Shocked at kid's behaviour...

[Scraper]

WARNING: inevitably someone will come along here on this thread and try and justify the child & parent's actions as well as demonize those who dare speak out against inappropriate behavior. Welcome to the DIS!

Someone hit the nail on the head. LOL and it did not take that long.

 

[Jen0504]

Someone hit the nail on the head. LOL and it did not take that long.

 

[nchulka]

It's all about making excuses, you see it from the time they are babies. If they are whiny or fussing the mother will inevitably say something like "oh, he's teething, or she missed her nap today". Parents seem to think that if there is a reason for the behavior it excuses it! There may be reasons in life but they are NOT excuses! I cannot imagine letting my kids behave so poorly. I'm embarrassed when I find out about bad behavior after the fact, it's amazing to me that parents would actually just sit and watch it. Just the other day my son (7) came home from a neighbors telling me how much fun they had playing on the trampoline with water. I asked what water. He tells me that there was a bunch of water bottles and they opened them and jumped up and down with them making the trampoline all wet and it was so fun! I made him get a few dollars out of his piggy bank and go up to the door and apologize to the mother for wasting her bottled water and make restitution for his bad judgement. I didn't discipline him because I really don't think he thought it was wrong at all (as evidenced by the way he came home telling me exactly what he did with a big smile on his face). If your kid does something wrong you step up and MAKE THEM make it right. Kids hearing their parents make excuses for them time after time are never going to learn to behave appropriately!

 

[StitchBuddy]

I am loving this thread. I sometimes think I am the only one who thinks this way. I am a teacher and it amazes me the behavior I see and the excuses I see parents make for the behavior. Not saying I am a perfect parent or that I have the perfect child, but I am totally amazed at what I see and hear.

 

[chris31997]

Another mean mommy here and proud of it

I am amazed at parents and what they consider acceptable. And depending on where I am, I just might say something I have called the front desk at hotels, I have called out teens/young adults with foul language( I live a base), and I don't make excuses for my kids. When I tell my kids we are doing something or something is going to happen, they know it happens.

I will say, I will not let someone else's rude behavior interfer with my vacation. After all, I am at the happiest place on earth

 

[mommy-on-the-move]

I didn't intend to attribute the behaviour to the size of the family, I had just been trying to keep an eye out for a particularly memorable poster who said she was taking 5 kids under the age 8 by herself over spring break. I just wanted to see if she was real!

Ahhh, I understand now! (Sorry just overly sensative on the large family issue as we get so many assumptions made about the fact we have five) I have five and I venture into the city on public transport with them on my own, we go all over without DH, but Disney? I'd lose my mind within 24 hours if I went without DH and just the kids! (not to mention the fact I'd have to pee with at least 3 kids in the cubicle with me! ) It's a brave lady who takes five kids to a theme park on her own! My sister finds it hilarious when we go to anywhere crowded as she says she can see me constantly head counting under my breath (and yes, I've had panic attacks when I only count four and then my oldest says "mom, the baby is in the sling" )

 

[Jessica14]

I am loving this thread. I sometimes think I am the only one who thinks this way. I am a teacher and it amazes me the behavior I see and the excuses I see parents make for the behavior. Not saying I am a perfect parent or that I have the perfect child, but I am totally amazed at what I see and hear.

This is it exactly! I taught for a long time and heard every excuse in the book. My favorite is "boys will be boys." That may be true, but the behavior is still unexceptable. The other is "I pick my battles." Please consider picking the right ones as picking others may cause problems in the long run. And yes I have kids and one is particulary challenging. I have carried both of them out of situations if they are having meltdowns. It's just a part of beng a parent.
Jessica

 

[RMulieri]

I would never put up with it with my own kid, but apparently there are quite a few parents too concerned about being their childs' friend instead of their parent and will not discipline them because 1) they are too tired or mentally exhausted to deal or 2) they are afraid to injure their fragile child's psyche by setting limitations

 

[livndisney]

I would never put up with it with my own kid, but apparently there are quite a few parents too concerned about being their childs' friend instead of their parent and will not discipline them because 10 they are too tired or mentally exhausted to deal or 2) they are afraid to injure their fragile child's psyche by setting limitations

Guess I better make my kid a therapy appointment. I hauled her butt out of MK due to her behavior.

She still remembers the day, and has not repeated the behavior.

