Valleyfair announces new KidTrack program

Even though I'm 16 and I'm not "as experienced" in life as everybody else, the one thing I see today (in my opinion) is that parents in general today depend more and more on things like technology to raise their kids. This is regardless of race. Then when the technology supports things like violence, the parents complain about it. Why don't the parents unplug the tech and raise the kids themselves then?

My point: Why don't parents just keep an eye on their kids instead of just depending on something else to keep their eye on them?

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Tommy Penner - Variable X
"And that's why I'm a coaster enthusiast." - Dude behind me on MF

CoastaPlaya said: "Would you mind reading the thread first before posting?"

I was explaining to somebody who has posted and didn't understand the concept. It appears that they have elected to delete their post altogether, which of course, you did not see. Now I will delete my post too.

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...does anybody have any thoughts on the current surge in parentoia that is bringing us things like kid tracking systems in selected waterparks, a percieved need for systems like KidTrack, and a whole generation of kids who never seem to go outside

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EDIT-This comment is concerning the new 'kid-tracking' system in some waterparks....NOT KidTrack

I'll tell you why...because when I go home I got a big ol' remote control that runs every TV, VCR and DVD player in the house. (I tried to teach it to turn on my fireplace, too--but it didn't take) I've got instant messaging, Internet and I'm half-shopping for a PDA.

Now I wanna button that goes (beep) "Where's my kid?" (beep) "Where's my kid?"

As long as there's a market for it, someone will be there to sell that convenience. I wouldn't even call it parentoia as much as I would carelessness.

Sure, your kid could be in line for a ride or inside the park while making out or smoking a bong, but that's another story...

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo. *** This post was edited by CoastaPlaya on 7/31/2002. ***

WOW! This sounds like a great "LOW-TECH" idea! I mean it is so low-tech, that the only technology you need is a cell phone! WOW!

How the hell is this low tech?

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I AM CANADIAN
My favourite Coaster-Site: http://www.brewerianazone.com/page14.html

Good perception MillenniumRider, especially coming from a 16 year old. Adults today, on average, are depending on other people and other things to raise their children more than adults were 20+ years ago.

Why? Well, I certainly think that part of the answer is that both parents are working in most households these days. That isn't a good excuse but it is an excuse none-the-less.

A second, and more controversial part of the answer, in my opinion, is that parents don't like the "work" part of being parents. In other words, they are lazier. Instead of playing car games with our kids we can now pop in a dvd. Instead of taking kids to the park we can buy a Nintendo. I am not suggesting they love their kids any less. I just think our society has developed an expectation of everything should be simpler.

You all can say what you want and believe what you want, but I'm telling you what I see with my own two eyes. Feel free to accept or reject it as you see fit. I do not care if you think my comment was stupid (I really dont care if you think *I* am stupid as I know otherwise ;))

In anycase, I'm not talking kids as in tweens or older who might indeed be okay by themselves for a while, but I'm talking little kids, barely school aged. I'm sorry but if you are not looking out for them YOU are the one that should be taken to the woodshed. And yes I will select my daddy's belt for you (the quarter-inch thick one with the big brass "CURT" buckle).

Again, think what you will of me!
lata,
jeremy
--who has been in charge of rugrats in all types of environments

Well, Dave, look at how every night on the news we hear about lost or kidnapped children? They're the shark attacks of this year. I don't think there are really any more disappearing children than the year before, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the news.

I personally don't get the system being used at that Orlando water park. OK, you find your kid's location on a terminal. You go there and they moved. Before too long you're running place to place and not catching up! :)

The Cedar Fair service seems like a nice reasonable one for the little ones. They do wander, they are curious, that's human nature. Stuff happens. Now that so many people have a phone at the park, it's a nice little perk.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"Let's stop saying 'don't quote me,' because if no one quotes you, you probably haven't said a thing worth saying." - Dogma, KMFDM

Hasn't anyone ever thought that the PARENTS get lost from their own kids? Why is it that us kids get blamed for getting lost (BTW, I'm 14), when we're always paying attention to where our parents our (most of the time)? You adults think you know everything (which, in some cases, you do)!

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If you like Wicked Twister in the back, does that mean you like to get screwed in the rear?

