Let's be honest .... music, arts and creativity aside, festivals are like great big playgrounds for adults. Never have I escaped so hedonistically and had so much fun than I have enjoyed at a festival. I haven't done one with my children yet but they are getting to the age now (and I'm getting to the age where the partying should really be slowing down) where I'm thinking it might be ok to try one. But I know to 'do' a festival, responsibly, with children has to be seen in a completely different light. You have to accept that your festival experience will be different and if you're not prepared for that to be so, then you should leave the kids at home. You are going to miss out on a few things, you won't be able to party like it's 1999, get drunk and giddy by 2pm in the afternoon, or stand right at the front of your favourite band or DJ set. And you will have to shelter your kids from the many dodgy aspects of a festival; large crowds, loud music, drink, drugs and weird people! If you accept all of this right from the start, you and your kids could have one of the best holidays of their lifetime. Here's a few tips which I'll be taking on board on my first festival experience with the little one;
1.Choose carefully - there are so many festivals now, it's one of the things we English do better than anyone else in the world, so take the time to research which ones are more suitable for kids. They probably won't be the big boys with huge headlining music acts, but more compact and full of creative acts with theatre, crafts and world music. Most have their very own 'kids area' which you can check out on the website before you commit. Some festivals are completely unsuitable for kids, so don't just rock up without having done the homework.
2.Take plenty of your own food and snacks, things which you know your kids will eat. If you're expecting them to stay up a bit, or a lot, later than usual, they'll need frequent fuel and stuff they like is so much more comforting to them. It can also get really expensive relying on the food stalls.
3. Take some comfort - this might sound totally obvious but when the tiredness kicks in kids need security and comfort. So take a favourite blanket or a few home comforts, pillow or cushion, to help them chill out whilst still enjoying being away from home.
4. Take a potty! Loos at festivals can be hardwork even for us adults, and so for children can be quite an ordeal, especially as the night gets later. Having a potty or bucket, even for older children, will make the experience much less stressful ... if you don't need to use the toilets, then don't bother.
5.Have a chat about getting lost. What and where should your child go if they lose you? Write your mobile number on your child's arm with a permanent marker, rather than a wristband which could fall off.
6.Pack for every possible weather condition, sunny, windy, rainy ... sunblock, hats, shades, waterproof wellies, sandals. If you're prepared for anything it won't matter what gets thrown at you. And lets face it, it probably will.
7. Don't even try to get right to the front of any music act. For one thing, large crowds can be really scary for small children and hard to get out of quickly. And another, loud music is extremely damaging to young ears, and old. Stand well back and enjoy it from a distance, children like dancing too so this gives them some freedom to move around and be silly!
8. Give your child time to do what they want. Take them to the kids tents, give them a couple of hours of their stuff and then they'll be happy to give you an hour to go and see your band or whatever else you'd love to see. Remember it's more about them this time, but if you make it about them, you can bank a few hours for the grown up stuff.
9.Most importantly, Enjoy it! Let them stay up later, allow some raucous behaviour, accept a few tantrums (this isn't the time and place for the naughty step) let them be wild and free ... it's a festival, it's a holiday and it's a chance for you to all escape to a wonderful world, that for just one weekend is nothing like reality. That sounds like a little slice of heaven to me, anyone coming to Latitiude?
