BS: Child-friendly UK festivals

Subject: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Gervase
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 02:13 PM

Seeking advice etc on the best way to introduce a lively seven-and-a-half year-old boy to the joys of festival-going - one whose current obsessions are football, Nintendo and almost anything but folk music!
We have managed a few festivals sans seven-year-old, but life would be easier for all concerned if he could come as well - but much depends on what there is to entertain a small, bright creature with a low boredom threshold.
What's the experience/suggestions/advice of any UK festival-goers here? Or is a captive-bolt pistol the best option?

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: MILZ
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 02:17 PM

ummmm, hard one! im 13 nd itz not 100% a child friendly thing! try getting him in2 a hobby horse club....or c NYFTE or sum thing @ a fest

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 02:38 PM

I do worry about how 'English' will survive as a language if this is common...

Sum ow ix wl

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 02:41 PM

Don't worrt, Guest

'MILZ' is only passing. Come back in a week and see how many threads s/he posts on

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: MILZ
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 03:11 PM

escuse me!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-0 i'm shocked!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: frankyz
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 03:17 PM

The Fairport convention is child friendly, and there are places you can leave them if you fancy a couple of hours on your own. Glastenbury has a few places you can leave your children to be entertained whilst you wander off and do your own thing, but beware some do charge. If you go the website of these festivals, i am sure you will find the info` you need. Good luck and have fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Noreen
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 03:19 PM

Guest, if everyone here were as rude as you, I would be very surprised if she posted again.

Milz, can you explain a bit about hobby horse clubs and NYFTE for those of us who don't know?

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 03:22 PM

The Cleethorpes Folk festival, which has just taken place over the Jubilee weekend, has a Kids' Club run by professional entertainers with the help of local Venture Scouts where they learn crafts and skills such as juggling and then put on a display/concert for the adults towards the end of the festival. There is also a young folk club during the weekend.

If you want a family friendly folk festival, put Cleethorpes into your diary for next year's Spring bank holiday.


Doug C

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Emma B
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 03:47 PM

Believe it or not organisers of many festivals spend hours agonising over this problem. A 'green field' site is useful as children are less likely to drift too far away; we have a special tent for childrens activities- this year some made their own instruments and all the younger children who had produced something, designed their own balloon hats or simply had their faces painted joined in our final parade led by the morris dance workshoppers. In addition we had a special 'ceilidh' organised by 'monsters', and we DO keep an area free for spontaeous football. Unfortunately this is Chester which is the same weekend as Cleethorpes but there are many other festivals which share our aims - look at the programmes they will give you a guide. P.S. Why do they wake us up so early in the morning?

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: janey
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 04:14 PM

What about Whitby, middle of August? The arcades are a seven year old's dream and if it's sunny you could just sit in the Plough Backyard whilst small child makes friends and plays gameboy (or whatever). The festival atmosphere is all around the town and I'm sure they hold children's events. We went to Bridgnorth one year and they had a load of activities for kids actually on the campsite; things like circus workshops and chalk things. Saddleworth Festival is doing kids things as well. Can't wait to find out what a NYFTE is...especially if it involves a hobby horse.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 04:30 PM

You might think about the approach we took with our daughter. She'd help us set up camp. Then we'd tell her to report back to camp for meals, stay out of trouble, and let her go. The festivals rarely had activities specifically for kids, but she never complained and apparently found plenty to keep her busy. As an adult she reports that she always had a wonderful time at the festivals.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: MMario
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 04:37 PM

Here (in the US) I *might* do that ,Russ, with a twleve year old; but 7.5 ??????? Is it *that* much safer in the UK?

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 04:44 PM

The Campus festival was perfect for safety and fun for younguns and good music for all, but it folded 2/3 years back. I think there may a new version up and running, but I'm not sure what it's called, Hopesomeone can help.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Willa
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 05:49 PM

Whitby has children's workshops and family sessions, plus the usual seaside attractions. Definitely child friendly.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: greg stephens
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 05:58 PM

Definitely go for a seaside resort festival. Then if the youngun gets a bit bored with festival you can escape to the beach for a bit.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 05:59 PM

Chippenham does pretty well but I'm no expert. Especially if junior is not into "folk". Anyone who can say how well Chippenham does?

