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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Just had a disastrous visit to Legoland with DS (3)

36 replies

Marnie74 · 31/05/2012 14:27

Our DS is just over 3 and he's always been rather sensitive and shy, but since he started preschool in November he's "improved" an awful lot. When I say he's improved, I mean where he was pretty terrified of people (adults and children), he is now a lot more confident - he happily chats to adults and doesn't run away from children as much.
Anyway, we took him to Peppa Pig World last year and it was pointless. He didn't want to go in the gate and he was too frightened to go on any of the rides. Utter waste of time.
As he's been at preschool for 6 months and he's got so much more confident, we thought we'd take him to Legoland. What a mistake.
Again he was terrified when we got to the gate, he cried for ages when we finally managed to encourage him in. Then he whined and whinged the whole day (literally for 5 hours), refused to go on any rides and even refused an ice cream. When we asked him why he didn't want to go on the rides he seemed to talk about them being "scary" for some reason. The last 15 minutes however were brilliant - just as we were leaving he ran around like a mad thing popping bubbles and laughing hysterically. I try not to think about the £75 entrance fee and the (free) fun we could have had in the garden with bubbles.....
I suppose my question is: have any of your children started off hating theme parks but have suddenly learned to love them when they got older? I'm conscious that he's only 3yrs old (although there were loads of other kids of his age and younger that were loving it)?

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ChopstheScarletduck · 31/05/2012 14:29

It is all rather loud,bright and scary. Maybe you need to start small and work up? Does he like rides at all? Even say, isolated ones in town centres?

nancy75 · 31/05/2012 14:31

At 3 my dd wouldn't have like it at all, at 6 lego land is her idea of heaven!

Iggly · 31/05/2012 14:31

Maybe don't bother...? I wouldn't!

Ds is 2.7 and never been to one. He has loved petting farms though - why not try one of those?

Original poster

Marnie74 · 31/05/2012 14:37

They are hideously loud, bright and scary, you are right Chops.
Good question about the ones in town centres. He used to like standing and watching as other children went on them but I don't recall him ever going on them himself. Which I think is quite weird.
He's a bit funny about playgrounds. He never went on swings until about 3 months ago. And if there were lots of children around he wouldn't go on anything and would run away if they came near. Then we went through a ghastly phase of him not wanting to leave the playground and would scream like a banshee when we had to go home. It was so awful that I confess I stopped taking him to playgrounds completely and even now I do anything to avoid it. Bad mummy.

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SittingBull · 31/05/2012 14:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Marnie74 · 31/05/2012 14:42

Iggly, good point. We should try something else. We used to go to farms and he quite enjoyed that. We often take him to National Trust places and he's quite happy running about in wide open spaces.

SittingBull - he's not v good with crowds at all, although better recently. He's noise-sensitive and does cover his ears when something bothers him (eg police siren, ambulance). He is funny with routine - we moved house last year and he was absolutely fine. It was amazing quite frankly and we were anticipating problems. But the other morning my DH was sleeping on my side of the bed and when DS came into our room he had a meltdown about it.

OP posts:

ChopstheScarletduck · 31/05/2012 14:49

It sounds like he doesn't cope with too much sensory input. Some children do just have lower thresholds. I have a ds with sn, and one of his problems is sensory issues. He couldn't bear loud noises, crowds, and was also funny about rides. Some movements he lvoed, and would seek more and more, like rollercoasteres, but others he hated, and they would terrify him. He hated anything with a rocking motion in particular.

Does he hate other loud noises too? Handryers, that sort of thing?

Ds has def got better with age, he couldn't listen to fireworks until he was 9, he is getting better with crowds, and we finally got him on a pirate ship recently, and he insisted on going on it non stop after that I'd stick with the things he likes for now, he is only very small, and keep offering when you do see little rides and things about, but not make an issue of it. Plenty of time for theme parks and stuff in the future.

