Convention Fans

Let’s face it, some of the fandoms represented at conventions have an aging fan base, which means many attendees now have kids to consider when deciding whether or not to attend a con. Some parents proudly pack up their kids (who even have their own costumes), go together as a family, and have a blast. Others bring their kids, but bring along (or hire) a babysitter. Some parents leave the kids at home entirely (and who can blame them, given what kids might be exposed to? I’m looking at you Mr. Wonder Woman).

I recently spoke to some parents who attend Dragon*con, and asked them what factors they take into consideration when deciding to bring along their kids. Here is a sampling of what some of them said:

“I think parents should definitely consider what they do and don’t want their child exposed to, because there is the opportunity to see it all and then some at [a convention like] Dragon*Con. I decided that my son is old enough and mature enough that I chose to not censor him from anything in particular at D*C. He went wherever I went and saw and heard what I did. “

“My wife and I have been going to Dragon*Con for nearly a decade. We tend to ship our son, 7 years old now, to his grandparents every Dragon*Con. […] He doesn’t mind going to his grandparents and we like to be ourselves and have fun. We’ve talked about bringing him but in the end we like being on our own.”

“I have a 9 yr old girlchild who stays with my mother for cons and such because a) I don’t feel that some of what she would see is appropriate for her (other kids’ mileage may vary) b) I like having grown-up fun without worrying about her (read that as *I* would be part of that which is not appropriate for her to see). As she gets older, I might consider springing for her and my mother to come so that kidlet can get her her chosen geekdom fixes as well (in carefully supervised doses).“

“We brought our 5-month-old to DC this year and had a blast–I honestly think it was my best Dragon*Con ever!”

“I didn’t take [my daughter] before the age of 16 because some things weren’t appropriate for her to be a part of and like a previous person said, I didn’t want to deal with a whiny kid who didn’t want to be at certain panels and such.”

“We brought our three kids to Dragon*Con (for the first time) last year. They are/were 16, 14 and 14 (yes twins in there.) The kids loved it! They were the perfect age and had such a great time, they want to go back again this year.”

Although the above statements are just a sampling of what the parents shared with me, you can already see some common concerns.

One concern I saw echoed in a few statements, is whether or not the convention provides a family friendly atmosphere (i.e. is there too much adult content to be appropriate for a child). Of course, what one parent deems appropriate for their children, doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for yours. If you’ve never attended the convention in question and are trying to decide whether you should bring your children, ask around! Check out the convention’s forums. Look for a LiveJournal community. Ask people who have been. A general rule of thumb is that day time content is usually pretty safe, but that night time content (and unofficial night time con events) is probably not.

Another concern is in regard to a child’s stamina. It’s one thing to traverse a convention center as an adult. It’s another thing to try and do it as a child. I actually took my kid sister to Megacon one year, thinking she’d love to see all the costumes and toy vendors. She was eight years old at the time, and I figured she could handle it. About three hours in, she was bored, hot, and tired. I ended up taking her home a lot earlier than planned. I just didn’t realize how quickly she’d get worn out. The point: have a general idea of how much your kid can take, and have a hotel room or a quick exit planned if things don’t go well.

It’s important to note that some conventions do offer child care now, for the price of full admission. I know Dragon*con offers this service, for sure. Check a convention’s website if you want to find out if it’s offered.

If you DO decide to bring children to a convention, here’s a few quick tips:

1. If your children are young, bring toys or other methods of keeping them entertained (especially if you intend to be waiting in lines).

2. Bring snacks! It isn’t always convenient to track down food, much less kid friendly food. It doesn’t matter if your kids are younger or older, the want for food at an inopportune time is a universal kid thing.

3. Make sure your kids have proper identification on them (regardless of age), and if old enough, give them a cell phone. Point out the locations of information booths, and make sure they know how to identify convention staff or hotel/center security in case you get separated. You should also write your cell phone number on the back of the child’s badge in permanent marker. You can also write any allergy information there as well.

4. Have an exit strategy, or a place where they can rest if they get worn out/bored/etc. If you don’t live near the con, strongly consider getting a hotel room, as that is usually pretty convenient.

Edit: For those posting about conventions with kid’s programming tracks, who monitors the kids? Are parents expected to attend with their children? Are the children left in the care of someone else (and are those people professional care givers)?

If you have other tips, suggestions, or stories, feel free to share them in a comment. If you enjoy this blog, consider subscribing!

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