Momma Sandy Says - Kids and Big Events

Momma Sandy Says 

Kids and Big Events

   My apologies for not posting last Thursday.  I was out at Comicon in San Diego.  This blog is a bit of a rant, based on my experiences there.

   Comicon is a huge event.  I haven't heard attendance numbers, but 100,000 people daily wouldn't surprise me.  It fills the San Diego Convention Center, uses several local hotels, stuff at the park across the street, and it spills out into the local restaurant district.  Now this event is spectacular.  Not everything is this crazy.  But it bring up several points I want to talk about.

  I think my first question is - why are you bringing your child to this event?  I'm serious about this.  If it's because you want to attend and don't want to pay for a babysitter, bite the bullet.  Either get someone to watch your children or skip the event.  Who brings a toddler to a heavy metal concert?

   Do your research.  What would your child enjoy at this event?  How adult is it?

Plan ahead with your child's needs in mind.  Does he/she handle crowds well?  Know that you may have to spend time in less crowded areas to help your child calm down.

   Know that someone may have to take your child out for a walk while you would probably prefer to be watching/listening, etc.  Kudos to my friend Earl who recognized that the child of the folks he was with was getting antsy during a panel discussion and took the child for a walk.  She was a lovely little Jedi apprentice, but little people want to stay active.

   Bring snacks, small toys, books, etc.  Try to keep your children on their schedule.  If they want to wear a costume (and it's appropriate for the venue), bring a change of clothes.  That is, beyond the clothes change you would normally bring.

   Again, do your research.  Comicon was proactive in helping parents with children.  They had a location to provide help.  And even had a limited day care center for younger children.  Is where you are going having anything like that?  Make reservations if required.

   Above all, be flexible.  A bored and/or cranky child will cause problems.  Plan for that possibility.  Do stuff they want to do as well.

  

Let's look at some specific topics.

Dangers:

   Hugs crowds increase the dangers for children.  Keep hands on your children.  Plan on carrying them if they are light enough when the crowds are especially thick.  School age kids should have an adult with them at all times.  Teen should really, really have a buddy with them at all times if they're mature enough to be apart from you at the event.  Setting up meeting places and times is crucial.  At a place like Comicon, being late because they were in the middle of a gaming session is not acceptable.  Penalties should happen.  And teens need to know that ahead of time.  Your nerves don't need the extra stress.

   The vendor floor at Comicon was crazy.  Too many people!  It would have been so easy to loose a young child.  And if separated from my kid, I'd be freaking out.  Dragon Con in Atlanta, GA was just as bad (just not as big).  My personal recommendation - I would limit when I took a child into such situations.  Only when it wasn't going to be so crowded.

     Strollers are a danger.  Wheelchairs and EV (electric wheel chairs) are difficult enough in big crowds.  Strollers are little.  People can miss them in crowds and run into them or trip over them.  Or the strollers can run into people.  Another reason why I don't recommend bringing babies to big events.

Special Needs:

  Once again, do your research.  Comicon was proactive in helping people with special needs.  They had security alerted to needs as well.  One of my favorite things was seeing people at random places throughout the event with signs stating that they were available to help with ASL (American Sign Language).

   If you have a child with special needs you will know what works for them.  Plan for it.

In conclusion with all this, Don't be stupid.  Do what's right for your child.