SittingBull · 31/05/2012 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Marnie74 · 31/05/2012 16:29

Yes Chops, he hates hand dryers, hoovers, drills and basically anything that's louder than a car engine. Saying that, he can make an almighty noise when he wants to - he can shriek so loud it almost makes my ears bleed. Little monkey.
It is however enormously better than it was say, a year ago, so I am hopeful that it's a question of desensitizing him. I don't mean that we plan to take him to as many REALLY LOUD places as possible to force it out of him, just that we can't actively avoid these kind of environments.
I am more concerned that the term "sn" comes up, as I don't know what to think. Is this something I should be aware of/looking into/mentioning to his teachers?
I haven't read the sensitive child SB but I will certainly look into it. I thought I had prepared him by showing him the Legoland website the day before but you put me to shame - your prep examples are so thorough and detailed.....perhaps this is what I should consider. I suppose I assumed that as time goes by these things SHOULD affect him less and less. Don't know why, now that I've said it. My ignorance I suppose.
Would love to pm you - no idea how though. Any chance you could help with this too?(crap, i know)

Thanks a lot for all your input, as always MN is brill for this sort of thing x

OP posts:

ChopstheScarletduck · 31/05/2012 16:58

Some children are more sensitive than others, it's perfectly normal and doesn't necessarily mean anything onimous, try not to worry. My ds has sn because he has a whole host of problems, not just sensory issues. I'm just a bit more aware of them because of his sn.

Lol though, so true that it doesn't matter when THEY are making the noise. Your Ds will hopefully develop his own coping mechanisms as he gets older for dealing with the things he is sensitive to him. For now let him cover his ears, or whatever makes him happier about it. For example, we finally got ds1 to stop covering his ears with fireworks by stuffing a hot dog in each hand one bonfire night! before, he would watch tHem from indoors, or whatever made him happier. It's easier to get used to the sounds of drills, or driers in big open spaces, rather than enclosed. Ds1 still avoids handryers in disabled loos, cos it echoes too much.

ChopstheScarletduck · 31/05/2012 17:02

Regarding a pm, if you look at the poster's name at the top of his/her message there is a link to the right of it, saying message poster. Click for pop up :)

camdancer · 31/05/2012 17:31

Just to stop you worrying, DS had the noise sensitivity thing but no special needs. He does have some other sensory issues (food, labels in clothes) but other than that he is an ordinary, NT, gorgeous, annoying 5 year old. I didn't even bother telling his reception teacher about it 'cos they are just things he has to get used to. He hates hand dryers and is a fussy eater, but nothing that needs any extra help with.

At 3 he wouldn't have been able to cope with Legoland at all. We went about 6 months ago on a quiet day and he loved it.

Original poster

Marnie74 · 31/05/2012 17:59

Thanks Chops and CamD, you have put my mind at rest. I am an eternal worrier, perhaps where ds gets it from.
My heart tells me to not give a damn if he doesn't enjoy sodding legoland. I thought it was a nightmare to be honest.
We will try to be more aware of his sensitivities in future, rather than wishing him to be like every other 3 yo boy
x

OP posts:

bishboschone · 31/05/2012 18:04

My dd is 8 and nt . She hates handryers, Fwiw so do I . And legoland !!!

Peggotty · 31/05/2012 18:14

Just another voice to add to the 'my dc hates noise' chorus. My dd is 7 and has always been pretty sensitive in general - hates loud children's entertainer type parties, refuses to watch films of even the most innocuous content in case there's any 'scary' bits in it and needs lots of reassurance/encouragement in new situations. I would say she's slowly getting a bit better but I used to think that making her go to parties/cinema etc would help acclimatise her. It didn't. It's just the way she is - if she never likes noisy places or has her first cinema trip at 18, at least it'll be at her own pace. What I have try to do is seek out things for her which are appropriate for her personality - so she's started Brownies, which she enjoys apart from the noisy game if 'tag' before they settle down to the activities, and we only say yes to party invites which are smaller parties for example. I don't think sensitive children really benefit from being pushed into situations which might stress them out in the hope they will 'get used to it' ( not that I'm suggesting you'll do that with your ds!!)

mewkins · 01/06/2012 20:26

dd is just turning two but just wanted to say I feel your pain. We have just been away for a few days and had varying success with our days out. We took dd to a zoo as she loves animals normally. However she was having a stroppy day and whizzed past giraffes, rhinos and hippos in order to play with the stones on the pathway.At one point she was about 10ft from a pride of lions but totally ignored them while she collected stones! on another day had a much better time at a treetop adventure park- she much prefers physical activities to just looking at things. I will try to remember that next time!

