I mean seriously?

Are you also preparing them to be arrogant, ignorant, disrespectful <insert word I'm not allowed to say here>'s?

You have absolutely no clue what I "give them credit for" because you don't know anything about me or my family. To think that you do makes you even less intelligent than I thought.

But if you'd like, I'd be happy to send you my address and you can stop by and tell me what you "know" about how I raise my kids and what I am doing wrong. I'd be happy to have that "discussion" with you.

 

[DaisyMaisie]

Just because a child is not overweight does not mean he/she is physically fit. Parents today have an extra challenge when it comes to making sure their kids get enough exercise. Just something for a couple (not the majority) of posters to keep in mind.

And no I would not expect any child (or most adults) to be able to go commando for 16 hours straight.

 

[WrenNCuckoos]

I haven't read all of the replies yet, but I don't plan on using a stroller with my kids, who will be 4 and 6 when we go to Disneyworld. We did use a double stroller for them and my nephew (with some trading off and all three in it one late night) when we did Disneyland in June, 2009. My daughter was 22 months and my son was 3 1/2. My nephew had just turned 3.

We're taking a long trip this time (15 nights) and plan to rest in the afternoons.

We're also in the UK and used to walking a lot more than most of my friends' children in the States (I grew up there). We walk 1 1/2 miles to school as long as the weather permits, and home again as well. I know Disney will be more walking than this, but it will generally be less at a single go too.

 

[YodaGirl]

I am. In fact I use message boards like this, and other means, as a way to prepare my kids to be better than the average person. No disrespect, if average is what you are shooting for.

Between one of your previous comments and this opening sentence, it makes me think that perhaps you're truly teaching your children that some people are better than others. That's not the case. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. No one is better than someone else.

But I am teaching my kids to be leaders, not followers. The type of person when they get older if something bad were to ever happen, they would take charge and help resolve the situation, not sit back and wait for orders.

I am raising my daughter (and will soon be raising my son) to be a leader rather than a follower. While I understand that personalities will be different, and that some personalities lend better to leadership than others, I do think that it is necessary to encourage independence. It's also important to keep in mind that one quality of a good leader is to be a good follower. If you can't follow instructions, and if you have a sense of superiority, you'll never be a good leader.

Every little aspect of their life is a building block. When they fall and skin their knee, they dont look up and cry expecting mommy and daddy to come pick them up. they get up, brush them selves off, and assess the situation.

I agree. She also knows that if she needs me, I'm there. As a parent, it's fairly easy to know your child and know what they can handle. It's the job of the parent to be able to let children handle what they they know how, and teach them how to handle what they do not know how.

I am very proud of how loving and caring my 4 and 9 year old girls are. yet I know that if I fall off the face of this earth tomorrow, they already have strong foundation to grow on.

And that's a wonderful gift for your children.

So again, little things like asking them to walk at a theme park do make a difference. We stop for breaks, and always go back to the room mid day.

I'm still not so quick to judge using a stroller at Disney as detrimental to a child's well-being. I don't necessarily believe that every "older" child in a stroller is being coddled. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

All myself and a few others are saying is, your kids are capable of a lot more than you give them credit for. Being handicapped aside, push your kids, you will be surprised at what they can do if you only let them. Physically, and mentally.

I whole-heartedly agree that children are much more capable than some think. In fact, children have a knack of living up to expectations that are set for them...however low or high.

All that said, I really don't think it's anyone's concern who uses a stroller and who doesn't. I think that it's hard enough being a parent without someone looking down on someone else for something as minuscule as stroller usage.

 

[DaisyMaisie]

If putting an able bodied ten year old in a a stroller is a good strategy in order to go 16 hours straight w/o a break, maybe another good strategy would be to keep 4-5 year olds in diapers. That would save a lot of time. Just at Disney of course. You could even wear adult diapers yourself. so you don't have to get out of line. Definitely a strategy. You wouldn't judge someone who did that would you?

 

[mill4023]

If putting an able bodied ten year old in a a stroller is a good strategy in order to go 16 hours straight w/o a break, maybe another good strategy would be to keep 4-5 year olds in diapers. That would save a lot of time. Just at Disney of course. You wouldn't judge someone who did that would you?

Yeah, because sitting in a stroller is exactly like going to the bathroom in your pants.

Besides, I don't recall anyone suggesting that able bodied 10 year olds need a stroller.

 

[YodaGirl]

If putting an able bodied ten year old in a a stroller is a good strategy in order to go 16 hours straight w/o a break, maybe another good strategy would be to keep 4-5 year olds in diapers. That would save a lot of time. Just at Disney of course. You could even wear adult diapers yourself. so you don't have to get out of line. Definitely a strategy. You wouldn't judge someone who did that would you?

You're not really equating using diapers to using a stroller for a child to occasionally use and to have a place to sit, are you?

I don't think that there are many people (if any) would agree that the two are equal.

 

[Desnik]

OP, my kids were around 5 when they didn't use a stroller anymore at WDW.

 

[DaisyMaisie]

Obviously my comment about diapers was satire ala "a modest proposal."

Yes, one poster said they use a stroller for their ten year old as a strategy and several have mentioned 9 year olds. Personally I was shocked and think it could be humiliating for the child.

So, I stretched their argument to see at what point they too would become shocked and a little judgmental. The diaper thing is still a strategy. It is not like they aren't gonna change them when they are dirty, they just don't have to rush to the bathroom for all those false alarms and such. Are you judging such a parenting style? You don't know all the facts. It is their vacation which they spent good money on after all, and their children will probably get to go on more rides than yours.

 

[ses1230]

Just because a child is not overweight does not mean he/she is physically fit. Parents today have an extra challenge when it comes to making sure their kids get enough exercise. Just something for a couple (not the majority) of posters to keep in mind.

And no I would not expect any child (or most adults) to be able to go commando for 16 hours straight.

Just because you see a child in a stroller you can't say they are NOT physically fit. Remember, what you see is just a snippet if time.

 

[DaisyMaisie]

"Just because you see a child in a stroller you can't say they are NOT physically fit. Remember, what you see is just a snippet if time."

How many times do I have to say I would not judge an individual case ever?!

 

[mom2maggie]

I love that people are saying that it would be sooooooooooooo humiliating for the older child to be in the stroller, as if the parents are putting them in the stroller against their will, strapping them in with duct tape, and force feeding them churros. If the kid didn't want to be in the stroller, they wouldn't be - they would get out and walk. I personally see nothing against kids in strollers - I had one for my 4 year old DD when we went last time, actually it was a double since I also had a 8 month old.

When we go back in Feb 2013, she'll be 7.5 years old, and I'll probably still bring a stroller. Her sister will be 3.5 years, but the older one will probably see some use of it as she tires much more easily than the younger one. Maybe I should start her marathon training now, huh?

 

[DaisyMaisie]

I don't think anyone is saying anything about an older kid curling up in their younger siblings stroller for a little while. Most of us would probably love to do it ourselves if we could on a long hot day.

I am responding to people purposely renting strollers for kids as old as ten years old, just so they can get more done.

And while marathon training is kind of silly, in SOME cases, simple walks and even hikes might be great pre-Disney training for the whole family.