Park/playgrond fears?

I am so confused I am just trying to figure out how to try and help my DD. Every time we go to a park she has a melt down the second her feet touch the ground. All she wants is for me to pick her up and hold her. If I try and sit down she starts to scream again. I try and let her cry it out for a little but she just gets more and more upset and angry, plus any mother who does not knows us looks at me like, why are you not doing anything. Today a mother who I did not know actually picked her up and brought her to me. We were in fenced in little toddler area. DS is my laid back little man and he has a blast at the park. We all know with 2 of them we can not be holding the other the entire time. I just wish I knew what to do for her. She loves to be outside at home on her swing set and walking around. We go once a week to romp-n-roll (like a My Gym) and she runs away from me right away so I do not think it is the other kids. I just really want her to enjoy herself and not be so upset. Does anyone have any similar experiences or any suggestions?

 

Do you think she is getting overstimulated by the noise and other kids? Did anything happen where she wandered off and couldn't see you for a minute?

We have one of those Kelty backpacks that Meara loves to ride in (for walks). Maybe you could use one of those and wear her on your back so you can have your hands free for your DS.

What if you take her to a new park and see if she acts the same way there too? :hug:

 

QUOTE(Leighann @ Apr 17 2009, 09:36 PM) [snapback]1278347[/snapback]
What if you take her to a new park and see if she acts the same way there too?


I would try this or try to go at a time when its not crowded and ease her into it.

 

I guess I should mention that, this happens at all parks. We have tried a lot of them. Although this is the only where I have taken them alone because of the fence. Other parks she fusses but there are 2 of us, DH or MIL. I usually tell them to let her fuss for a minute and after about 5 minutes she usually sees a swing and is set on it. Then that is ALL she wants to do, she will cry when you take her out after 20minutes.

 

Derek was my swing child. That is all he wanted to do as well and then he didnt want to get out when it was time to go

 

If she is crying when you put her down is there any way you can distract her? When mine start to cry if I can get their attention onto something else they'll stop. Or maybe she really likes to swing so she is crying so that you'll put her back in the swing?

 

I would maybe bring a favorite toy from home. Although she likes the indoor play area, the overstimulation from other kids AND being outside might be too much. Just trying to calmly talk to her, hold her hand instead of picking her up, show her all the different things, might introduce her to it easier. I would definitely say she needs some reassurance though, just based on the fact that she does better when you have another set of hands there.

Just remember, outside is big, baby is small... Thats the way I've had to look at it with the boys when they went through this, and now they love to be outside...

Good luck!
Shannon