 

[WDWaddictsx4]

Also a mean mommy. Last time we were at EP, my DS, then 5, bolted ahead of us in The Land Pavilion. I finally caught up with him in front of Living with the Land and gave him such a verbal chastizing that a CM, taking pity on him, made him "Captain for the Day" on LWTL and we got moved up to the front of the line!

I always tend to question myself in these situations, but...

Few adults or children are on their "A game" at WDW. The size and scope of WDW makes "bad" behavior not only obnoxious to others, but also potentially unsafe. While I believe in picking your battles, I also feel that consistency is key. My DS has special needs, so clear rules and consequences are essential to protect him and to allow everyone to have a magical day!

 

[budafam]

Parents just don't care enough anymore. I see it everytime I go shopping. There is always a child in the store screaming or throwing a fit. My kids (ages 4 and 2) ALWAYS comment on those "sassy" kids. They know not to act that way or they won't go shopping with me anymore. I get compliments all the time on how well behaved they are and I do believe it's because of how I raise them. A little discipline goes a long way. I know kids have meltdowns here and there but there's no reason for it to EVER affect anyone around you. It's unfortunate that some people just let them be because they're "just being kids". Those kids will grow up to have so many more issues.

 

[disneyquestions]

I work with someone whos kid is... misbehaved. The child is in trouble all the time in school, getting sent to the office, getting into fights, getting suspended... The mom punishes the child, then the child calls her at work begging for the punishment to be lifted, and she gives in. I'll be standing right there telling her "Don't give in - make the kid suck it up and take responcibility for their actions." but I guess its easier egnore it, and let the child do what they want.... Same thing with the kids here in Disney - I guess the parents feel that they are on vacation too, and they don't want to "deal" with the childs bad behavoir. Sad really.

 

[QVCshopper]

I know kids misbehave and not all parents are great. I have my own faults, my delayed daughter had tantrums you would be scared of at Disney World. I spent 20 minutes clutching her by the bathrooms (an out of the way place) before she could finish a fairly memorable one. Then when she was two, she completely freaked out when Sleeping Beauty left our table at the Crystal Palace, so yes, we left.

But, I do wish people would stop the judging. You don't know that the children are six, which I agree is an age that most children should be fairly well behaved at. My six year old is 4'4"; if you saw her having a tantrum now (which is very rare), you'd say "there was a nine year old that the mom was holding..."

Anyway, when I see bad behavior I 1) leave or 2) tell the child to stop if the parent is no where around. The worst was when a boy was crawling in the raised garden near Dumbo, dumping the landscaped flowers, roots and all, down on the people eating dinner. His parents never said a word.

Oh, and my delayed daughter has mostly grown out of her delay, thanks to years of therapy. Now, I'm told she's such a pleasure and joy and so sweet, etc. And she is; she's a completely different child. And I'm probably a little wiser, too.

 

[RMulieri]

Guess I better make my kid a therapy appointment. I hauled her butt out of MK due to her behavior.

She still remembers the day, and has not repeated the behavior.

My kid is going to need years of therapy...LOL..I have told her many times ." I am not your friend ,I am your parent, when you grow up and have your own house than we can be friends"..LOL..I am not a perfect parent by any stretch, but I have tried to teach my daughter consequences for bad behavior and respect for others.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

I think some parents are absolutely lazy and don't take their responsibilities as parents seriously. Luckily I do think that is not the majority and most of the kids at WDW are well behaved and enjoying their trips. The ones that are acting poorly or wigging out are the ones who stand out.

I am a parent of 2 kids (9 and 4 so I don't think we have even hit "the hard stuff" yet, LOL) and also taught many years. What I have learned is that the key to good parenting is consistency. Kids need to know what to expect, and they need to trust you at your word that what you say is meant. But for some parents it is too hard to follow through on a consequence. I have heard so many empty threats followed by a sigh and "fine you can have it..."

I think it is kind of funny when kids misbehave and others brush it off as "kids being kids." Some of the poor behavior listed on this thread is not that but just, "brats being brats." When your kid is hitting, kicking, destroying something, or spitting at others it is time for them to be disciplined.

 

[DISNEYSIX]

Some of you parents kill me. Maybe you all should start the Perfect Parents Club or something. So you all are telling me that your children have never acted this way at any time in their lives? Either your children are imaginary or very, very boring. Shoot, I remember when I was a kid and on vacation, my brothers and I put a shark in the hotel pool once. It didn't live long but you should have seen the people high tail it out of there. Good thing Grandad owned the hotel. I say let them be kids (to an extent) because when they get older, life turns very, very serious.

