This park worker

[LittleBooInABox]

Today my son (7) and I went out on our monthly day together to a local farm/park area.

The day was going well we'd seen the animals and painted pottery. As we were walking back to the play area, my son spotted the zorb area, giant water balls. He said he wanted a turn.

I explained to him that he had to sit in the ball, while the man blew it up with a leaf blower type pump that was loud I explained this twice. We stood fairly close to the child in front being secured into the ball so my son could watch and see what would happen. He is a very nervous child. I asked again if he was sure he wanted to go on it. He said he was.

The man of about 20 (not sure it's relevant) called us over, I explained that my son was nervous but wanted to go on. Could we give it a go. He guided my son into the ball, told him to put his hands over his ears, placed the leaf blower type thing inside and started inflating.

My son started to cry, I tried to reassure him from out side the hall but he was having none of it. It was to loud for me to get the attendants attention by taking, nor could I reach the zipper to open the ball to retrieve my child. So I tapped him on the shoulder.

The man eventually stopped and my son is crying uncontrollably at this point. He wants to get out, doesn't want to go on anymore, and the man instead of opening the zorb says to my upset son "if you don't stop the tantrum I won't let you out."

At this point I push past him, open the zorb and hug my child, I ask the man his name and am so shocked didn't know what else to say.

Sat on the bench for twenty minutes calming my son. When I decide to speak to the manager whom apologises but doesn't look like she's taking the issue seriously. We stayed at the park and had some lunch but left shortly after because my sons confidence was knocked. He was worried they wouldn't let him get off other rides.

WIBU to call tomorrow and make a complaint with a more senior manager. Or am I being a bit sensitive about the issue? I just feel it's the wrong thing for a stranger to say to an obviously upset child.

Have to say, I'm really surprised by some of the responses on here and I'm normally pretty matter of fact and at pfb types.

This is a 7 year old child. Who was brave enough to try something new for the first time. He tried it, found he didn't like it and panicked and wanted to get out. That's ok.

The park worker, however young, should have realised this and just let him out.

I think you're being precious sorry

He said twice he wanted to go on the zorbs but you made a point of telling the man he was nervous? Why?

Seems like you're feeding your own anxiety back to him.

You are being unreasonable - you gave into your son knowing he would react like that. You should have been a parent and said no.

He doesn't have the training to provide the level of care/skill you seem to require of him

Care/skill? No skill or care required at all to say "okay, I'll let you out now"

Does he have special needs? His behaviour does not sound typical and you sound like you encourage it

Does he have special needs?

What if he does? He is entitled to use the rides the same as everyone else.

Well that would explain his (and the OPs) behaviour

Their behaviours weren't actually the problem so they don't need explained. The way the man handled it was the problem.

In fact Sally, a few of us have gently said we think they may be a problem.

You shouldn't need to tell people your child has SN in order to be treated properly. It should be a given!

A child crying in a noisy ride should be par for the course in that type of attraction. They should expect it to happen every so often.

I think I would complain or inform the manager so that the member of staff can be given some people skill training! Something similar happened to my son when he was at cubs. They went on a boating trip and my son felt a bit nervous about going in a boat alone so when his boat started going in the opposite direction to everyone else he got scared, one of the cub leaders thought it was funny to say to my son that if he didn't stop crying he would leave him and his boat stranded which made my son even more upset. He isn't a very strong swimmer so he was petrified. It is all very well and good having a joke but some children just don't understand especially when they are scared!

you gave into your son knowing he would react like that

Totally unfair. OP's not psychic. If her son had never been on a zorb before, how tf would she 'know' how he'd respond?

It's good to try new things. And it's fair to assume that, if you start a new experience and don't like it (assuming it's not a team thing where others are affected), you can back out without someone belittling you.

OP is not complaining about the fact that her son didn't like it; she's complaining that the guy said something nasty, which was unnecessary.

And I'm a bit baffled by all the 'if he's not SEN rhen he should behave x, y z'. Wtf? Surely we are all aware that there is a huge range of personal qualities both in those with SEN and in those without?? It seems that some people genuinely think that all people without diagnosed SEN has to behave identically.

The child is not sn otherwise the mother would have stated, mother obv has anxiety issues and needs to sort it out as it is affecting the child by the sounds of it.

Anxious children need the opportunity to try new things. If not letting senstive children have a go because you know what they are like was reasonable advice my autistic children would be locked in the house for life.

Op you are nbu.

VoidoidDash, I do not see your logic, a child with sn is a totally different kettle of fish!

Your son was crying uncontrollably before the attendent said anything - the damage was done at that point. Chalk it up to experience - sometimes you have to say no to children for their own good.

The child is not sn otherwise the mother would have stated

It's not compulsory to state your child's health conditions you know!

I always find these threads really bizarre.
Op hasn't said anything for 2 and half pages and everyone is just bickering amongst themselves about stuff that op didn't even ask or mention

a child woth sn is a totally different kettle of fish

Really? Not all kids with sn are going to have anxiety issues. Not all kids without sn are going to be free from anxiety. It's totally irrelevant.

It's not ok for a park worker to threaten to keep a child trapped. And you did the right thing letting him try it out to see if he'd like it.

BandeauSally no it is not compulsary to state a childs condition, however it puts a totally different slant on a conversationt doesnt it?

For instance I have a child with Asd, spd and Hypercussis, if I were to start a conversation on here I would say first of all my child has sn, that is totally reasonable, however it sound like the child in question is being pandered too and its playing on him even more when mothers doing that.

Yes you would be unreasonable.
He made a comment, possibly the wrong one. The manager has a apologised.
What more do you want?
If he was that nervous why let him on it?
I agree with others that if it took you 20 minutes and you still had to leave, then you may have to rethink things as it can't be helping your son feeling like this.

The worker was insensitive but I wouldn't complain. People do it without really thinking sometimes and he is only young and probably inexperienced.
If this had happened to my dd7 and the man had said that I think it would have honestly made her calm down. Once out I would have told her to calm down and we will go do something else.
Your child is 7, not a baby.
I wouldn't have spent 20 minutes comforting a 7 year old. I'm sure he could have been easily distracted with another ride/ice cream etc.