It’s that time of the year again-fun, sun, and theme parks! Our friends at Sesame Place have some tips for taking your preschooler to Sesame place, which can also be applied to any theme park.
There’s more to visiting a theme park than arriving at the front gate with swimsuit in hand. It’s best to prepare in advance for the visit, understanding the layout of the park and learning about the attractions that are offered so parents and young children can get ready together.
Here are some helpful tips before arriving at the theme park:
- Enjoy the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming event. Young children may struggle with the concept of time. “Are we there yet?” and “How many more days until we get to visit Sesame Place?” may be frequently asked questions. Having a visual representation of time may be helpful. For example, a fun activity to share together is creating a paper chain link to represent the number of days until the trip. Each morning one paper chain link is removed by the parent and child.
- Plan your day, keeping flexibility in mind. It will be fun to view the website with your children and make a list of everything they would love to do. Then choose priorities, just in case there isn’t time to do it all. This will be a big help as you enter the park and begin the adventure.
- Review the park map and check show schedules. Plan meals and activities around show times. For example, if you want to be sure to see the “Rock Around the Block” parade, have lunch early so there’s plenty of time to get a good spot for the parade.
- Make reservations in advance. Select which “dining with the characters” meal is timed best for your visit.
- If you are staying overnight, find a hotel nearby so the child can go back for a nap. Get your hand stamped for re-admission.
- Consider what clothing to bring by how you plan your day. Do you want to do water rides immediately? If so, you could wear bathing suits under clothing and bring another outfit for later. Remember to pack water shoes, towels and a change of clothes. Have keys and valuables in a small case that you can wear or easily hold.
- When meeting the Sesame Place characters, suggest the children ask them “yes” and “no” questions, as the lovable walkaround characters will happily respond to these type of questions and will shake their head in response. They are huggable and cuddly.
- Remember your cameras. Your children will cherish their photos with Elmo, Big Bird and the whole gang. There also photo opportunities at the park for professional shots you might want to purchase.
- Knowing young children, anything is possible. The youngster eager to meet Elmo might get shy when first meeting him. Take your time. Let him look from afar until he is comfortable getting close enough for a hug and a photo!
- Remember, each child is an individual. At each stage, a child will experience the park in a unique way. Older siblings love the water rides and will enjoy being the teachers for their brothers and sisters.
We hope that you found all of these tips helpful. There is certainly a lot to consider when planning this special outing with the family. Tell us about your experiences with your preschoolers at theme parks.