Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

Each and every single time we leave the park, it's a meltdown!!

I have tried explaining to her that she can't cry when its time to leave, she says Ok Mama while we are in the car but once we get on the playground, its all forgotten about. I have bribed her, have special things waiting in the car for her, have been stern with her and each and every time it's the same scenario...Megan in my arms, kicking and crying that she wants "more slide" with every parent staring at me. It's gotten to the point where I dont even want to bring her anymore.

Just wondering if my kid is the ONLY one that does this and if not, what tactic do you use to get them to leave?? Tia.

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

DO you give her a warning?

YEs, my kids have had melt downs but not on a consistent basis. I give a warning and then leave. Even when they are crying. After a few times they usually stop. Maybe mykids are less stubborn than yours, but don't worry we have our own problems

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

Yes. Andrew flips out!! I end up having to carry him out kicking and screaming. It is sooo embarassing.

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

Yes - Jack flipped out every single time we left the park. It made me want no part of going because I hated the fight everytime!

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

My twin nephews are like this, you could be there for hours on end and they still don't want to leave. my BIL has to take them both kicking and crying, imagine that scene

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

The scene that Luka use to put on was crazy and I had to manage the stroller since I had DD too. The way he screamed, you thought he was being kidnapped. I use to bribe him with something we could only do at home. The few times that we have been to the park since the the fall he has been really good about leaving. When we are in the car I tell him he is a big boy and we don't cry when we leave. If he cry's we are not coming back. I remind give him lots of warnings of when we are going to leave. I will tell him he can go down 5 more times on the slide and then I count each time he goes down. Then I give him one more. Now my DD is almost 20 months I think I am going to have a hard time with her leaving this summer now. It does get better but the key is definitely warnings and it will just click one day.

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

Every single friggin' time... she has the biggest meltdown!!!

I try to stick to the parks where Im the only one there that way there's little embarrassment for me. Your not alone TRUST ME!!

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

OK...bad Mommy here...

I will give a warning and then when I want to leave, I point to a cloud and say "oh no- here comes the rain cloud! The rain is coming!" And my drama queen covers her head and RUNS faster than I have seen her run. It works for the back yard too!

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

Yes dd cries every time.. we found that if we pointed to birds and she got distracted .. only works until you get into car, then we had to find something else to distract her with like a toy.

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

my babysitting kid did in the beginning, but doesn't anymore.

Josh has to be told something better then the park is going to happen to him. Lunch, bath, snack, cd in car.

If he does cry or fight, the next time we go, I make believe I am not bringing him with me. Then he catches on.

At about 15 mos, he fought me so bad once, pulled my hair as I am getting him in carseat, I pulled his back and he never did that physical nonsense with me ever again.

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

Yes, but it's usually time for lunch or a snack, so I promise him those things and he stops generally. Or I tell him we're going for a ride in the car (if we have the car) and that makes him happy too.

He actually has bigger meltdowns going in the house from our yard. I hate to say it, but I kind of ignore them, just tell him I'm sorry he's upset, but we need to go in for XYZ reason, and we'll go out another day. He usually stops pretty fast.

Message edited 2/28/2009 2:20:36 PM.

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

Yup, DS flipped out at the indoor play area in the Broadway Mall the other week and arched so badly I could barely get him into the stroller.

He is a little young to get the concept of a warning that we are leaving so I am at a loss. A cookie helps, but I hate to use food as a bribe!

I need tips, to!

Re: Do your kids cry when they have to leave the park??

DD will protest and I will have to carry her out but she goes back to normal as soon as we are out the gate. It's like she knows there's no changing my mind and no sense in protesting anymore. I always give her warnings - "okay, go down the slide two more times and we are going home" and "okay, last time down the slide and we are going".

We went on Thursday and I gave her a warning + told her we are going to the library. She walked out of there and said "bye slide, bye kids, bye swings" while holding my hand walking out. I praised her for being so cooperative.