Parent trying to force his kid on Everest

[dsquarednz]

Saw this the other day - was waiting in the single rider line, when a tall man was heading into the Fast Pass line followed by a weeping little (7 yo?) boy. The boy was screaming "no! no!" - at first blush, I thought he was just acting up, and the father was going to take him out of the line to punish him...turns out the boy didn't want to go on the ride! The father turned around and grabbed the boy's arm, yanking him forward while telling him to "stop it".

As they neared the front of the line, the crying got louder until they were standing in the last row ready to board the next available car. The boy was seriously losing his sh*t, so the father picked him up and spanked him several times!! Finally, about 3 Cast Members converged around the father and spoke with him quietly. The mother appeared from nowhere and took the boy away - he was so relieved and said to her "I didn't want to go". *sniff*

The father? Continued standing in line ready to get on the ride! After several seconds, he finally did the right thing and followed his wife/child. Sheesh!!

It's a good thing my husband wasn't with me in line - he would have stepped in for sure...

[TriciaS]

I don't get that! Why force your child to go on a ride they don't want to go on?! I understand the concept of wanting your child to try new things but not to the point where they are hysterical. Do they really think the kid is going to enjoy the ride after getting so upset?

[Deirdre]

The first fime my little guy did that was on Space Mountain.
I told DH that I had walked all the way up and I was riding.
DS & DH left without riding. We always let the kids choose.
Every one of my kids will ride anything. Push 'em and you get the
opposite behavior.

[Ccarroll1100]

My son cries and wines. I make him ride but he always wants to ride over and over after he rides once. So maybe the daddy knew what his son would
Like. My son thanks me for getting him on rides. Overcoming fear is a learned behaivor.

[Ccarroll1100]

I would never spank my son but i do push him on rides that I know he would like.

[I'mNoPrince]

That's how DD got her Pin Collection Started. I bribed her but never forced her to get on anything

[dsquarednz]

Originally Posted by Ccarroll1100

My son cries and wines. I make him ride but he always wants to ride over and over after he rides once. So maybe the daddy knew what his son would
Like. My son thanks me for getting him on rides. Overcoming fear is a learned behaivor.

Wines? Hope you aren't letting your little one drink so soon!

As for the father's behaviour..this is far beyond helpng a child "overcome fear"...if you are spanking your child to get them on the ride, it's not worth it. If they want to ride, they will in time. I didn't ride roller coasters for years, but finally tried one again as an ADULT, when I knew my limits and could make choices.

[bostonRob]

Originally Posted by Ccarroll1100

My son cries and wines. I make him ride but he always wants to ride over and over after he rides once. So maybe the daddy knew what his son would
Like. My son thanks me for getting him on rides. Overcoming fear is a learned behaivor.

Daughter is the same way. I wouldnt spank her but im fully expecting to have to make her go on any ride more thrilling than the carousel.

[DizKrazKate]

Originally Posted by I'mNoPrince

That's how DD got her Pin Collection Started. I bribed her but never forced her to get on anything

We do "push" our boys to try rides (ska bribe with pins, ice cream bars etc..) but spanking a crying child to force them on a ride? Over the line I think. I once took both boys to Tower of Terror, and while in the basement they got too scared. Crying "we don't want to go on". I tried to change their minds, but it was a no go. We simply politely cut through to the front if the line, explaining we were going for the chicken exit, and we found a cast member and indeed took the chicken exit. I was bummed they didn't want to go, but someday they will I'm sure.

[dsnygrl]

Originally Posted by DizKrazKate

We do "push" our boys to try rides (ska bribe with pins, ice cream bars etc..) but spanking a crying child to force them on a ride? Over the line I think. I once took both boys to Tower of Terror, and while in the basement they got too scared. Crying "we don't want to go on". I tried to change their minds, but it was a no go. We simply politely cut through to the front if the line, explaining we were going for the chicken exit, and we found a cast member and indeed took the chicken exit. I was bummed they didn't want to go, but someday they will I'm sure.

Same here...we may have a bribe here or there, but never through spanking or forcing...after all, that is the whole point of the Child Swap isn't it? If he really wanted to get on, he should have done a Child Swap with the kid and his wife...
On another note, through bribing, I have successfully gotten both of my sons on Everest, and a few others that would have never been tried, and now loved.