Staverton · 01/06/2012 20:33

Just to say if you go again google legoland preschool voucher 2012- adult and preschooler for £16 total!!
Sorry to hear it was a crap day some good advice here. Think my ds would have been exactly the same at 3. My 2 yr old dd however loved it!

leddeeburdee · 01/06/2012 20:39

My DS is 5 in a fortnight and we'll be going to legoland for his birthday. He loves Lego, has heard about it from school friends and has asked to go.
He would have hated it at 3. He also struggles with noisy and hectic situations but it's improving as he gets older and develops more coping mechanisms. We've let him lead the way - he's still quite shy but his confidence is slowly blossoming, as long as we let him take it at his own pace.

Marne · 01/06/2012 20:39

Both my dd's hate theme parks, last year we spent a fortune getting in to Crealy (whilst on holiday) and they refused to go on anything, dh and i had to go on the rides (one at a time) to try and get our moneys worth. The dd's only played in the soft play area and the water fountains (something we could have done cheaper somewhere else), we then tried a smaller park and they were even worse, would not go on anything, dd2 wanted a pony ride (which was not included in the entrance fee). We were thinking of trying legoland but i don't think we will bother.

Both my girls have sensory issues as they have high functioning Autism so i think the noise and the buisyness of it all is just too much.

This year we have joined the national trust and have had some great days out .

EdSillyBand · 01/06/2012 20:46

Oh yes - another one here with this type of child.

I just see it as a bonus that I don't have to endure expensive theme parks for now

ThreadWatcher · 01/06/2012 20:54

Sorry if this sounds really blunt but.........
Why bother taking a 3yo to a huge theme park in the first place?
I would have thought a high percentage of 3yo would hate it - both mine certainly would. Its a super expensive place to not enjoy imho.

Why not just go to a lovely park with lots of green space for running about with a football and a playground with swings and climbing frames - far more suited to a 3yo - and free too unless you have an icecream!

I would leave it for 3+ years and think about it again. 6 is about the youngest I would take a child to a theme park tbh.

Staverton · 01/06/2012 21:51

Having been this week I think there are loads of things there for 3 year ols threadwatcher. some will love and some will hate.

And you can get v cheap deals...

ThreadWatcher · 01/06/2012 22:18

Staverton - I agree there are some great bits at legoland for a 3yo that some may love but I still dont really see the point.

Its a bit peaking too early imho. Legoland this year, Florida next?

Even with the 'cheap' deals I would still wait till they are older (even if they would love it aged 3, what 3yo knows about legoland if they havent been?)

At 7/8yo they can understand - they will definately enjoy it more, guaranteed. They will want to go because their friends have. They will be tall enough for the better rides? They will have some understanding that legoland is an expensive day out.

bakingaddict · 01/06/2012 22:32

My DS4 is a bit of a sensitive boy, doesn't like loud noises, hand dryers etc. Took him to a birthday party recently and he went a bit mental because the other kids were popping balloons. I took him to Legoland last year for his 4th birthday. Thought we weren't going to get much past the Lego shop but he perked up and we went on some of the gentle rides.

Recently went to the Dinosaur adventure park in Norfolk which he loved. Took him to Southend Pleasure Island last week and couldn't get him to go on any rides. Just depends on their mood on the day in my opinion. Now whenever he sees the Legoland advert he's all full of beans about going again

mumeeee · 01/06/2012 23:48

3 is a bit young for legoland. My DC's still enjoyed it at 10.

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