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LEGOLAND Florida creates a guide to help parents to
This summer, LEGOLAND® Florida, Central Florida's newest theme park, is helping families deal with Veloxrotaphobia, or fear of roller coasters, by arming parents with "Roller Coaster Readiness" tips.
Leadership at the park reached out to nationally-recognized psychologist and award-winning author Dr. Susan Bartell to create tools for both guests and employees to help parents manage these challenging situations.
"Our junior roller coasters offer just the right blend of speed and thrill that make LEGOLAND Florida the perfect spot for kids to ride their very first roller coaster," says Adrian Jones, LEGOLAND Florida general manager. "But because we know the 'pink knuckle' nature of these attractions doesn't mitigate a first timer's fears, we wanted to provide resources to parents as well as our employee 'model citizens' to ensure that first plunge is a positive experience for the entire family."
According to Bartell, there are a host of mistakes parents commonly make when it comes to handling their child's fear of roller coasters. "Dismissing a child's fear, comparing them to a sibling or friend, bribing them with gifts and money, or labeling a child with a negative name based on their reluctance won't make them any braver," says Bartell. "In fact those strategies often cause greater anxiety, and resentment and make them more reluctant, not to mention ruin what should be a great day for the family."
Bartell has helped the park create a Roller Coaster Readiness guide that includes things families can do before they leave home, tips on managing a melt-down and ways to celebrate at the end of the day. The guide is available online and at the front gate.
She has also helped train LEGOLAND Florida's employees to be more observant of these types of scenarios and create a calmer environment for families to make these decisions. "I've armed the employees with what I call the 'Four R's of Roller Coaster Readiness' which include Recognizing, Responding, Resolving and Reassuring," said Bartell. "I'm also trying to help them understand the difference between a child who is definitely not ready and one who is a candidate for encouragement – and give them pointers on talking with parents and guardians. In the end, it's always a parent's decision, but most moms and dads will appreciate the support."
LEGOLAND Florida rolled out its new program this month in preparation for a busy summer season – the park's first. It opened in October 2011 with 50 rides, shows and attractions and has already become a favorite destination of young families.
The Roller Coaster Readiness can be downloaded on florida.legoland.com (PDF file)
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The NewsParcs' Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, ...
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