This topic comes up now and again. For those wanting advice on how the day might go please refer to this article written a few years ago (hence the players referenced).
Charlton are a family club and so, as a father I thought it best to keep up that tradition and take my son to his first game. What follows is how I imagine that game will go
1:30 :- Number 1 son and I start journey. First stop is to pick up fellow supporters.
1:32 :- Back home. Number 1 son needs the toilet.
1:35 :- Back in car, we are finally underway.
1:36 :- First argument. Saturday tradition is listen to the radio on the way to the match. Number 1 Son wants Lion king soundtrack on, or failing that puff the magic dragon.
1:37 :- First argument ends shortly followed by first tears. Hakuna Matata wins the day
1:45:- First pickup, second toilet stop
2:15:- Stuck in traffic. Number 1 Son is hungry, realise I have forgotten chocolate buttons.
2:30 :- Just parked, chocolate button crisis averted by pointing out pile of fly tipped rubbish, 4 year old are easily pleased.
2:32 :- Number 1 son realises we have long walk to ground. Trying to be cool I offer shoulder carry
2:45:- At the ground, explain to number 1 Son that turnstile is not scary and that gate thing won't eat him (doesn't work)
2:46:- Persuade steward that number 1 Son is convinced turnstile will eat him can he let us through exit gate (doesn't work)
2:47:- Risking permanent mental damage force Number 1 son through 'evil' turnstile and we are in.
2:48:- Toilet stop needed due to turnstile induced terror (number 1 Son needs to go also)
2:55:- Teams come out, opposition fans make a noise. Number 1 Son learns first swear word.
3:00:- Game starts. Number 1 Son drops his drink. After apologising to old guy sitting in front of his for dyeing his hair with Pepsi go and seek replacement
3:05:- Return to discover that leaving Number 1 Son with 'Big Andy' was not a good idea as he now knows correct usage of swear word learnt at 2:55
3:12:- The Addicks come close to scoring, crowd jump up, Number 1 son falls off seat and is trampled slightly. Old guy in front gets second apology due to recurrence of hair dye incident during the melee.
3:17:- First yellow card, Number 1 Son learns something about Graham Poll.
3:37:- GOAL, Benty bangs it in. Dad neglects his parental responsibility for a few seconds. Number 1 Son found slumped over scary lady with ginger hair two rows in front
3:45:- Half time. Number 1 Son has recovered from his ordeal and needs the toilet
4:10:- Out of the toilet, would have been quicker but number 1 Son can't do wee wee standing up.
4:28:- Red Card, penalty. 1-1, El Karkouri diving in again. Number 1 Son learns another bunch of new words
4:40:- People start leaving despite us hitting the woodwork three times since the equaliser. Number 1 Son learns what happens when some early leaver treads on my foot.
4:46:- GOAL, someone from a corner, Hermann I think, 2-1. Go mental again. Number 1 Son ready for it this time and jumps two rows onto scary ginger without me needing to throw him.
4:52:-Full time. Wait to show Number 1 Son Powell's post victory celebration. He says Power Rangers is better
5:10:- Back at car. Once again Hakuna Matata wins the day.
6:05:- Back home. Number 1 Son told not to demonstrate his new found vocabulary to mummy.
6:06:- Number 1 Son ignores suggestions, I'm am now sleeping in the spare room.
Make sure you tell her about the noise in advance. It can be quite overwhelming, and is one of the main reasons I haven’t tried taking my 5 year old daughter yet.
If you were going to the Valley I’d suggest starting her somewhere more peaceful like the Upper West, although she might end up sleeping through the second half.
dont even think about taking a young child to a footy game,it will ruin your day
Thats the only way I am trusted to go!!!With my 9 and 6y/o minders,luckily they have good knowledge of the grounds and the rail network and get me home in one piece after a few lagers!!
Occasionally take my 6 y.o. He doesn't get it all and I have to take the DS. But he's still keen to go and gets annoyed when I just take his sister. He often misses goals etc, but is actually OK with it. I think 4 is prob too early to take someone regularly, but kids respond to different things and can get stuff out of it that you don't realise as an adult. (Mine love it when the fish come on the screen and everyone goes "fiiiiissshhh")
I'm sure from the comments already posted on here that you will have an idea on how to prepare yourself for the day. It's difficult at such a young age as you will need to keep your daughter amused but also let her enjoy the experience of being in a different enviroment. I Found that when i first started taking my daughter she would switch off during ther game and this is because she didn't really know what was going on but was happy to be at the valley with me. Don't be frustratred if you have to leave early but take it as a positive and i'm sure she will want to go again the food and drinks made it a lot more enjoyable and this was a plus for another visit.
