Tailgating is an experience that can be loads of fun regardless of how old you are. If you have kids, it doesn’t mean that you have to give up tailgating with the guys. In fact, taking the kids along can make for a unique experience that you never dreamed you could have. Here are a few things to consider before taking the kids to their first tailgating experience:
Keep it Age Appropriate
When you take the kids to a tailgate party, it’s important that you choose age appropriate surroundings if possible. This isn’t the time to take the kids to the local frat tailgate party with multiple kegs of beer and profanity. There are usually several family friendly areas at most big tailgate parties that will be perfect for the kids. Ideally, you should try to take them to areas that aren’t going to have massive amounts of alcohol, very loud music, and other things that may be generally unsafe for kids. That doesn’t mean the adults can’t have a drink or two, just make sure it doesn’t get out of hand.
Activities
Although just sitting around grilling and talking may be a blast for you, many kids will not have a good time doing this. You’ll probably need to make sure that there are some kid-friendly activities to do while you’re there. For instance, you might go to an area of the tailgate that has bouncy houses or other games that the kids can play. Bringing a football along so that they can play catch is a good idea as well.
Make it Portable
When you have kids along, you never know when you’re going to have to pack up and leave. A kid could get sick or need to go immediately for whatever reason. When that happens, you don’t want to be burdened with a bunch of stuff that you can’t move. For instance, you might want to have a gameday rolling cooler on hand so that you can simply put everything in it and roll it away if you need to go suddenly. When everything is easy to move, it makes your job as a parent that much simpler when it’s time to go.
Overall, just relax and have a good time. Kids aren’t small for very long, so enjoy the time that you’ve got with them at the game. You can make memories that will last a lifetime.
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Very good article. By heeding your suggestions, both the adults and the children will be able to enjoy their day out comfortably.
I’ve never attended a tailgating party. I imagine it would be great fun for kids. But like you said, they aren’t into sitting around talking and people watching…gotta have games and activities for them.
love reading this post thanks for the ideas
I think it might be fun to bring kids to a tailgate party, well one that was kid friendly anyway.
Great tips!
I have never been tailgating myself but would love to I think kids any age except for infant and toddlers would be fun to take to one
So fun for you! Great post!
…and watch out for the rowdy drunks around your kiddos
As long as there are things for kids, they can enjoy the tailgate too, great post thanks 🙂
great ideas, it is nice to include the whole family. Thanks for the tips!
great idea ,going to try might make them more active.
It would be fun to have a tailgate party that involves kids. I agree there would definitely have to be some fun activities so they would enjoy the experience. I think it would be neat to do face painting, make signs for the game, play football, have fun food they can make and eat. I really like your idea of using a rolling cooler so if you have to leave quickly it won’t be a big deal. Thank you for the great post!
I’ve never attended a tailgate party, but you bring up some very valid points and love the activities section to help keep them from getting bored!
im a mother of 3 and would be terrified of the madness that might follow of taking 3 children to any kind of party lol..you are a brave soul
I’ve never attended a tailgate party, either — they’re not very common here in Canada. But they look like fun!
I have not ever been to a tailgate party either. As long as they arent around alot of alcohol and bad language. Finding fun things for them to do if they get bored with the whole thing is the best idea.
sounds like a lot of fun.. i remember taking my kids to things like that.. then when they turn into teenagers you cant get them to go anywhere with you lol
Love your blog!
What great information on how to successfully take your kids tailgating so both they and you can enjoy it! Thank you
Good information. This can help it be fun for everyone.
Sounds like it could be a fun experience, we havent trieit with our son yet.
I love tailgate parties and our kids (and our friends kids) were often included and we always had a great time 🙂
This is a nice idea, my husband tailgates with his friends but perhaps we can do one with just us and the kids – sounds like fun.
sounds like a fun idea
I’ve never even been to a tailgate party.