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"  Taking your toddler to her first theme park can be a wild ride: blissful moments of cotton candy and carousels followed by scream-inducing lines and cranky-kid meltdowns. But if you plan well, says Rhonda Clements, Ed.D., a professor at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY, you can make your child&amp;#039;s theme-park debut fun and memorable \u2014 for everyone in the family. A good time to start is age 2, when kids get interested in the world around them. Clements offers these tips: Start small: If your toddler is surrounded by YOU MUST BE THIS TALL signs, she&amp;#039;s going to be very disappointed. Clements suggests choosing a park that&amp;#039;s designed for kids as young as age 2, with attractions like wading pools and climbing structures, in addition to gentle rides and kiddie shows (try Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA, or Legoland in Carlsbad, CA). And before you go, scout out the park together online, so your child can get excited about a few must-visit rides. Strategize wait times: Hit the popular rides as soon as the park opens, when the wait will be shortest; once lines start to grow, head for the playground or pool, where you can usually walk right in. Since you won&amp;#039;t be able to avoid lines entirely, pack some books and toys to pass the time more pleasantly, Clements advises. Satisfy all ages: If you have an older child who insists his day won&amp;#039;t be complete without a spin on the scariest big-kid ride, strategize so your little one doesn&amp;#039;t get jealous. &amp;quot;One parent can bring the toddler for a special treat, like ice cream, while the other parent brings the older sibling to the ride,&amp;quot; Clements suggests. If you&amp;#039;re on your own with your kids, she adds, &amp;quot;Give the little one the important job of waving or taking a picture while his sibling screams on the roller coaster.&amp;quot; Avoid the buy-me&amp;#039;s: There will be toys for sale everywhere your child looks. To avoid tantrums, tell him he may choose one souvenir \u2014 at day&amp;#039;s end. &amp;quot;Explain that it&amp;#039;ll be too hard to go on rides if you have to hold a package,&amp;quot; Clements says. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.redbookmag.com/life/mom-kids/advice/a5147/theme-park-tips/>