Could be difficult for you and the noise might also be a problem for her, Patience and knowing if you should leave is good rather than make her sit through a game and be uncomfortable for you and people sitting around you.
My Daughter now really enjoys going and insists on going north stand upper(Covered End) and Loves away games. Loves supporting the local team and the whole matchday experience,doesn't mind reminding her school MAN U/ARSENAL/CHELSEA sky mates that she actually goes to see a live game so it can work out.
So I am just back from the match and I am pleased (and somewhat surprised) to say that my daughter lasted the entire 90 minutes without asking to go home.
Admittedly when I asked her afterwards what her favorite part of the evening was her response was "the tiger (mascot) and the apple pie at half time". She was also enjoying the bright half moon over Farum Stadium. In fact she pretty much noticed everything that was going on around her except the 22 men running around kicking a ball! Well, that was until midway through the second half when FC Nordsjælland (the home team) woke up and scored the 1st of 3 goals in a 10 minute spell. She didn't really know what to make of all the noise and thought it was all a bit too loud but it seems, at least, it wasn't enough to put her off. Final score 3-0.
She told me afterwards that she had enjoyed herself and would like to bring her friends next time. No chance! :-)
Thanks everyone for your advice which I took onboard (plenty of sweets, Nintendo DS, etc, etc). It felt great to take my little girl to her first ever football match.
Sounds like she enjoyed herself...I think these days the parents probably worry more about what the kid(s) might pick up.
Always helps having some sort of mascot there!
Fortunately FCN are very much a family club and they really look after their young fans. Of course there will always be one or two idiots but the Danes are usually fairly well behaved and the disgraceful scenes we saw at the Sheff Wed/Leeds game this evening would never happen here.
...Admittedly when I asked her afterwards what her favorite part of the evening was her response was "the tiger (mascot) and the apple pie at half time"...
Glad to hear it went well DK. That line above reminded me of when my eldest (now 18) went to an early game. For some reason, we arrived late and I was worried about missing some of the action. When the time reached 3pm and we still weren't in our seats he burst into tears. I explained to him that it was ok because the game lasts for 90 minutes and we'd still see most of it. To which he replied, "but we've missed The Red Red Robin".
Sounds like she enjoyed herself...I think these days the parents probably worry more about what the kid(s) might pick up.
Always helps having some sort of mascot there!
Fortunately FCN are very much a family club and they really look after their young fans. Of course there will always be one or two idiots but the Danes are usually fairly well behaved and the disgraceful scenes we saw at the Sheff Wed/Leeds game this evening would never happen here.
I've been taking my daughter to games -- professional and amateur, domestic and overseas -- since she was two (her sister has already started going at age 1). She's always given the option of going or not going at her leisure and the odds are generally 50/50 as to how she feels that day. I've yet to have a bad experience and don't feel I've pushed my luck, nor, obviously, that it is inappropriate for young children to be at matches. Moreover, my profit on it is that Saturday morning cartoons are generally preempted by watching Charlton or EPL games together on the television.
Comments
Charlton are a family club and so, as a father I thought it best to keep up that tradition and take my son to his first game. What follows is how I imagine that game will go
1:30 :- Number 1 son and I start journey. First stop is to pick up fellow supporters.
1:32 :- Back home. Number 1 son needs the toilet.
1:35 :- Back in car, we are finally underway.
1:36 :- First argument. Saturday tradition is listen to the radio on the way to the match. Number 1 Son wants Lion king soundtrack on, or failing that puff the magic dragon.
1:37 :- First argument ends shortly followed by first tears. Hakuna Matata wins the day
1:45:- First pickup, second toilet stop
2:15:- Stuck in traffic. Number 1 Son is hungry, realise I have forgotten chocolate buttons.
2:30 :- Just parked, chocolate button crisis averted by pointing out pile of fly tipped rubbish, 4 year old are easily pleased.
