At what age did you start taking your little one places like water parks, amusement parks, etc.?

Question

I was thinking the appropriate age would be a year old. What do you think?

I don't care about the money, to my second answerer, I care about the child having fun as soon as possible throughout their whole life.

Answer 1

I depends on the child. I took my daughter to a pool last July when she was 14 months old, and she HATED it! She screamed and cried the whole time. We're going to try again this summer when she'll be 2.

And bath time won't determine it, either. My daughter loves a bath! I think it was the cold water she didn't like.

Answer 2

Waterparks & Babies:

Children are creatures of habit - believe it or not, and we generally spend the first 12 years or so of their lives trying to get them used to the idea of being on a schedule, so vacations can be very disruptive to very young children and infants. Young parents often make the mistake of feeling that they are going to expose their infants and small children to as much of the world as soon as they can and in doing so they labor under the mistaken notion that the child will some how become a citizen of the earth by exposure. Unfortunately unless you are talking about short trips to visit close family relatives and good friends, "vacations" can be very hard on babies and small children.

Their attention spans are short, they are much more sensative to temperature and humidity that adults - so by the time you figure out you're chilly or warm they're already very uncomfortable - but unable to tell you that - and feeling their limbs or foreheads is no measure of their core temp. Their skin is very tender and they suffer much greater damage from wind, sun, cold, and exposure than you do, Also bug bites are extremely painful to them, and in some cases thry can be very toxiic.

Their systems can be quite sensitive to airborne alergins that you would never even notice, their eyes will well up, their faces swell, and their skin may turn red because of airborne mano oil from a Mango Grove a mile away by particles carried on the breeze, and you think it's just a touch of colic, or a bug bite, or from crying.

Tap water used to prepare their meals or bottle may contain minute amounts of trace elements or minerals, or microbes, you don't have "back home" which can throw their system off - usually resulting in diarehhea, listlessness, and general lassitude. They are in strange surroundings, with strange smells and sounds all around, so they may not sleep as soundly or as deeply, they may therefore be more cranky, and want to sleep more, or be held more. They don't understand "adventure" and don't wan't to try new food or things. Water park water is too cold, and the crowds are frightening. and the Mid-day sun is too hot, and the crowed lines are airless, Sand is sticky, and grids into their skin inside the diaper.

They are drinking all the time because you are trying to keep them hydrated, and they are going all the time to keep their kidneys workig ,(hopefully), and your don't have enough diapers in you bag to change them as often as you'd like to - so they sit and chafe all day, and get a heat & diaper rash to boot.

Later you all decide to go down to the shallow end of the wave pool, where the chlorine doesn't exactly feel great on that diaper rash. The older children offer to take the younger ones off to play which is probably a good idea - if they were going back to the air conditioned room for a bath, ointment, fresh diapers, a bottle, and a nap.

Instead it's more sun, cold water, shreeking children, and mayhem they really do not under stand or need. Children usually do not develope cognative memories until around age 3 - 4 , so taking children under the age of three is probably not going to leave an impression on them - unless it is one of terror,and discomfort. Most children up to the age of 4 - 5 , given a choice would probably,(honestly) rather stay at home with Mommy and Daddy and "Vacation" at home than go to "Disney Land" - as long as no one is there to "hype" them up on Disney land - and they understand that both Mommy and Daddy will be there all day and all night the whole time to do whatever they want as a family.

I have good news for you dear - your little ones don't need and don't need Disney Land, or Walley World, or Barbi Mountain - or the Wisconsin Dells - they need and want YOU. They WANT YOUR LOVE, YOUR ATTENTION, AND YOUR APPROVAL MORE THAT ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD. You don't need to travel to Africa, or Japan, or New Delhi to give them the World. Right now YOU ARE their WORLD, and as they grow, then every time you can, make time, and take them on an adventure, - to the Arabian Desert, to the Old West, to Walnut Grove, to the House of Seven Gables, to the bottom of the Ocean, and to the Moon and Beyond - through books. They will never, ever forget the richness of the love of their mother reading to them - even through grade school. And when they"get to big" for Mom to read them stories on a summer afternoon when a big thunderstorm is rolling accross the town, then you can put down your chores, and they can read to you, of all the places you did not go as you raised your brood of little kings and queens.

Never forget to exercise their minds, and let them exercise their limbs, for as you feed their little tummies, you are also charged with nourishing their minds,spirits, and souls. Teach them the value of honesty and laughter, and friendship, and to observe the Golden Rule and you will have done well, and a service to society. I look forward one day to hearing about your sons and daughters, as leaders in the Sciences, Education, Politics, and Business. Perhaps one of your daughters will one day lead our great nation. Keep them close, you are the only mother they will ever have. Good luck"Mom"

I'm pulling for you.

Answer 3

well, kids don't really have a long term memory until their about seven.. so save some money and take them on a trip then, they will be way more likely to remember it.