 

[Wadecool]

Some of you parents kill me. Maybe you all should start the Perfect Parents Club or something. So you all are telling me that your children have never acted this way at any time in their lives? Either your children are imaginary or very, very boring. Shoot, I remember when I was a kid and on vacation, my brothers and I put a shark in the hotel pool once. It didn't live long but you should have seen the people high tail it out of there. Good thing Grandad owned the hotel. I say let them be kids (to an extent) because when they get older, life turns very, very serious.

I'm starting to smell something....

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

Some of you parents kill me. Maybe you all should start the Perfect Parents Club or something. So you all are telling me that your children have never acted this way at any time in their lives? Either your children are imaginary or very, very boring. Shoot, I remember when I was a kid and on vacation, my brothers and I put a shark in the hotel pool once. It didn't live long but you should have seen the people high tail it out of there. Good thing Grandad owned the hotel. I say let them be kids (to an extent) because when they get older, life turns very, very serious.

I am far from a perfect parent, LOL

But I do think it is my responsibility to teach my children about appropriate times and places for things. For example I think taking pics of my kids doing handstands around the world is really cute and I may do that next trip. However we would make sue nobody was around and nobody would be in danger of getting hit or kicked.

It is okay for kids to run and yell at a playground or in our yard. Running around and screaming in a hotel is not.

 

[BAMLuvMickey]

Parents just don't care enough anymore. I see it everytime I go shopping. There is always a child in the store screaming or throwing a fit. My kids (ages 4 and 2) ALWAYS comment on those "sassy" kids. They know not to act that way or they won't go shopping with me anymore. I get compliments all the time on how well behaved they are and I do believe it's because of how I raise them. A little discipline goes a long way. I know kids have meltdowns here and there but there's no reason for it to EVER affect anyone around you. It's unfortunate that some people just let them be because they're "just being kids". Those kids will grow up to have so many more issues.

I know one of those "SASSY" kids personally. She is 16 and is my little sister. She is 14 years younger than me. Our mother raised us VERY differently. My brother and I both knew to behave in public and at other people's houses. We knew that if we didn't, there would be hell to pay. My sister however, was SPOILED. NEVER punished or if she was, it was revoked within an hour because she would cry and my mother would say "I can't stand to listen to her whine and cry so its easier to give in." My sister is such a B***H now that I really hate spending time at my moms. She treats our mother like crap and the same goes for her treatment towards my kids and my mom still lets her get away with it. Can't wait to see how life hits her when she is finally out in the real world and her boss won't take her crap!
Now I am 30 with 2 boys and a third child on the way. My oldest is 9. I have devoted the last nine years of raising my kids to not be like my sister. I am not as strict as my mom was with me, but my kids know that there are consequences if they are doing wrong. They get rewarded for good behavior. So far, I get compliments on my kids too! They are 9 and 4. And YES there are the occasional meltdowns in public(I WANT THAT TOY)
I want my kids to respect others and BE respected by others. Its sad to see parents enabling their children to be like that.

 

[Rylee]

Kids running up and down the hall in the middle of a night, splashing water out of the pool, climbing light poles and having tantrums while in line. You all think this is bad behavior? Do you people even have children?

"To discipline" means "to teach." The time for teaching is NOW, any age, everyday, anywhere, including WDW.

We love our children enough to take the time to teach right from wrong and what is acceptable and appropriate behavior. We want them to be happy, now and in the future. They have to follow rules everywhere they go... school, sports, work, a friend's house, etc., and live by the laws. If we allowed them to do as they please simply because they are children, it would be setting them on a crash course with the world. At what age would we then decide they need to be accountable... 16, 18, 21? Surely they would be in for a rude awakening by then. How is it best for the children to let them be the kids everyone dreads being around, the kid the teacher doesn't want in their class, the one no one wants to play with? People, kids and adults, who can get along and are well liked and respected by their peers are generally happy individuals.

Tantrums are a means for getting one's own way. Other than special needs children, any tantrum throwing should end by the time a child can verbally express themselves. If it continues beyond that, it's because it is effective, it's working for the child because it working on the parent.

As for kids running up and down the hallways at night... my kids wouldn't be allowed to run up and down the hallways during the DAY, either. There are plenty of other places for running around, the common area of property owned by someone else is not one of them.

Yes, I have children, ages 30, 25, 20, 13 & 9, plus a 6 month old grandson and spent more than 20 years working with children ages birth - 6 years.