Question about bringing kids to games
My son (over there! He's cute! And awesome!) is eighteen months old. His first sporting event is going to be the Big Chill, which I am fully prepared to leave early from if need be (we're going with a lot of family, so hopefully we can keep him entertained for a majority of the game). What do you all (especially other parents) think about appropriate ages to start taking kids to the Big House/Yost?
I like my son even more than I like Michigan Football and Hockey (Blasphemy!), so I don't mind leaving early or coming late to deal with a short attention span, but I don't want to waste the money/time when he is too young to get what is happening.
I started going to Yost when I was 4, but that was also in the mid-80's when the stands were empty and I could play on the bleachers for the whole game, I don't know if it would be fun at that age now.
Thanks!
Honestly, as someone who went to both the Cold War and the Camp Randall game, outdoor hockey in December is probably not something I would do with a 2 year old. It's going to get really cold really quickly.
The only reason we are thinking it might be ok is it starts at 3:00 (3:30?) and the average temperature at that time of year is upper-20's. If it is really cold out, my friends will be getting the tickets.
Which means it will be dark (and even colder) by the middle of the game.
I know you want your son to go to this event and everything, but really, I just don't see how this is a great decision.
I dunno man, I went to my first football game when I was 2 weeks old. Outside of making me super awesome, there were no lasting effects. Point being, there's no such thing as too young - you just have to know when to leave and accept it. Take pictures - after all, this is for you, not your son, and you'll want to remember it. And then one day, you can show him the picture, as well as Coach Jack Johnson/Coach Mike Hart when he's being recruited to play at U of M.
Thats easy. They can pass out but taking them when they're 2 or 3 is rough because they won't sit still.
That's true - but it sounded like he had a bunch of family around to help. The 2 -3 year old is a tough thing, especially in the cold. I wonder dad's (and the kid's) stance on hot chocolate with marshmallows. And again, in the end, you just have to know when to leave.
Have two young ones myself. If you're going to take him to a football game pick a game like UMass or one of the MAC teams, don't buy tix until you're working to the stadium and buy yourself an extra seat or two for the price you'd usually pay for two. They really need the extra room to wriggle around.
Ready the earmuffs (both the literal ones and the your-language-is-offensive ones)
Bundle them up good. You can always remove stuff and put it under the bleacher if necessary, but you can't make up for bringing too little when its colder than expected.
In general, I'd keep him away form the student section. We can say some rather naughty things, especially when Sparty is around (and Tropp is still playing for them). This won't be a big deal at the Big Chill as long as you keep your distance, but keep that in mind if you take him to Yost. You may wish to take him to a punching bag for a Yost game where we don't tend to get as nasty, although if something major happens, even a crappy team is going to get blasted.
Football games are usually pretty tame, but even if we do get worked up, as long as you're not RIGHT next to the student section, you shouldn't have to worry about a Meet The Fockers happening.
It's a plus if he's still in diapers. Seriously. I wouldn't want to have to meeting the needs a toddler's bladder in the Big House. The lines for the bathrooms are awful, and you can't tell a freshly-trained tot to hold it until the end of the half.