Nobody has mentioned that in addition to providing the benefits expressed above, it is an 'easy win' for Cedar Fair.

Why? Loosing a child/parent is a common fear in big crowd situations, like amusement parks. It's a real fear, and Cedar Fair has found a minimal cost way of turning that real fear into a positive public relations story in this time of sagging amusement park attendance.

Think about it, all the park is doing is providing a wristband upon which the parent/guardian/tribe leader can write contact information. The cost of wristbands to the park is minimal, and several parks already have them around for various reasons, even if they are exclusively POP parks (Ride heights, picnic grove admission, wheelchair entrance permission, special events). The park is providing no expensive technology, just a piece of tyvek which their own guest relations staff can use to contact the parent.

Back when I was a younger amusement park goer, an earily similar system existed, it was called having your name, paren't name and contact information written on a piece of paper pinned to the inside of your shirt, or having the child be able to recite their phone number.

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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville

CV Dave: That's what I remember. Much like the Disney laser height checking stations, it's just pub'ing up something that aint nearly new.

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"To get inside this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do

I haven't heard (and I would) that Knotts is using this system. Maybe its just a matter of time, since most of the other Cedar Fair parks have the system.

Its a good idea, I cannot begin to say how often I encounter lost children while working at a park. In fact, the other day I had a 14 year old girl sobbing and seriously shaken because she had been seperated from her group for hours.

Anyway, the system is a good one, and I couldn't hurt to put it in.

What is pub'ing up?

pub=publicity
pub'ing=hyping

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"To get inside this head of mine, would take a monkey-wrench, and a lot of wine" Res How I Do

I would have to agree with most of you. It seems to me that parents now days rely on technology more and more than the previous generation (my parents). I have seen both sides, some parents keep a very close eye on their kids, but then at the same time I see other parents that seem to care less where their kids are. I have to believe that the recent lost and missing children is due to the fact that parents are told to never punish their kids anymore ("it my damage them"). But I have to ask, out of all the buzzeers here, have any of you been punished the old fashion or the new "let kids be kids" way. It seems to me that the "NEW" way of punishment is NOT CUTTING IT. (Sorry if I have upset or offended any of you, truley I am sorry but we do have the right of speech.) I love the fact of the kid-tracking idea. People get lost in the sites and sounds of a big park and all it takes is a single moment to misplace a child. Anyone, overpertective or not, can lose a child in a split moment. But the real deal is in teaching our children to not talk to strangers and to NEVER EVER go anywhere with them.This is the job for the parents, we should never have to depend on a park, shopping center,or any other person to keep track of our children.

"Ideas from a parent of a 4 year old child."

I've come up with an easy, fool-proof solution to keeping track of my children ;-)

Moosh [if you have to ask, you don't know me]

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"Outside of a dog, a man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog its too dark to read." - Groucho Marx

this whole conversation has gotten me lost, must be because I am white... stupid me!

I was at Carowinds and saw a group of teenagers walking a small child over to a security guard who later escorted the girl down the path, hopefully to a LOST AND FOUND place...

they may get lost... but they sure don't cut in line ;)

I don't know you then Mamoosh ;)

My fool-proof solution to keeping track of children: Well, don't have children...

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Tommy Penner - Variable X
"And that's why I'm a coaster enthusiast." - Dude behind me on MF

When I read this news item, I thought, what a nice idea. I can't believe that this thread is so negative and racist. This is a sensible idea that should give parents some extra assurance.

Personally, as a child, I was a wanderer. I got seperated from my family three times on a trip in Europe. I was seperated from my parents in stores a few times. Yes, I did tend to get lost (okay I didn't consider myself lost but my parents did) I don't think that my parents were bad parents (they were wonderful) it is just that I had the tendency to let my mind wander or get lost in the sights and sounds and lose sight of my parents. And for the record, I was a white kid who didn't panic when those things happened.

You know, I got whacked as a kid and I didn't turn out to be a serial killer or anything like that. To me, taking away cell phone or x-box priviledges is not discipline. Now before all you liberals bite my head off, my father never left a mark on me. He did, however, leave "his" mark on me and I learned right from wrong.

Ya at Dorney we have been using it for a little bit over a month now. Their is a sign right when you enter the park.