I need some advice my 2 1/2 y/o is afraid of costumes like the ones that Mickey wears. We are going to wdw when he is almost 3 what suggestions to help him get over this?
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2 1/2 y/o
- Thread starter firemedic77
- Start date
blackthidot
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
Start wearing costumes everyday at home.
Our now 7, 8, & 9 year olds were all like this. They were petrified of clowns, Chuck E Cheese, Halloween costumes, etc. Interestingly though, they were not afraid of any characters in WDW - with the exception of villains. Maybe it was because they were so familiar with the characters.
My advice would be to NOT push it. The whole "face your fear" philosophy doesn't usually work with little ones. Give him pleny of space, and he just may surprise you!
Have fun!! :wave:
My advice would be to NOT push it. The whole "face your fear" philosophy doesn't usually work with little ones. Give him pleny of space, and he just may surprise you!
Have fun!! :wave:
disneygirl76
Carey Poppins - Nanny and Disney Enthusiest
Do you watch Disney movies and see Mickey on tv? Do you tell him the Mickey is real? Does he know there is really a person in there? Maybe if he thinks he is real then he won't see it as a costume. I still get creeped out by clowns so I know how hard it is to get over this!! 
mwbrown
New Member
We took my oldest DD (now 7) when she was 3, and were initially disappointed that she was scared of the characters.
What we ended up with was taking pictures with a character where we were standing beside the character and she was being held by us on the other side of our body. Thus, we have pictures she can look at now with characters, but she still felt safe because she was a little distance away and Mom or Dad was holding her.
Interestingly, she suddenly the final day of our week there lost the fear and wanted to meet the characters, so we have lots of pics of her by herself with characters with her in the same outfit because it was all in one day.
So I guess my advice is similar to others; don't push it as it will likely backfire. Try our method of pictures with you if you like.
And similar to the other reply, make sure to try to have your child become familiar with as many of the characters you are likely to meet as possible. My second daughter (at not yet 3) had no fear meeting characters right out of the gate, but she was much more familiar with them than the first had been.
Nothing can change that Mickey will suddenly be 6'3", but watching some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse can't hurt...much...:animwink:
What we ended up with was taking pictures with a character where we were standing beside the character and she was being held by us on the other side of our body. Thus, we have pictures she can look at now with characters, but she still felt safe because she was a little distance away and Mom or Dad was holding her.
Interestingly, she suddenly the final day of our week there lost the fear and wanted to meet the characters, so we have lots of pics of her by herself with characters with her in the same outfit because it was all in one day.
So I guess my advice is similar to others; don't push it as it will likely backfire. Try our method of pictures with you if you like.
And similar to the other reply, make sure to try to have your child become familiar with as many of the characters you are likely to meet as possible. My second daughter (at not yet 3) had no fear meeting characters right out of the gate, but she was much more familiar with them than the first had been.
Nothing can change that Mickey will suddenly be 6'3", but watching some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse can't hurt...much...:animwink:
daliseurat
Member
We had this issue.
Don't push. Don't even wait in a line. Let your child watch other kids with the characters. Ask if they WANT to meet him. If they say no, just say okay. Ask them to wave. Sometimes, when a character isn't busy they will happily interact from a distance. Slowly, you child will lose the fear. Just don't push and let your child know that he/she doesn't HAVE to meet any character if they don't want to.
Our DD was racing up to hug them after one day. Previous to that she would shriek in terror.
Don't push. Don't even wait in a line. Let your child watch other kids with the characters. Ask if they WANT to meet him. If they say no, just say okay. Ask them to wave. Sometimes, when a character isn't busy they will happily interact from a distance. Slowly, you child will lose the fear. Just don't push and let your child know that he/she doesn't HAVE to meet any character if they don't want to.
Our DD was racing up to hug them after one day. Previous to that she would shriek in terror.