Rocking Out with Your Littles: Tips for Taking Your Kids to Concerts

Making the best family memories rocking out at concerts

Do you remember your first concert? I was bitten early and hard with the live music bug and it has always been a huge part of my life. It’s where I spent the majority of my free time in my 20’s – traveling to see shows all over this country and even making some epic international trips. It’s where I met my husband and some of my closest friends and learned about myself in ways I couldn’t imagine discovering in any other way. When we started our family, we always knew we wanted to include our children in our love of live music from the time they were in utero. Our kids have been to countless concerts and they boogie down with the best of them. Here are some tips to enjoy live music with your littles and to ensure everyone has the best time possible.

Consider the logistics

Use your best judgment when it comes to the logistics of the show. Who is the artist? If the artist has lyrics you wouldn’t want your kids to hear, that’s an important consideration. Where is the venue? If the show is in a bar, maybe this isn’t the best venue for little kids. Does the venue have a kid-friendly area? Many area venues like Merriweather Post Pavilion and Jiffy Lube Ln will rope off a family area if you contact them ahead of time. What is the show start time? Make sure your child has a good, long nap and you bring a favorite stroller/carrier, blanket, and lovey to make your child comfortable if some shut-eye is needed. Does the venue allow outside food? Snacks are critical to keep littles smiling and happy. Lots and lots and lots of snacks will keep your kiddos’ energy up. Don’t skimp on the snacks at live music! 

Keeping Kiddos Safe

Safety always needs to come first. Here are some easy ways to ensure your child is safe at a concert:

1. Protect those ears! Use ear muffs or ear plugs depending on your child’s age.
2. Use a sharpie to add your cell number to your child’s arm. Even if your child knows your number, concerts are loud and it’s hard to hear a child reciting a phone number. Plus, your child will be anxious if separated from you. 
3. Designate a meet-up spot as soon as you arrive.
4. Dress your child in glow-in-the-dark clothes and use glowsticks to accessorize. It’s fun and makes it easy to find him/her in a crowd.

Having Fun and Letting Loose

One of the best parts of concerts is the feeling of letting loose and having fun – enjoy that with your littles! Dance, spin, move your body and boogie down! Bring bubbles and a gazillion balloons to blow up and add glowsticks inside. Glowsticks are critical! Attach them all over your stroller and give handfuls of them to your littles and any kiddos around you. Kids love them and can spend a lot of time connecting them and making cool creations cooperatively with other kids. Be prepared to pop littles on your shoulders so they can’t get a good look at the stage. Some of my favorite memories are dancing under the stars with my itty bitties in a sling or carrier. Don’t underestimate the baby carrier! Even our 5 year old has been known to fall asleep during a show in the trusty old carrier. 

Respect Everyone’s Limits

You’ll want to give some good thought to how comfortable your littles are going to be a loud, chaotic, crowded environment. Seeing live music is not cheap and you don’t want to bail early because it’s just too overwhelming. 

Also, it’s a safe bet that the concert will end past everyone’s bedtimes and people are going to be tired. Make a plan to get to the car while everyone has enough energy (or a stroller ride) to do so easily.

Leaving before the concert ends will save you a ton of time and frustration. You don’t want to be stuck in a throng of people all exiting a venue at the same time…especially if you’re pushing a stroller! 

Have you taken your littles to live music? What was their first concert? And do you remember yours?!