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 06 Jun 02 - 06:20 PM

I think Warwick would be the perfect introduction- a contained site with lots of childrens activities , swimming pool and most of the concerts and ceilidhs are on the school campus. If children do get bored then there is always Warwick Castle 5 minutes away and Stratford within 20 mins.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: JudeL
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 08:38 AM

Look on the EFDSS Rootsource pages for details of the various festivals and follow the links on individual festivals. Unfortunatly for this year you've missed the opportunity of Chippenham which is one of the best as far as children are concerned. It has a very full separate events list just for children and aimed at the various age groups. Some offer fully supervised sessions others require the adult to remain in nominal charge.
Due to recent changes in the law, some festivals (especially the smaller ones) have stopped offering creche style or fully supervised opportunities where childen may be left under the supervision of those staffing the activity. It depends what you are after and you will need to check individual things. Sidmouth has a lot of Activities in Blackamore Gardens and in the Childrens Marquee up on the Main Festival site, they introduce the children to a variety of childrens games and activities with the emphasis on traditional ones such as string games, making papier mache masks, making and playing a variety of percussion instruments. There's often a circus skills workshop - the opportunity to learn to juggle or try to ride a unicycle. In the back of the Anchor is often a ceilie which includes a lot of youngsters joining in the dancing or watching from the climbing frame. Depending on their likes / dislikes try taking a gameboy, lego and puzzle books. Other things that can be useful are a personal tape player with some story books on tape, and a waterproof backed travel rug to crash out on when tired (them not you). If you are after a gradual introduction remember activities that have nothing to do with folk such as the beach, the swimming pool and the cinema. My children also inform me that Sidmouth Library has internet access (free but sessions are so popular that they must be booked in advance).

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 09:34 AM

At the PVFF, Beverley (21st - 23rd June) there are children's and family activities in the Leisure Centre which is adjacent to the (free) campsite. Contact 01482 881190 to book a camping place and to get details of the actvities for kids.

The whole festival is free anyway so you haven't much to lose by giving it a try

Roger

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 09:50 AM

Warwick is definately the one-Swimming pool, Rrofessor Panic's Circus, Jan's Blackboard Van and if you're lucky Dr. Sunshine too. Trouble is would you find time to go to see any bands?!! Oh and please come and see me, My daughter Charlotte will be there with me, she's 13 but enjoys company.

Sally Lemon

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 10:38 AM

MMario,

Your question about the practical considerations of my suggestion was quite valid. That's why I tried to carefully word my suggestion. But my post was more about the presuppositions active in the posts on this thread.

In the 70s and 80s a lot of us boomers were dragging our kids to festivals and none of the ones my wife and I patronized had much in the way of activities aimed specifically at kids. And we and the kids didn't miss them. We naively assumed that the opportunity to mess around in a nifty outdoor venue where great music was to be heard was all that was needed. I remember thinking that I would have loved such an opportunity when I was a kid.

But your response did get me thinking. My wife and I consciously tried to allow our daughter to be as "free range" a child as we felt was appropriate. But there were always clear and simple rules, consistently enforced, about her changing location and reporting back and we watched her very carefully early on, though she might not have been aware of it.

Even in the "good old days" (early 80s) we were not the least bit nonchalant about her safety. We were appropriately paranoid for the time and place. The idea was to let her experiment with independence in a setting where at least a few dangers were minimized. For example, the chances of being run over by a school bus on a campground were pretty low.

However, even then we understood that if an evil doer is sufficiently motivated, no one is safe anywhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: selby
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 01:50 PM

In my opinion all Festivals are child friendly, what we used to do was go to a concert with our kids and when they got bored one of us would leave go for a wander around and find some music elsewhere.Now at the ages of 12 & 14 they have been known to stress their own opinion and gone off to a concert on their own and know how to behave.I beleive now that at our usual festivals because of our consideration our children are sensible,known and appreciated. This year we are trying Walkie Talkie's to keep in touch. Hope this helps. Keith

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 07 Jun 02 - 05:34 PM

I agree with Linda Kelly about Warwick - plenty of space to run around and activities such as circus skills to keep younger ones amused. We have been taking Maddie (now 8) for a while now and she loves it. Whitby is also good and if you go to either of these this year we are there so they could amuse each other. I wouldn't go as far as letting Maddie off on her own around Whitby but there are lots of childrens events that are well supervised and give you a couple of hours to do your own thing - there are also family concerts and ceilidhs held early evenings which cater for children and don't mind as much if they are unsettled!
(You should have seen the Selbys on their walkie talkies giving their barbeque orders 15ft apart on Monday!!!!!!!)

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: bobby's girl
Date: 08 Jun 02 - 09:27 AM

In case anyone is still wondering, NYFTE is the National Youth Folk Troupe of England, a very talented bunch of kids from all over the UK who meet up for workshop type weekends throughout the year, and perform at festivals. Whilst they are very good, I don't think they take kids as young as 7, though I may be wrong, and I think the kids already have to be quite heavily into the folk scene and with proven ability in music,dance etc, which doesn't sound like what we want for this case.

