Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:19 pm Post subject: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

I have a friend I would love to bring to Sunrise but she is a bit worried about it, as she would have to bring her 4yr old boy. As 4yr old boys are such a lot of work anyway, she's worried that it might end up being too much for her to handle.

I was curious what those of you with kids-at-festivals experience think of this. Is it feasible at all ages to bring your kids to festivals like Sunrise or are there ages where it is a lot more of a struggle than others and it is wiser to stay away?

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

i thought it was completely feasible, there are loads of things to do for kids yes

jazz loved it, dewi - nik's son loved it (and i think he was 4)
what niki did with dewi later at night was make a wheelbarrow all warm and comfy and dewi just crashed in it yes

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

I havnt got kids myself but last year spent most of my time at the Sunrise festival with my friend and her 2 daughters...then 18monthes and 5 years.....and yes sometimes it is hard work but i think that sunrise is one of the best festivals for this experience...lots of things for the kids to do....small enough for the kids to get a grip on where they are and small enough for children to be looked aFTER if they get lost.......nmid's little boy was i think 5 last year and he loved it.....(little bugger left me when i was watching him and made his way back to the camp......meanwhile i was at lost kids and fretting!!!)
Of course its down to your mate and her particular little boy....but my personal opinion is that its great to introduce kids as early as possible to this kind of experience......and with friends around she can have a support system to help her with the hard work of it all........the pleasure far outweighs the hardship imho

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

hello..

i took my little boy last year who was also 4 years at the time and he had an outrageously good time Very Happy

i agree with lunar..it depends on the individual child..mine is rather bossy and rarely let me anywhere other than the kids area..but..to be fair..i get to go to other festies on my own so i let him have this one Very Happy

he did have a tendancy to wander off on his own round the campervan field but i wasn't worried as he was playing with other kids nearby...hes well socialble too so he took it upon himself to meet anyone and everyone and he made loads of new friends..kids as well as adults!!!

so anyway, it can be a little frustrating if they dont wanna go where you wanna go, but...its great to let em be free, run around, meet loads of people, get muddy, be happy, have fun, and just play..like it should be Very Happy

i would suggest some kind of stroller or such like for the evenings tho..i didnt take one last year and he got tired at night, and didnt want to walk, so i had to do a lot of carrying Very Happy

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

I agree with RM - a wheelbarrow is good for kids. Stick a pillow and a load of blankets in it so they can sleep whilst you have fun. Strollers are no good - too flimsy on rough terrain Wink

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

tie some glowsticks on it as well or some dipstick will fall over it in the dark

i used to take a very tough stroller with me when millie was little that stood up to glastonbury very well until she was about 7 (she was a very small child!), and we used to carry all our stuff strapped to it in a big pile to the campsite. it finally sheared off a wheel but did me proud and it was second hand!

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

wheelbarrows yes

...and the kids love em

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

We've taken our boys to Sunrise for the last 2 years and are doing it again this year. They're 4 and 3 now. They absolutely love it, and we love having them there. It's a different kind of experience than going to a festival on your own, in that obviously you have less freedom and you may not get to see the bands you want, but put it this way, I can't think of a more enjoyable family holiday. Sunrise is the best festival I know of for kids too, partly due to the activities available, but mostly because the people are so friendly. As long as the kids have wristbands with your mobile number on, you really don't have to worry about them disappearing.

And yes, it's definitely a good thing to have some receptacle (wheelbarrow or all-terrain buggy) that they can sleep in so you can stay up late Smile

For a 4-year old, take a potty. The toilets in previous years haven't been the kind of thing a young child can negotiate safely even in daylight, let alone in the dark.

Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

Loads of us in the production team have kids and we do deisgn it with them in mind wherever possible.

Both my children (2 1/2 and 5) love the festivals. Its not so much individual activities but the fun, playful environment, all the crazy walkabout characters, seeing their festival friends and so forth.

We really do design Sunrise with young kids in mind.

Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

very big children Cheese Face

Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 5:02 pm Post subject: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

will there be writstbands available for kids, or should we bring something of our own?

thank you!

Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Kiddies at Sunrise Festival

Hi! We took our littlies last year - they were 2 & 5 at the time - and they absolutely loved it. Very child-friendly festival.

We went with friends who have two children almost the same ages and took it in turns to look after them, so it worked out well.

Tell your friend to take them & enjoy.

P.S. We were very envious of people with cosy wheelbarrows, but we could barely fit our tent in the car, never mind a wheelbarrow!!