Kids at Reading and Leeds

[thomasowen]

What's your opinion of people taking young children to Reading and Leeds, and festivals in general? I remember last year on the Sunday a woman was at the front of the crowd at the beggining of the day with a child of roughly 7 years old. I got talking to her and she told me they intended to stay at the front all day in order to get a spot for The Killers (the childs favourite band). Now It's tireing (both pysicaly and mentaly) for me, an adult, to stay at the front from the beggining of the day till the end and have only done it once, so heaven knows what it must be like for a small child. I tend to feel quite sorry for young children that are dragged to festivals by their parents, does a 4 year old really want to go to a loud, busy rock festival? If I was taken to Reading at that young an age, I probably would have ended up disliking that type of music. I went to my first festival on my own when I was 14, and I loved it. I think it would be alright to take a 11 year old to Reading if they were with a parent but any younger, I think, is not good parenting.

Edited February 11, 2009 by thomasowen

[farmer_andy]

I think it could almost be down right dangerous at leeds, the only one ive got any experience of. A festival could be a great experience for a kid expressing an interest in that sort of music, but leeds is scary a lot of the time, and crowds etc arent very forgiving for anyone, let alone a young un. They dont exactly make it kid friendly.

Too right about really young kids, possibly just really scary for them?

[theramm]

There are plenty of smaller, family friendly festivals out there. Taking a young child to R&L is bad parenting IMO.

[thomasowen]

I think it could almost be down right dangerous at leeds, the only one ive got any experience of. A festival could be a great experience for a kid expressing an interest in that sort of music, but leeds is scary a lot of the time, and crowds etc arent very forgiving for anyone, let alone a young un. They dont exactly make it kid friendly.

Too right about really young kids, possibly just really scary for them?

[moshing]

There are plenty of smaller, family friendly festivals out there. Taking a young child to R&L is bad parenting IMO.

[thomasowen]

Rubbish - I have seen loads of kids at Leeds having a really good time. (I hasten to add that I have never taken mine cos it is my few days away every year to get pissed and I don't want them getting in the way).

If you take kids you have have to be sensible with it. Camp in brown, leave well before the end of the headliner.

Taking them certainly is not bad parenting - Karen Mathews is an example of bad parenting.

[beLIEveR]

Depends how young "young" is.

6 or 7 plus I don't see a massive issue with, provided you don't bring them back if they don't like it. Bringing a baby or toddler is somewhere between selfish, cruel and downright dangerous, not to mention a guarantee that you're going to miss the headliner.

[phil123]

What's your opinion of people taking young children to Reading and Leeds, and festivals in general? I remember last year on the Sunday a woman was at the front of the crowd at the beggining of the day with a child of roughly 7 years old. I got talking to her and she told me they intended to stay at the front all day in order to get a spot for The Killers (the childs favourite band). Now It's tireing (both pysicaly and mentaly) for me, an adult, to stay at the front from the beggining of the day till the end and have only done it once, so heaven knows what it must be like for a small child. I tend to feel quite sorry for young children that are dragged to festivals by their parents, does a 4 year old really want to go to a loud, busy rock festival? If I was taken to Reading at that young an age, I probably would have ended up disliking that type of music. I went to my first festival on my own when I was 14, and I loved it. I think it would be alright to take a 11 year old to Reading if they were with a parent but any younger, I think, is not good parenting.

[benisright]

You can always camp in white, spend as much time at the fairground as possible, let them run around and pick up cups for money, buy them ice cream, sit out in the sun.

Reading is arguable a better place for kids than it is for teenagers

[luckysalt]

No way is Reading and Leeds a child friendly festival

I doubt even V is

Maybe Summer Sundae for a child of 7, my son is 6 this summer and I think he's still too young for festivals

[clartmaster]

During Metallica at Reading last year there was some c*ckhead family by me with a toddler in a pram JUST behind the pit, in front of the sound tower. The father was absolutely wrecked and at one point he stumbled backwards and fell onto the child. They left literally during the last song, tbh it spoilt my enjoyment of the band, cos all I could think about was wanting to smack the bloke for being such an irresponsible prick.

Edited February 16, 2009 by clartmaster

[Englishdragon]

Wouldnt take a child to reading or Leeds, therse more festivals out there that are more Family friendly

Saying that I was 20 when I went last year and I felt very old!

[howlin_pete]

Last year at Glastonbury, I saw a pregnant woman at the bar smoking and ordering a glass of wine. I had to restrain one of the people I was with so they wouldn't go up and have a go at her. I know Glasto is more of a child friendly festival, but I think she took it a little too far

[ALLHALLOWS]

I've been every year to the Leeds Festival and would not take a child with me..no chance..far too busy and dangerous.

[lme]

Reading or Leeds wouldn't be my first choice of a festival to take a child to, but I'd get a day ticket if there was a band they really wanted to see - it works out no more expensive than taking them to a gig as 12 & unders get in free. Did that last year, for Babyshambles with my 12yo. We got to the festival at 6ish, had a wander round & went into the NME tent as Wombats came on which meant we were comfortably at the front for Babyshambles. I wouldn't stand all day in front of a stage to see one band, with or without kids.

Glastonbury is a fantastic festival for kids. I've taken mine there since the youngest was 4. They have a great time because there is so much aimed at them. And they see lots of bands (often down at the front, though on the smaller stages). However, we also went to Benicassim last year. Not an obviously child friendly festival but we had a great time. Treated it as a beach holiday & music. The stages / crowds are much smaller than Reading / Leeds so we were on the barriers for their favourite band.

I think you can do pretty much any festival with kids if you are sensible and there is stuff at the festival which they want to do. You just have to bear in mind that it will be a very different experience to doing it without them. I get loads of opportunities to go & see my favourite bands but my younger kids don't because most gigs are over 14 or even over 16 or over 18. Festivals are their main chance to see their favourite bands so I would feel a bit mean not taking them.

Edited February 19, 2009 by lme

[thomasowen]

We got to the festival at 6ish, had a wander round & went into the NME tent as Wombats came on which meant we were comfortably at the front for Babyshambles. I wouldn't stand all day in front of a stage to see one band, with or without kids.

[lme]

bloody hell, I'm not sure about Babyshambles because I left but I was at the front for the wombats and it was absolutly packed, I was being squashed to death! Kudos to any 12 year old child that can cope with that.

[dakyras]

I think it's okay if the kids are 16 or over. And female.