The Hobbyhorse Club of England used to appear at festivals a few years ago though I haven't seen them recently. They were good at introducing young kids to the folk scene, although my two found their approach a bit old fashioned 10 years ago, so unless they've changed (assuming they still exist) they may not exactly help either. I agree that Whitby is a good festival for kids, although not as good as it was, but I think a lot of places are falling foul of the new stringent legislation with regard to child care.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 08 Jun 02 - 05:28 PM

I don't know what the law is in the States, but here, in theory at least, it is illegal for a child under 11 to be left alone in a dwelling, it is illegal for a child under 14 to babysit alone for a child under 11 and it is illegal for childminders/creche workers to look after more than 5 (last time I checked) *additional* children (up to a total of 7) over 5yrs or a total of 4 under 5yrs, and none at all if they are being paid but aren't registered with their local council.

Leaving any child alone at a festival depends completely on the trust the parents have in that child. I've known 17 year olds who acted like obnoxious 12's and 15 year olds who've behaved as impecably as any gentleman of 40+ (not including Spaw). I for one wouldn't leave the Bratling alone for more than 20 mins without checking on her, unless she were with someone I trusted and she was happy with. She's actually a very good judge of character and has only ever instantly taken against 2 people, one of whom I know has had problems in the past and the other just freaks me (and a lot of other people) out for no apparent reason. And I haven't coloured her judgement, because she met these two men whilst with someone else, not me.

It depends entirely on the child. If you feel the lad would respond and accept some adult company (being treated like a grown up), then he should be fine with everyone else, although some pub owners get a bit tetchy with children, especially if they are a/ disruptive (adults are allowed to do it but not kids) or b/ taking up space a disruptive, beer swilling adult could use. Failing that, get him a Nintendo with headphones and a limitless supply of batteries.....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jun 02 - 02:37 PM

Just do it. Plan to take some time off away from the festival to entertain your child, if it becomes necessary. For a seven year old, it may very well be necessary. Not because of a lack of things to entertain them, but because they need to mellow out, away from the hustle and bustle, and chill with their parent(s). That seemed to be the one hard and fast rule for us with small kids. As long as they are that age, you shouldn't have it all your way, or no way.

Outside of that, I too favor the "let them run wild" philosophy. There aren't too many circumstances as safe as a festival grounds, with as many kids, with as many wonderful new things to experience. But then, both of us parents were raised in large Catholic families that ran wild without adult supervision, with huge gangs of children, all summer long. And loved it.

If you have concerns for your particular seven year old running wild on their own, take some company along. Works like a charm, so long as it is another child they REALLY get along with and know well. Someone tried and true, rather than a new friend, is most likely to be the most successful.

Also, leave home the flakey friends, the wanderers, etc We always did this selfishly--if you know the other child is likely to be high maintenance, why take on an extra headache? Better to leave fun times with those kids for day long outings rather than YOUR music weekends. And then your child will have a much better experience too, and will want to return to festivals again and again. Within reason, of course. Eventually, you should send them off to do the things that interest them, not you.

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Emma B
Date: 09 Jun 02 - 03:37 PM

Agree wholeheartedly about Warwick - the children always seem to be having a whale of a time. Another possibility? Festival at the Edge (Wenlock Edge that is) Primarily a story telling festival it has lots more and has had circus workshops, puppets, lots of music and tales for 'children' of all ages. In addition it is on a completely self-contained site some distance from a road

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 09 Jun 02 - 04:33 PM

Little Mo: How clever of you to think of that one. I should have mentioned that one because I'll be there too. I first went there with my Joe when he was 7 weeks old (9yrs ago) and Lucie was 10yrs and Charlotte was 5yrs. It was lovely. I tucked the girls up in the tent knowing they would be safe and took Joe, under my poncho, to a story telling session around a bonfire. It was such a lovely atmosphere I shall never forget it.

Sal

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Hawker
Date: 11 Jun 02 - 11:55 AM

Gervase,
Ihave a 7.5 and an 11 year old, Wadebridge Folk Festival put a lot on for the kids, that August Bank Holiday weekend, and Our kids LOVED Bromyard Folk Festival (early September). Also great, from experience was Miskin (wales) at Easter and Dartmoor Folk Festival in August.
We met up with a couple at a festival sevearl years ago, who had kids the same age, and our kids and us got on very well, since then, we try to meet up at various festivals, the kids look forward to seeing their festival friends, and us too, and if we have to retire to the camp site early, we can start a sing of drink and tell jokes 'till the wee small hours without feeling like we are missing out on all the fun!
best of luck, hope you manage to get to some festivals that you AND the kids enjoy!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: BS: Child-friendly UK festivals
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Jun 02 - 07:36 PM

Will you be at Bromyard this year, Lucy? I'll be there with both Shakespeare Morris and Shellback Chorus. Us Macc kids 'as got to get together! But I can't promise to bring any family with me ("musical differences").

WassaiL! V