Just saw a clip on Instagram that niggled so once again this Opinionated Potato is putting in their tuppenceworth...
GENERAL GIST: Take a stroller to Disneyland for a child 7 and under because it's a lot of walking and they need the sensory breaks.
Seven and under. Where to begin with this? First up this assumes you only have ONE child under seven or that your family consists of enough adults to have a stroller for each young child.
Assuming that is even the case it means the adult had to deal with the stroller ALL DAY regardless of whether the child is using it. Even if you need to take a stroller it can be quite difficult multitasking between dealing with the stroller and ambulatory children - meaning that any non-strollered child has their parents being necessarily more hands off. Part of the magic of a family holiday / day out is holding hands and physically interacting with their kids (or indeed coupled parents holding hands and physically interacting with each other).
Theoretical family, using neutral names for obvious reasons...
Parent: Sam
Parent: Lee
Child 1: Brook, 8
Child 2: Ocean, 5
Child 3: River, 2
By this advice Sam & Lee have a stroller each - one for River who genuinely needs it, and one for Ocean who may only use it for a short breaks. Sam & Lee don't get to hold hands at all during the day, they both get tired of pushing; no one holds Brook's hand, when Ocean is out of the stroller no one (other than Brook) is holding theirs. Basically everyone has a fairly sucky time except the only kid whose needs are being fully met.
If instead they only take a stroller for River then Sam and Lee can take turns pushing so they don't get so tired and can enjoy quality time with their children. If Ocean gets really tired maybe they can take a ride while River toddles or is carried? Overall the family get to physically interact a whole lot more.
Next objection: where are you even finding a stroller that can take a SEVEN YEAR OLD??? My eldest broke every buggy she ever had and we gave them up before she was THREE. That's not down to childhood obesity, she wasn't overweight. She was 9lbs 11oz at birth and off the growth chart completely by about 7 months.
At almost four she wasn't well and was tired so she sat in her baby sister's stroller... and it broke.
In later life I've realised that a lot of the dirty looks my elder daughter and I got when she was 'little' were likely not because I was a teen mum, but probably because it looked like I had a four year old in a babygro with a dummy.
Assuming your child has no disabilities (more on that in a moment) why are you thinking a 5, 6, 7 year old is going to struggle to walk around a theme park? Do you walk too fast for your kid? Are you not taking regular rest breaks? Most of the comments were from parents going "WTF?! My kid has more energy than I do!" and especially adding in the excitement factor... I mean I'd get it more if you were walking around a particularly unexciting art gallery and the kid was bored out of their tiny mind.
Mostly I'm thinking that this is a DRIVER PROBLEM. Most kids don't walk any great distances or over prolonged times and if you're concerned about little Joey managing to walk around all day TRAIN THEM, like you're training for a big hike or whatever. Before I took my kids anywhere we'd brush up on what to do if we got separated etc etc so unless your trip is super impulsive surely you factor in prepping your kids for what you have in mind?
So ahead of a planned trip to Disney (or wherever) start taking your kid(s) on walks. Short at first, building up if you can. Ensure the pace is sedate enough, take rest breaks, and pay special attention to the comfort of their shoes and other clothing. Chances are they'll be fully able and if they're not you'll be better prepared knowing exactly what you do need.
It might help the parents too, if they're quite sedentary.
Which brings me to what I'm gonna term here INableism Obviously if your kid has any particular special needs, diagnosed or otherwise, you likely already know the right course of action for your family, but the context of this seemed to be a travel agent or childcare expert (I wasn't paying attention) being asked for advice. And yeah, this is my unsolicited advice: don't assume anyone can't do a thing until you either ask them or try.
Assuming people with disabilities are going to struggle with certain tasks is inverted ableism. Someone in my family has a physical disability and their primary school teacher was SHOCKED they'd learned to tie their laces. It went down in family legend as being a really important example that you shouldn't assume. Assuming a woman can't lift something heavy is sexism, as is assuming that a man can lift it. Assuming a child can't walk around a theme park is pretty much just ageism.
A kid isn't going to wake up on a specific birthday suddenly able to climb a mountain or whatever - just like they're not innately able to adult at 18. Skills need to be taught, learned, practiced, reinforced.
I once knew someone who'd make wild sweeping statements as to what their kid could do, liked and disliked, what interested them... Didn't encourage their kid to try anything new EVER - skills, foods, experiences. Nope 'Mother Knew Best' poor kid. Don't be her.
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