Would you take a 3 1/2 year-old to a college football game?

[progmom]

The stadium holds like 110,000 people. You're smooshed in there like sardines. Progdad has tickets, can't find a babysitter, and I'm on the air and can't go. Progspawn thinks it sounds like a great idea. I, on the other hand, think it sounds like a recipe for disaster.

What do you think?

[kick-ass-bob]

1. I would.

Just make sure he notes that there will be frequent bathroom breaks...

[arwalden]

2. Be Prepared To Leave Early...

... or take separate cars. Or bring extra money for cab fare.

[progmom]

4. ha ha ha - put the kid in a cab by himself?

:rofl:

[mcar]

3. I'd take him

Buy or bring lots of snacks and drinks, be prepared to take him to the bathroom in the middle of the best play of the game and be prepared to leave early if he has a meltdown.

He may just have a blast.

We brought our youngest to a professional soccer game when he was 4. He spent the first half blocking his ears to the noise and the second half pounding on his seat in beat with the other fans.

[GOPisEvil]

5. How's progspawn's attention span?

I felt bad for this family at the Colorado Rockies game I was at on Sunday. Their poor child (much less than 3 1/2 granted) had some issue that made them leave in the 2nd inning. :(

Progdad will have to be prepared to have his attention from the game distracted, and possibly leave early.

Just me, but if I ever have a child, I'd wait until he or she was a bit older so they'd remember it more clearly.

Having said that...there is something about kids and their dads going to games that's pretty cool.

[progmom]

7. progdad took progspawn to a Tigers game two weeks ago

progspawn hasn't stopped talking about it. :D

we didn't pay for the tickets, so maybe it wouldn't be a total waste if they left early....

[GOPisEvil]

10. Oh then...take him.

However, since there will be a bazillion people there, I'd consider arriving early and leaving early so there isn't a massive crush of people.

[madinmaryland]

6. Sounds like you must be going to a wolvarines home game!

I'm sure you kid will enjoy it. He/she will probably be on sensory overload, but will like it.

BTW, GO BUCKEYES!!!!

:evilgrin:

[progmom]

8. they're playing Notre Dame this week

should be a good game.

i didn't grow up here, so i'm not infected with Wolverine fever. ;)

[madrchsod]

28. no -neither one will enjoy the game

[SarahB]

9. I'd try not to.

(Sounds like you already did that though.) If I did, I'd be prepared to have lots of snacks and possibly leave early if I had to (my youngest is a 4 year old boy). My ex and I did a few minor league baseball games when the kids were little, but almost always had to leave early because it was too much. If your hubby's ok with that and won't be upset, go for it.

[progmom]

15. i think if progdad can shift his thinking from "I'm going to a UofM game"

to "I'm giving progspawn an opportunity to see (part of) a football game," I think we'll be ok. :)

[Telly Savalas]

24. That's the key.

Progspawn should have a blast if Progdad has that mindset. If Progspawn had fun at the Tigers' game, then he'd probaby really dig a college football game, since there's more hoopla: pep band, marching band at halftime, the crowd is more animated, etc.

If it were my daughter and I already had the tickets, then I'd probably take her. I'd try to secure an aisle seat to allow for quick trips to the washroom, and I'd be mentally prepared to leave after the halftime show if she started showing even the slightest signs of fatigue/impatience. (An earlier exit might be required, but I'd try to stay for that, because the halftime show is the sort of spectacle a 3 year old would dig.)

I've taken the little one to about 5 Blue Jays games this summer and they've all been good experiences. We usually leave after the seventh inning stretch (aka "the baseball songs"). Granted a baseball game is less crowded than a college football game, but I still think it'd be worth a try.

[tigereye]

25. heck kids much older than that have very little attention span!

I think he would enjoy it... there's lots to look at. But the funny thing is that you spend a lot of your time at these games running back and forth to the concession stand getting stuff for the kids to eat, no matter how old they are!

Hope they have fun.


