From Anthony Murphy on November 10, 2009 at 10:11 AM
As having two younger brothers and many young cousins, 2 and 3 are really big!

Most places have a smaller one and you can work your way up. Thats how I and everybody else I know did it.

From Ray Schroeder on November 10, 2009 at 11:12 AM
What about parents who hate them, but the kids love them?
I took my 18 yo niece, who loves roller coasters,(she must get that from me) on a road trip to Sandusky. My Mom, her Grandmother "did not approve" because she watched that show The Doctors when they did a story about roller coasters causing brain damage. We went any way and had a blast. My memory is shot, but we had fun. My memory is shot, but we had fun. I seem to repeat myself lately. Coincidence??? ;)

From Robert Niles on November 10, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Hmmm. Methinks I have another story idea! ;-)

From David Kildal on November 10, 2009 at 1:10 PM
My first coaster was King's Island's Racer on the backward-facing Racer when I was five, and I was almost shellshocked for life. Completely agree about the whole "funky car avoidance" Thankfully I rediscovered the awesomeness, but to a little kid, it's pretty much the closest thing to falling off a skyscraper

From Raymond Sydowski on November 10, 2009 at 2:56 PM
It amazes me how many parents are willing to make a visivly upset child ride a coaster.

If you kid is crying at load, the kid shouldn't be going on the ride.

From Nick Markham on November 10, 2009 at 5:13 PM
I was going to try this with my sister in July when she said she would only ride Gold Rusher at SFMM and Jaguar at Knotts. Amazingly enough, she forgot every fact about Viper and did not see that it had 7 inversions and was 180 feet tall and actually rode that as her first big coaster! She even instantly begged to ride every coaster in the park as many times as possible afterwards! That is most likely a rare (and lucky) experience, but it was a great one!:D

From Betty Rohrer on November 10, 2009 at 8:45 PM
i do not know if things will change when young grandson is finally tall enough to ride most coasters. he is small for age but right now he cries when he cannot ride. we do not try to get him on but it sure can ruin a day, we just hope he makes the heightfor the kiddie coaster which usualy helps.

From Steven Lee on November 11, 2009 at 12:38 AM
Great tips Robert!

From Bob Miller on November 11, 2009 at 7:13 AM
This year while in Florida, Zachary and I were at IOA and I asked him if he wanted to try The Hulk, and he said no. He has been on woodies and likes them and non looping steel coasters too. I didn't push the point since it would be his first inverted coaster.

So I told him maybe next year when we go to Hershey. Like you suggested Robert, I'll see if he wants to try Super Dooper Looper since it has only one loop to deal with. If he likes it, fine, I won't try to trick him into going on one of the others there. If he wants to go on one, fine, if not there's always another year to mature into a coaster nut like me.

From Mark Fairleigh on November 11, 2009 at 7:17 AM
I guess this can work for wives trying to get their coaster-chicken husbands on one of those hideous beasts....what?...who said that?

From Andy Guinigundo on November 14, 2009 at 7:31 AM
I've created a coaster maniac I think. My daughter is 7 yrs old. Here was her progression:

Age 4 The Flying Unicorn (Universal Orlando)

Age 5 Little Bill's Giggle coaster (Kings Island, short kiddie coaster)
Age 5 The Fairly Odd Coaster(Kings Island, Small woodie)
Age 5 Runaway Raptor (Kings Island, kiddie suspended coaster)
Age 5 Shamu Express (Sea World Orlando, steel kiddie)
Age 5 Journey to Atlantic (Sea World, Hydrid steel, water ride)

Age 6 - The Racer (Kings Island, out and back, wooden)
Age 6 - The Beast (Kings Island, big wooden)
Age 6 - The Stunt Coaster (Kings Island, previously The Italian Job)
Age 6 - Vortex (Kings Island, steel inverting)
Age 6 - Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom, steel dark ride)
Age 6 - Expedition Everest (Disney's Animal Kingdom, steel)

Age 7 - The Voyage (Holiday World, wood)
Age 7 - The Legend (Holiday World, wood)
Age 7 - The Raven (Holiday World, wood)
Age 7 - Son of Beast (Kings Island, wooden death machine, joking)
Age 7 - Rock 'n Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios, indoor steel).

As Robert said, be positive, only do what they want to do. She was begging to ride all of these. She wanted me to "stretch" her so she could ride the Diamond Back - yeah right honey 6 inches? That's a stretch all right!