2:32 :- Number 1 son realises we have long walk to ground. Trying to be cool I offer shoulder carry
2:32 (and twenty second):- Shoulder carry ends (due to terminal unfitness)
2:45:- At the ground, explain to number 1 Son that turnstile is not scary and that gate thing won't eat him (doesn't work)
2:46:- Persuade steward that number 1 Son is convinced turnstile will eat him can he let us through exit gate (doesn't work)
2:47:- Risking permanent mental damage force Number 1 son through 'evil' turnstile and we are in.
2:48:- Toilet stop needed due to turnstile induced terror (number 1 Son needs to go also)
2:55:- Teams come out, opposition fans make a noise. Number 1 Son learns first swear word.
3:00:- Game starts. Number 1 Son drops his drink. After apologising to old guy sitting in front of his for dyeing his hair with Pepsi go and seek replacement
3:05:- Return to discover that leaving Number 1 Son with 'Big Andy' was not a good idea as he now knows correct usage of swear word learnt at 2:55
3:12:- The Addicks come close to scoring, crowd jump up, Number 1 son falls off seat and is trampled slightly. Old guy in front gets second apology due to recurrence of hair dye incident during the melee.
3:17:- First yellow card, Number 1 Son learns something about Graham Poll.
3:37:- GOAL, Benty bangs it in. Dad neglects his parental responsibility for a few seconds. Number 1 Son found slumped over scary lady with ginger hair two rows in front
3:45:- Half time. Number 1 Son has recovered from his ordeal and needs the toilet
4:10:- Out of the toilet, would have been quicker but number 1 Son can't do wee wee standing up.
4:28:- Red Card, penalty. 1-1, El Karkouri diving in again. Number 1 Son learns another bunch of new words
4:40:- People start leaving despite us hitting the woodwork three times since the equaliser. Number 1 Son learns what happens when some early leaver treads on my foot.
4:46:- GOAL, someone from a corner, Hermann I think, 2-1. Go mental again. Number 1 Son ready for it this time and jumps two rows onto scary ginger without me needing to throw him.
4:52:-Full time. Wait to show Number 1 Son Powell's post victory celebration. He says Power Rangers is better
5:10:- Back at car. Once again Hakuna Matata wins the day.
6:05:- Back home. Number 1 Son told not to demonstrate his new found vocabulary to mummy.
6:06:- Number 1 Son ignores suggestions, I'm am now sleeping in the spare room.
If you were going to the Valley I’d suggest starting her somewhere more peaceful like the Upper West, although she might end up sleeping through the second half.
LOL - great line from oohaah (who else?)
Could be difficult for you and the noise might also be a problem for her, Patience and knowing if you should leave is good rather than make her sit through a game and be uncomfortable for you and people sitting around you.
My Daughter now really enjoys going and insists on going north stand upper(Covered End) and Loves away games. Loves supporting the local team and the whole matchday experience,doesn't mind reminding her school MAN U/ARSENAL/CHELSEA sky mates that she actually goes to see a live game so it can work out.
Enjoy your game.
Admittedly when I asked her afterwards what her favorite part of the evening was her response was "the tiger (mascot) and the apple pie at half time". She was also enjoying the bright half moon over Farum Stadium. In fact she pretty much noticed everything that was going on around her except the 22 men running around kicking a ball! Well, that was until midway through the second half when FC Nordsjælland (the home team) woke up and scored the 1st of 3 goals in a 10 minute spell. She didn't really know what to make of all the noise and thought it was all a bit too loud but it seems, at least, it wasn't enough to put her off. Final score 3-0.
She told me afterwards that she had enjoyed herself and would like to bring her friends next time. No chance! :-)
Thanks everyone for your advice which I took onboard (plenty of sweets, Nintendo DS, etc, etc). It felt great to take my little girl to her first ever football match.
Fk
Always helps having some sort of mascot there!
I've been taking my daughter to games -- professional and amateur, domestic and overseas -- since she was two (her sister has already started going at age 1). She's always given the option of going or not going at her leisure and the odds are generally 50/50 as to how she feels that day. I've yet to have a bad experience and don't feel I've pushed my luck, nor, obviously, that it is inappropriate for young children to be at matches. Moreover, my profit on it is that Saturday morning cartoons are generally preempted by watching Charlton or EPL games together on the television.