My kid sat through LOTR 3 twice in the theater ( he's 9) but baseball games mean endless trips for ice cream and french fries! :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Absolutely not!

But that's because *I* would not go to a college football game.

:puke:

[MissMillie]

12. Nope

call me an overprotective mother.... but I just wouldn't do it.

[huskerlaw]

13. I've done it.

I took my nephew to a Husker game (80,000 people, so a bit smaller, but definitely packed like sardines). It was not a nightmare, but not entirely fun either. He fell asleep just after halftime, leaving me to hold a dead-weighted, sweaty 3 year old. He did love the first half though, and still talks about it (he's now 11).

So my answer is, I doubt it'll be a disaster, but Progspawn will probably be past the excitement by halftime at the latest. If Progdad is willing to deal with a bored 3-year-old, then go for it.

[philosophie_en_rose]

14. As long as there's a backup.

If Progdad is willing to leave early, if necessary, it might work.

In general, I think sports events are too long and boring for most kids. (and me:)). But bringing a book or a toy or a portable DVD player might occupy his time if he gets bored.

Also, Progspawn sounds like he really enjoys the bonding time with his dad. When parents engage their kids, they act better than parents that watch the game without talking to the kid. Sounds like Progdad and Progspawn already have worked out something good at games.

[nini]

16. Though it depends on the child.. normally I would say no

Mostly because it's a longggg day for a little ones in those conditions. Especially if it's hot.

The first hour may go pretty well but after that I think the boredom, crowd etc. would get to them and then you'd have a cranky kid on your hands... which would make your experience less than what you'd want.

[DrDan]

17. absolutely - I took my 2-year old

granddaughter to a Husker game last year - she lasted until half time, but I would do it again

make sure you get her a cheer-leader outfit before you go - it got my granddaughter into the official game film - and she got some attention from the real cheerleaders

it was a great time for all

[Seabiscuit]

18. NO WAY! You want to turn your kid into another American Moran?

[Wapsie B]

19. No way in hell.

I agree with you.

[JVS]

20. Be prepared to leave the stadium.

I remember when I was a wee young-un in Michigan Stadium. Mom, dad, RPM and I were there. When I was a kid I was very sensitive to noise (it hurt my ears), so every once in a-while mom would ask me if I'd like to step outside for a few minutes. It really helped.

[no_to_war_economy]

21. no unless you take a portable DVD player

[SOteric]

22. Only if no other date was available.

barump bump.

Okay, smart ass answer aside; no. I'm sure Progspawn would enjoy it on several levels and I know Progdad really wants to see the game. Progdad's attention will be distracted at several points and 3 1/2 year olds are known to wander, distract themselves and have limited ability to recognise potential threats of harm.

If there were two adults present, sure. But if it's just P-Daddly and the Spawnster, notsomuch.

[nickgutierrez]

23. It doesn't sound too bad - but be prepared to leave

It will be very, very loud. If progspawn doesn't like loud noises, dad may need to take kid on a walk around the stadium for a while until kid feels better about sitting down again.

[xmas74]

26. I've done it.

Took her to a MU game when she was three. She loved it!

Just go well prepared and take plenty of bathroom breaks (along w/ walks-they can't sit for too long) and he'll be fine. He'll probably be fascinated by all the people.

[WCGreen]

27. It's time to let go of the prog leash....

I went ot my first baseball game when I was about 5 ....

Your boy looks robust....

The kids will think it is cool that a little dude is there having fun....

No worries...

Except, of course if it is a McihiganGame, which it sounds like... So, you have that working against you....

Go Buckeyes.....

[ContraBass Black]

29. Absolutely not.

Especially not here:

[sakabatou]

30. No...

[northzax]

31. my first trip to the Big House

was at five. you gotta raise the kids right, you know.

on edit, I would pay a week's wages for a ticket this weekend. And my first game was The Game, so it worked out all right.

[progmom]

32. if you want to spend a week's wages on a ticket for this weekend....

I'm sure progspawn can wait. ;)