Kids in recent years

[Miathedog]

On 10/18/2024 at 12:46 PM, giantkatestacks said:

Yeah the only year I took one of the children my son was 11 and although some of the experiences were great - Adele, Ronnie Spector, Wolf Alice the only other active thing he enjoyed was some metalwork. And it was 2016 so the weather was terrible. We didn't bother again until he was an adult!

😁 I’m sure it’s a common thing this age. Blimey, yes, 2016 as well! That mud would have been a real extra challenge!
 

The only year we didn’t bother trying for tickets for was 2008, directly due to 2007 weather trauma. We regretted that afterwards, of course, but it made sense to us at the time. 

[CharlotteB]

On 10/20/2024 at 9:11 AM, Superscally said:

Yeah, but for me, looking after one as a broken man the next day seems a daunting task 😆

 

😊 It definitely has its challenges.

[Bike_Like_A_Mum]

Take him! He'll love it.

 

We experienced judgy people in 2023 when taking our two as well with passive aggresive comments about bringing kids. Ignore them. they're entitled to their opinion and they're basing it on the fact they're getting high in the SE corner and probably don't even realise all the cool stuff for kids exists so of course they're going to think that. There's loads more people who make it a brilliant place to be.

 

You'll have a blast 

 

Edited October 22 by Bike_Like_A_Mum

[CharlotteB]

22 minutes ago, Bike_Like_A_Mum said:

Take him! He'll love it.

 

We experienced judgy people in 2023 when taking our two as well with passive aggresive comments about bringing kids. Ignore them. they're entitled to their opinion and they're basing it on the fact they're getting high in the SE corner and probably don't even realise all the cool stuff for kids exists so of course they're going to think that. There's loads more people who make it a brilliant place to be.

 

You'll have a blast 

 

 

I don't even get why someone would say that. People are so grumpy nowadays, and they think something's true just because they bother to say it 😡 

 

Like you say, there are loads of places for kids, even outside the Kidz Field and Greenpeace Kids area. The Acoustic Stage is a good one because children and the elderly get along really well 😁

[Ayrshire Chris]

We love seeing the lavish efforts made by parents building carts to drag the kids round the site, especially the illuminated versions at night. In fact with age catching up on me I might have to construct one for myself😉

@becs94, as long as you are prepared to make sacrifices and avoid the serious congestion, kids will have a truly unforgettable experience. We’ve friends who take their two, ages 6 and 8. They love it, though we try and avoid them in case they try and use us for a bit of child minding, we’ve had our time doing that😊😉

[SticklinchJoe]

I used to struggle taking my kids to the corner shop.

[gigpusher]

I have friends who bring their kids to Glastonbury every year and the kids love it. They will tell you that it definitely means doing Glastonbury differently and seeing things they probably would never have gone to before. If you are sensible about the acts you take them to and where you choose to go then you should hopefully mitigate any of the grumpy, miserable whingers.

 

One of the things my friends tend to do is take it in turns as to who goes back with the kids and who gets a late night. They usually sort this once the line up is out so that both partners get a chance to see a headliner in peace and go to SEC if they want to. Your stepson is probably old enough to stay up for headliners but it can be a good idea if SEC is your thing.

[CharlotteB]

Me and my partner both work too, so we have to do split shifts, one of us in the morning, one of us in the afternoon. We've started alternating each year 😅

[Someoni]

Hmmm going for tickets and considering taking the toddler with us... break them in young and all that..

[tarw]

31 minutes ago, Someoni said:

Hmmm going for tickets and considering taking the toddler with us... break them in young and all that..

It’s probably a case of them breaking you in!

It’s a very different festival with young children. Still really fun but different fun

[Someoni]

12 minutes ago, tarw said:

It’s probably a case of them breaking you in!

It’s a very different festival with young children. Still really fun but different fun

Indeed! It would be my other half's first glastonbury experience too. I just think the memories of having him there super young would be fantastic! 

 

We are both a bit past the getting absolutely smashed every night age now thankfully 😅

[tarw]

10 minutes ago, Someoni said:

Indeed! It would be my other half's first glastonbury experience too. I just think the memories of having him there super young would be fantastic! 

 

We are both a bit past the getting absolutely smashed every night age now thankfully 😅

The memories are fantastic and you will be getting a double dose of seeing the ones you love discover it as well. 
I would say that with v. Young children that you should make sure that one of you is sober at all times- just in case. 
You can either do this equitably by drawing up a rota or have a race to see who hits the alcohol/substance of choice first in the morning 

[acidstorm523]

Ahhh happy memories! I always take my kids from toddlers in 2002 to adults now…mud and all. But it was a lot less crowded then and I think a lot more easy going. You would definitely not want to be getting in the heaving crowds leaving big sets these days. But my lot have had their minds enriched by the experiences they have had, so wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It’s not just about managing to get them around, it is a huge learning experience for them. 

[tarw]

The biggest crush that we experienced with the children was getting to see Rolf Harris!  Wrong in so many ways 

[MercuryTrev]

I took our 9yo son for the first time in 2024.  My wife couldn't attend as she works in a school, but our son (different school) had an INSET day on the Friday so I took one day day of unapproved absence and went for it. 

 

Our lad is a bit of a festival veteran, has been to End Of The Road every years since he was 6 months old, and lots of visits to Latitude, Camper Calling, Reading (day tickets) and other smaller festivals. He loves his music and had his own list of acts he wanted to see at Glastonbury. 

 

Overall it was brilliant. We camped in Dairy Ground with my brother, his daughter and a regular crew of mates, most of who are parents of kids now at Uni, so I had a ready supply of experienced people on tap if I needed to call on them, but didn't have to.   

 

I tried to take him to the kids activities but he really wasn't that bothered by them, he wanted to watch the bands we both like and, in downtimes, play a bit of football with a ball my brother kindly got him from the shop at the glamping place they were staying at.  That became a bit too popular with him - he wanted to keep going to the grass area below the Stone Circle for a kickabout whenever we had a spare half hour, I had to explain that it's a bit of a trek! 

 

We avoided the SE corner at night, it's not really my thing anyway, and were generally in bed by about 1am.  We ditched his festival wagon that my wife usually insists on (Glastonbury too big for them IMHO) and just went around everywhere as pedestrians. The vast majority of adults we encountered were really friendly and we didn't see anyone doing cocaine as mentioned up the thread.  Perhaps Frank Turner, James and Dexys don't attract that sort of thing! 

 

In summary we loved it and I am in the queue for coach tickets tonight.