My daughter has a summer camp field trip to the planetarium. She is ok in dark but partially lit situations but when it's pitch black, she has a little bit of panic. It's been so long since I've been to a planetarium that I can't remember if it is ever completely dark. This is a new field trip for this summer camp so the counsellors do not know for sure how the show goes. I was thinking I could give her a tiny little pen light or something for her to have on her lap if it becomes that dark. Any suggestions?? Anyone been to the planetarium lately that can tell me if it is ever completely without light?
Thanks in advance!
It will never be pitch dark,the exits are always illuminated. They won't want her to have a flashlight, prob wont allow it. You can ask if she can sit next to a counselor. Something that glows in the dark would be nice,
It's like the movie theatre, with light emanating from the screen. It does go pretty black when they are changing scenes. Maybe glow sticks would make it fun for her.
Most planetariums don't allow glowing things like glow sticks or flashlights - and would probably have a worker come take it away from her. That would be traumatic! I'd probably talk to a counselor and ask if she can sit next to an adult who can watch over her.
Some planetariums do get quite dark.
Please don't send glow sticks or a penlight -- other kids will be hugely distracted and that will make things tough for the counselors, and she likely will end up just being told to put away anything like that, which will upset her even more.
How dark it will get depends entirely on the show they are seeing and the planetarium's design. I have been in ones where the shows are up so fast that there is no real time in pitch dark, but I have also been in ones where there is momentarily pitch dark. As someone suggested, I would just tell the counselors that she should be seated next to one of them, and that the counselor she's next to should tell her when they are seated, "It's going to get dark and it may even go very dark for just a moment. I want you to know so you're ready for it. I'm right here next to you. But it will NOT stay totally dark, I promise." It might also help if she and the counselor are seated right by an exit -- both so that the glow of the exit sign helps and so that she can be taken out quickly if she starts to get upset.
She will be fine. The show should be so different for her that it will distract her.
I haven't been in a while, but I agree that maybe quietly talk to a counselor and ask if they can keep her next to them so that if she does get scared they can comfort her or take her out. I would prep her ahead of time and just tell her what to expect and tell her what to do if she gets scared (like tell the counselor, close her eyes and count to ten, whatever!) I don't know how old she is, but you could also give her a "lucky" penny or quarter that she can keep in her pocket and then tell her to rub it if she gets scared.
I also agree that they probably won't allow her to have any sort of glowing/flashlight thing, it would make it hard to look at the displays.
It's never totally dark, the stars are always shining above :) Tell her it's an adventure in outer space!
