Question to the MGoDad's out there.

Submitted by MGoCooper on

When did you start taking your son's to the Michigan Football games? My son will be 7 months in August, and I was wondering if anyone had experience taking a child that young to a Michigan game.

 

Hoke_Floats

March 16th, 2012 at 10:00 AM ^

I now realize that my wife wanted me to take my son so she could have the afternoon to herself...but its not babysitting when its your kid...its called being a dad (according to wife)

don't plan on spending more than an hour in the big house...buy them something before you go to the game

We went the week after ND for EMU...kid in front of us had one of those PonPons...my son and his friend went ape b/c they didn't have anything to shake

mgokev

March 15th, 2012 at 8:43 PM ^

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.

david from wyoming

March 15th, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^

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

Michigan Arrogance

March 15th, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^

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

stephenrjking

March 15th, 2012 at 8:44 PM ^

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...

macdaddy

March 15th, 2012 at 8:45 PM ^

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.

1464

March 15th, 2012 at 8:46 PM ^

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?

stephenrjking

March 15th, 2012 at 8:57 PM ^

I've found it helps to get my kids prepared for what's going to happen. Explaining the crowds and the noise and stuff, and make a show about being excited about it. Helped with my kids, anyway. 

The harder part is fighting the boredom that comes when you combine a naturally short attention span with a game that they do not yet understand. Bringing alternative entertainment can help.

readyourguard

March 15th, 2012 at 8:49 PM ^

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.

BVB

March 15th, 2012 at 8:50 PM ^

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

maizenblue87

March 15th, 2012 at 8:52 PM ^

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.

oldblue

March 15th, 2012 at 8:56 PM ^

Hopefully, it will be important for him when he is grown to be able to talk about seeing his first game at as early an age as possible.  It won't be great for you; have him brought in near the end of an early, warm, easy win.  That way, he is there, but you get to enjoy the game first.  Basketball games are actually fun with kids of any age, but football is tougher.

rockydude

March 15th, 2012 at 11:16 PM ^

"Daddy, what's a cooler pooper ?"

"Why are the people in green and white burning their sofas ?"

"Why would anyone live in South Bend ?"

"How do the Badgers get their cheerleaders so plump ?"

"Is the scary Cornhusker guy going to eat me ?"

"So when WILL they be in the tournament ?"

"How do the Gophers get their cheerleaders so pale ?"

"Is it ok if I go to Chuck E Cheese with the nice PSU assistant coach ?"

"So when WILL Indiana win a conference game then ?"

"Are Boilermakers a team or a drink order ?"

"Do Iowa people talk about things besides corn ?"

"Why do all the good Illinois people play for Michigan ?"

"Those guys in scarlet and grey have such fancy tattoos - are they expensive ?"

 

I guess it could be educational, when you look at it in the right light. Better they learn these lessons from you than on the playground . . .

jrgoblue

March 15th, 2012 at 9:00 PM ^

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

Zone Left

March 15th, 2012 at 9:03 PM ^

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.

LIZARD4141

March 15th, 2012 at 9:05 PM ^

I have three kids under the age of three. I take them to sporting events. However, I wouldn't go if I wasn't in a private suite. Then again my shoes probably cost more than your house.

San Diego Mick

March 16th, 2012 at 1:56 AM ^

keep telling us how much money you have. A person can be rich with money and very poor when it comes to character or class.

I'm pretty sure a damn good percentage of M grads make 6 figures or more and in many cases 7 figures. Don't get on Mgoblog and get all cocky about the money you have or make, maybe you inherited it, all that makes you is lucky if that's the case.

 

Also, Go Blue!

Bluegoose

March 15th, 2012 at 9:06 PM ^

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.

mtlcarcajou

March 15th, 2012 at 9:10 PM ^

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.

RakeFight

March 15th, 2012 at 9:13 PM ^

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.

the Glove

March 15th, 2012 at 9:14 PM ^

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.

zander

March 15th, 2012 at 9:21 PM ^

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.

evenyoubrutus

March 15th, 2012 at 9:23 PM ^

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.

stephenrjking

March 15th, 2012 at 9:32 PM ^

+1

I take my girls to UMD football games (D-II) every year, and it's a great experience. It's also not as big of an investment and there's more flexibility in where we sit. We do tailgate before the game and stay for the whole thing, but a lot of what the girls enjoy at this age is the sensory experience. And we keep them occupied with stuff.

JeepinBen

March 15th, 2012 at 9:23 PM ^

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. 

Michigan J. Frog

March 15th, 2012 at 9:29 PM ^

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.

stephenrjking

March 15th, 2012 at 9:36 PM ^

I started going to 4th quarters with my dad back in the 80s when they let you in, and my first full games were under 10. I understood the game by 6 or 7. Some of my favorite memories are going to games with my Dad. It's a bonding experience.

I feel like a tool for shilling for another thread like this, but this kinda explains the appeal.

http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?98951-Evidence-for-hockey-greatne…

ColsBlue

March 15th, 2012 at 9:43 PM ^

I started going to Tigers games with my dad when I was five.  Still have the programs, tickets, and season yearbooks and remember the experiences.  Why not take your kids to games?  I've never understood excluding kids until age X (you say 10) then expecting them to appreciate these events and behave appropriately when we do include them.  This applies to games, plays, restaurants, etc. etc.  If you don't want to bring your kids, don't bring your kids. Period.  Mine will be there.