A time will come when your seven or eight-year-old will come to you asking if they can go see their favourite musician. If you have decided that, yes, this is the year to take them, here are a few things you should keep in mind:
 
Who do they want to see?
Watching a concert is very different to listening to songs over the radio – so make sure it is suitable for their age. If possible look up YouTube videos of previous performances to confirm whether you feel the artist is suitable for your child. Check the recommended age before buying tickets - not all concerts are suitable for young children.
 
Who is going to bring them?
A young child cannot attend a concert on their own and must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The best person to go with them is you; however, if this is not possible, you should ask someone that you trust and that you know will take care of the kids.
 
Safety first
Talk to your child about what they need to do if they get lost. Arrange a particular point or area where your child should go if they do get separated from the group. Make sure they know to stay there until you or whoever they are with comes to find them. Point out officials – stewards, police and security - that they should go to for help and make sure they know not to walk off with strangers.
 
Give them a contact number
Make sure they know your mobile number off by heart and if you’re not going, teach them the number of the person going with them. And even if they do know your number, write it on their arm as an extra precaution. Just like adults, children can forget things, like numbers, when frightened, so write it on their arm or somewhere visible.
 
Plan your evening
Think about how you are going to get there and home again. If you are using public transport going in, be prepared for very cranky kids in the evening. If possible, either drive or get someone to collect when it’s over. Concerts normally go on until late at night and your child is probably going to be cranky and irritable. Avoid spoiling a good night by having to trek for hours to get home. Unless you bought sitting tickets, be prepared to stand for a long time. With this in mind you might want to give the support acts a miss. 
 
And finally, remember to relax and enjoy the evening. 

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