Children at V

[EmsieXxX]

Hello I have been to V a few times in stafford and camped! I haven't really noticed about children there before? But my daughter who is 8 (will be nearly 9) loves the line up this year!! And I was wondering what peoples views are on taking an 8 year old? I'd obviously not be consuming alcohol and we WOULD NOT camp!! I have friends walking distance from the Chelmsford site who's house we would stay at!! Just wanted regular V goers opinions?!?

[eFestivals]

it's a very long day for a kid that young, with (unless the site has changed) few if any places on site to grab some quiet time away from the crowds.

[dingbat2]

If you are not camping then I would go for it. You dont have to be there for the whole day, just go ready for the stuff that she wants to see, and leave when she had had enough. The site at Chelmsford is easy to get out of

The only thing I would check, is how good is she with crowds. Depending on what she wants to see, the main stage especially can get quite rammed which may scare her. Also being surrounded by drunken people may put her off a bit. But just find somewhere sensible to stand or sit near the back, and all should be OK. Similarly the bottle / beer throwing may scare her so I would not recommend trying to get too close to the stages

I would suggest planning you day around what she wants to see, and make sure you plan some time time in between acts to chill out somewhere quiet / get some food / sit down / look at the stalls. there is actually lot of green/empty space around the site to sit sown and chill

Make sure you leave time for bimbling around the site, and take her to some of the stages where there may be stuff she hasnt heard of before, it might introduce her to stuff she likes which she hasn't heard of before

And just warn her about the toilets!

Good luck with it, shell have a ball!

[johnl]

V is not the place to take a child IMO. It's very crowded and gets more than it's fair share of dickheads.

Some of the smaller festivals cater for kids much better, but if you want to go to a "biggie" with your kids I would suggest Latitude or next year's Glastonbury as better options.

[boddies]

Festival with kids to be worst experience imaginable

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/arts-entertainment/festival-with-kids-to-be-worst-experience-imaginable-2012062732111

[dingbat2]

But I understood that the main reason the OP was asking was because their daughter wanted to go and see some bands rather than them wanting go themselves. It seems the intention was that they all went to enjoy themselves, not so the parent could go and hopefully the child would be OK. The main reason to go seems to be for the daughter to have fun, for which I applaud, especially the bit about not drinking at all, and not camping

I really think your could all have fun, even at V which is a bit of a laddish festival

If you are looking after her then you will be fine, find a nice place near the back and If it gets too much then move somewhere else. If the parent is sensible, then the daughter should be ate to have a great time seeing loads of bands she likes

I know that the most happiness I ever get is when I see my children having fun. That's priceless

[CDESSEX]

As long as you don't put her on your shoulders. I Guarantee some idiots will aim beer and piss her way.

[footix2]

I saw a young lad at V last year, can't have been any more than 10. Certainly the exception, rather than the norm at V.

Glasto, Camp Bestival, and smaller ones like Kendal Calling tend to cater better for chidlren though.