I love amusement parks. My family loves Disneyland, Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, etc. You name it – we’ve probably spend a lot of money there! I do hate the crowds. Sometimes it’s a sea full of people walking around shoulder to shoulder.
- Bring at least one adult to supervise every two kids under the age of 5.
- Don’t put children on rides that frighten them.
- Talk about what to do if your child becomes frightened while riding. Tell her not to get out of the car, but to remain seated and keep her feet and hands inside the ride at all times.
- Never sneak children onto rides for which they are too small or too young.
- Teach your children to stay seated until the ride comes to a complete stop. Children who are in a rush to be the first off or in a hurry to get to the next ride may try to exit while the ride is still moving.
- Use good judgment when deciding whether to let your child board a particular ride. Base your decision on your child’s ability to follow directions and stay seated.
When my children were younger, I was very concerned that they’d get lost in one of these big parks. I used to think that the child “leash” was degrading until I had my third child. He could disappear in seconds. One time I did invest in and take a “leash” to Disneyland. We got some strange looks. I didn’t care. I needed it. I’m all about safety. We have rules when going to places like this. We always use the buddy system, we never go to the bathroom alone, and we communicate where we are going to be. I am always trying to teach my kids to be aware of their surroundings and if something doesn’t feel right – then it probably isn’t.