Question to the MGoDad's out there.

http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/taking-3-year-old-game

Here is a good advice thread

Supposedly my dad took me to Gator games when I was still in those baby sling type things. I slept the whole time usually. Alas, I wasn't meant to be a Gator.

A child surely isn't going to remember anything from when they are 7 months old. Wait 3 or 4 years.

took my daughter to her first game: App State

it was hot as balls and we left in the 3rd qtr. if you're taking a kids that young, don't bother unless you know the weather will be reasonable, and you know it won't be the upset of the century

she was 1.5 BTW

I have daughters and we started them on sports early, albeit local ones. My oldest is 6 and is getting to the point where she can understand what's going on. Still, when I have my kids with me the experience is about them, both intentionally and by default.

If you bring an infant to a game you will be paying for a ticket for someone who will not remember the experience, and may require attention at inopportune times. If you are willing to say that you missed an incredible Denard touchdown run because you were changing a diaper and not be upset about it, then it's worth the effort. Otherwise...

little macdaddy to the Minnesota game in 1994 when he was 6 months old. No problem. The bigger issue is in a couple years when they're toddlers, have no attention span and are still in diapers. Still took him but it wasn't as much fun. Need to do it though for the brainwashing to "take." He'll be a Michigan freshman this fall.

I'll be bringing my son next year.  He will be nearly 3.  Not sure how he will handle the crowd.  I may have a contingency plan if he starts to want to leave.  Isn't that what grandpa's are for?

Took my son when he was almost 3 while my daughter was under 1. Not a great experience. It was a September game, and you know how hot it gets in there. But once he got to be about 5, it became fun for both of us.

My parents took me to games as a baby, but that was in the 70s. I have a 5 year old and he's only been to spring games. I think this is the year, just depends on the game. Maybe AF? Certainly not Iowa or sparty though

Depends on what you think will interest your son. He may really like that his dad is pumped up about the Wolverines, seeing so many people in one place, the band, etc. Unless he has a strong interest in sports I doubt he'd know the nuances of Michigan football, traditions, etc. But I think you can't go wrong in taking him.



I've taken two of my boys to UM games and they were roughly that age - great time for sure.

Don't take them until first grade.  The last thing you want is a toddler repeating cuss words from a fan.

thinking about taking my sons to the spring game. they are 5 and 3
they'll get see then players (ive taught them to idolize denard) and I won't have to worry about my 3 year old wanting to leave at halftime, after paying full price for 3 tickets

Way too young. You'll see in a couple of moths. Your son will be harder to handle, but just as disinterested/oblivious to what is happening. 3-4 is probably a good time to take him to a cupcake level game. He needs to be 10+ to appreciate a game like OSU or MSU.

IMO, you have to wait until they are out of diapers, and old enough to go to bathroom and sit relatively still for at least an hour.

Get there early enough to see the pregame and band, and be sure to stay in seats for halftime and the band. The band has color and music and action that kids like. For a young kid, football might not be so interesting, depending. All kids are different.

Be prepared to get food of varying kinds throughout the game. They can eat a lot and may get bored just sitting there. Early games in the season when it won't bother you to get up and move around might be best.

Be patient, but set ground rules before the game and then be prepared to ignore the ground rules, like we will watch the game. Take something for them to fiddle with during game. Let them stand on seat if they want when everyone is standing, otherwise they have no hope of seeing anything.

Hope for the wave. Be patient. Sit withfriends who are equally patient and understanding.

Good luck.

2 year old to the spring game. From there we will see how long she last. Anyone know if cameras are allowed in? Too lazy to look it up.

to a game last season, albeit not Michigan. She liked it, loved the cheerleaders, the band. Got a snack, stayed until halftime, she thought it was over and wanted to leave in any case.

They don't know about the scroe or whatnot until around 7 or 8. I'd wait until about 4 or 5. Always trips me out when I see people bringing babies to games of any sort, I have a 3-month old and wouldn't think about it. She'd be more interested in her own fingers anyway.

Almost took my 7 month old to the Notre Dame night game... had an extra ticket and everything.  But I'm glad I didn't... he would have gotten crushed... it was crazy.

And looking back, considering the cost of a ticket and the fact that he won't remember a thing, I'm not sure why I even thought about bringing him... other than the obvious that I want him to be a Michigan Man.  But I've got plenty of time to take him to games when he will actually appreciate and remember them.

I have been able to take 4 of my 5 nephews and my daughter to games. I have found that 6 is around the age that they start paying attention to the actual game. Anything younger than that and they're not into it really much at all.

We do the spring game every year...

never done a real game yet...

I will wait till they are 7 or 8.

jdon

a road trip to look at Universities at 17. Yes we had watched many games on TV is various places, but this was also a bonding thing. You should have seen his face, flowing with the tide down State street toward the stadium, the madness swirling about. He had never experienced anything like it. Even if it was Minnesota...I suddenly realized that I had only the faded images left of back in the day....shadows really. Needed to be recharged. Remastered as it were. He at some primal level became a Michigan Man that day.

My son will be almost 3 when the season rolls around and I've contemplated 2012 as being the year I first take him to a game.  Thing is, I'm realizing as he approaches that age that he will likely not last more than 2 quarters at best, and I doubt he will understand the point at all.  I'm thinking it might be a better idea to simply take him to a game at Rynearson Stadium as a practice run.  If he handles it well, then maybe I will consider a game at the Big House this year.

Or even an MGoDad, but what I've heard/read on here is that the spring game is a GREAT place to try out bringing kids to games. The tickets are $5 instead of $75. If you have to leave you don't miss an actual game and you'll get updates here. The crowds wont be as big/drunk/loud/everything. It makes total sense to me that it would be a great place to try taking a kid to a game. If your kid makes it through the spring game, expect the kid to handle a real game that fall. If they make it a half, expect a half, etc. 

Will one of you be my adopted MGoDad and take me to a game? I promise I'll behave. I've never been to one.

Legitimately interested. Why do people feel a need to bring their small children to football games (I guess I’ll arbitrarily set the number at 10 and under)? The kid is not going to enjoy the game. They won’t be able to see anything, they are confined to a small area, and the people around you might not take the care to censor themselves. They’re just going to complain about wanting to leave at halftime.