Why are theme parks and play areas so strict with their height rules and not show a little more understanding and empathy with younger children who are tall for their age. Our holiday has been spoiled by unsympathetic establishments who have stuck strictly to height rules when in some cases the rules are nonsensical. Our DS is nine but tall for his age at 59 inches. He has learning difficulties, not major, but has a mental age a year or so younger. We faced many difficulties at theme parks where he was too timid to go on the rides for older children or adults but was turned away endlessly from younger child's rides even although it was one to a car and no direct interaction with other children. We tried to finish our holiday by visiting an adventure playground. We paid the admissions for DS and our younger two children only to fall foul of the maximum height rule again. We then had the problem of whether to deprive the younger two their fun (they are far rougher playing wise than their older gentle 'giant' brother or to let them in and sit outside with DS. On this occasion we allowed the younger two in and tried to console the older one with a walk and an ice cream. We did ask around some other adults/parents and found that some kids as old as twelve were in and the general behaviour was very much rough and tumble as you would expect in an adventure play area, nothing too extreme, and far rougher than our DS would have added to the occasion. On the other hand some of the language of the older kids was sweary and inappropriate for such an area and when pointed out to the staff was met by a shrug. So why do nothing about that, allow twelve year olds who play like twelve year olds in because they are a few inches shorter than DS but not admit a child based on age alone and circumstances described to them. The fall back excuse is always 'health and safety rules' a pathetic cop out used by lazy, ignorant staff unable or unwilling to use any flexibility/discretion. It is heart breaking to see the effect is has on DS just plain heart breaking.