The weather is getting warmer, and the peak season for concerts is in full swing. With so many popular artists touring these days, children may be clamoring to go to a show or two. But taking kids to see a musician live is way different than going alone or with a group of adult friends. When attending with their children, moms and dads will need to take into account things such as potty breaks, potentially inappropriate lyrics, and more. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't take them.
There are so many young fans who have had a blast at concerts for Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Jonas Brothers, Olivia Rodrigo, and others over the past year. Many kids love these artists, and they're going to want to see their faves perform live. Fortunately, there are ways parents can make that happen safely while still making sure everyone has fun.
Here are the 16 best tips for parents going to concerts with their kids this year.
More from CafeMom: Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ Now Available To Stream on Disney+
Plan Seats Carefully
Parents need to consider how tall their kids are when buying seats for a concert. Chances are, they're not going to be able to see if they're in the floor section, and it's really not safe for them to be standing on seats to see better. Instead, pick seats in the stands where the chairs are staggered to give people a better view.
Check Venue Rules
Every venue is different with regards to what people are allowed to bring in. Stadiums often require clear purses and forbid items such as snacks and open water bottles. Many venues are also cash-free these days. Check the website for the concert arena in advance so there are no surprises when going through security – including ages for the show.
Learn the Lyrics
We don't want to embarrass our kids, so if we're taking our children to see an artist we're not that familiar with — it's time to get to know that performer. Ahead of the concert, Google the set list and learn the lyrics to some of the top hits. Our kids will get such a kick out of seeing us singing the lyrics right alongside them.
More from CafeMom: 16 Taylor Swift Songs That Hit Different for Moms
Discuss Content in Advance
Learning the lyrics for the set list will give parents a chance to discuss any sensitive lines with their children ahead of time. Even musicians with younger audiences can sometimes include adult words and themes in their songs and the corresponding choreography. And because the musicians will be playing live, it won't be like on the radio when things sometimes get bleeped.
If anything makes parents or their children uncomfortable, those discussions can happen prior to hearing things live — or maybe those songs will make for good potty runs.
Make Friendship Bracelets
Taylor Swift may have inspired the friendship bracelet trend, but the idea isn't exclusive to the "Eras Tour" anymore. No matter which artist is performing, a fun activity for parents and their littles is making a few bracelets to wear and/or trade with other fans. Use letter beads to write out favorite lyrics or the musician's inside jokes.
Wear Themed Outfits
Getting dressed up for a concert can be so fun, especially when picking an outfit that's themed to a particular song or album. If the kids won't mind, parents can even sport a matching outfit with their little ones. It's like Halloween 2.0. Just think of all the cute photos that will come out of the event.
Get Ear Protection
Concerts are loud even when performed in outdoor arenas. Parents can protect their child's eardrums by bringing headphones or earplugs. They'll allow the wearer to still hear the artist but significantly cut down on the crowd noise. We would grab pairs for ourselves, too, because leaving a show without our ears ringing is actually so nice.
Teach Concert Etiquette
Nobody wants their child to go viral on TikTok for being obnoxious at a concert. Practice with kids ahead of time so they know what volume level is appropriate. They should definitely be allowed sing along and cheer, but high-pitched screaming at the top of their lungs should be discouraged.
Plan in Advance
Phone service can be spotty at concert venues. For anyone splitting off from their group (maybe to grab food or merch), plan a meeting point ahead of time. There's no guarantee that texts will go through in the moment, and nobody wants to be stranded or separated from their party.
This is important advice for parents who may be dropping older teens off at a concert and picking them up afterward. Make a plan so they know exactly where to go once the show gets out.
Pack a Charger
Parents will probably be using their phones a lot during the concert to record videos, take photos, text with others, etc. Pack an external charger so the battery doesn't die before the concert ends. This is especially relevant for anyone planning on using a rideshare app to get home afterward or who needs to coordinate a ride with a parent or friend.
Make a Merch Plan
We're sure that when Olivia Rodrigo sang, "God, it's brutal out here," she was talking about the concert merch lines. With social media making certain items go viral (that blue Taylor Swift crewneck became a must-have), it can be more difficult to secure souvenirs at the actual venue.
Parents can plan ahead by ordering merch online, seeing if artists have merch booths open in the days leading up to a show, and being strategic about when to wait in line. Plan to get to the venue early to factor in extra time waiting in line. Or it might be easy to slip to the merch booth while everyone else is watching the opener.
Time Bathroom Breaks
Kids can't (and really shouldn't) hold it, so parents need to time bathroom breaks strategically. Look up the set list ahead of time to pick a song the child doesn't like as much and go to the restroom during that time. Or skip the opening act to go when bathroom lines are a little shorter.
Balance Screen Time
It can be tempting to want to record every moment of a concert to preserve the memories forever, but don't forget to be in the moment as well. Sure, film a favorite song or snap some photos in front of the stage, but we should also just enjoy singing along and watching our little ones take in the experience.
Plus, the people sitting behind us will be glad they're not just staring at our phone screen the whole show. It's courteous to everyone.
Wear Comfy Shoes
We're all for wearing matching themed outfits, but when it comes to footwear, lean comfy over cute. Most of the time at the show will be spent standing, and nobody wants to stand and dance and jump around in heels or uncomfortable cowboy boots for hours on end. After all, even Taylor Swift switches to flats when she does her Folklore set during the "Eras Tour."
Sit Down Sometimes
Even with comfy shoes, it's easy to get tired if the show is long. Don't feel bad for sitting down through a couple of songs to rest up. There's a lot of pressure on social media these days to show support for artists by being 100% engaged for the whole concert. The reality is, however, that sometimes sitting is necessary and that's what the slow songs are there for.
Have Snacks Ready
It's unlikely parents will be allowed to bring outside snacks into the concert, but having some food stashed in the car for afterward is a good idea. Concerts can run long past dinner time, and it can take a while just to leave the venue and the parking areas due to traffic. It will be nice to have something eat while waiting.
