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Original poster

At what age is it acceptable to take children to professional sporting events?

27 replies

LondonPapa · 31/05/2023 13:00

As the title says, at what age is it acceptable to take children to professional sporting events such as Rugby, Ice Hockey, etc.?

My DD is 19 months old, and, recently, I wanted to take her to a few Ice Hockey games, but my DP thought she was too young and would find it over-stimulating/too much to handle. I disagreed but didn't force the issue, as there is always next season, and I still went to them.

But I wanted to see if there is a consensus on the best age to start taking children to professional sporting events. Is there a consensus?

OP posts:
RunningFromInsanity · 31/05/2023 13:12

Why do you want to take her?

If it’s because you want to go and don’t have anyone to watch her, then I think it’s fine if you get ear protectors.

If you are taking her because you think she will enjoy it then leave her at home as she won’t.

FlounderingFruitcake · 31/05/2023 13:14

When they are old enough to know where they are, understand the game being played and well past having tantrums so as not to ruin it for any genuine fans. Which is definitely not 19 months. Everyone I know starts at about age 5 or 6 and amongst our friends in the UK it’s usually rugby or 100 cricket. In the US baseball is the better one for families as it’s daytime. Whenever I’ve been to an NHL game it was evening and quite boozy so I probably wouldn’t take a child until they’re preteen age. Maybe it’s different in the UK though? I don’t really follow it as a sport but used to get free ticket through work sometimes!

DelurkingAJ · 31/05/2023 13:16

We took DS2 as a baby to the rugby. He was in a sling and slept almost throughout. If he’d screamed I’d have removed him.

Cricket, took DS2 for the first time aged 6 and he had a ball. And certainly wasn’t the youngest at the T20.

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LolaSmiles · 31/05/2023 13:18

Either when they're young enough to be settled for most of it with appropriate ear protection, or once they're old enough to behave in an appropriate way for the event and venue.

There's probably a bit in the middle of those two camps where it's not worth doing.

GoalShooter · 31/05/2023 13:20

I don't think she'd be over stimulated, but at 19 months wouldn't she just want to run around rather than sit in her seat? I think 3yo would be the youngest I'd attempt it for that reason.

declutteringmymind · 31/05/2023 13:21

Look out for family tickets/events o match days. Very family friendly.

Simonjt · 31/05/2023 13:21

As soon as you want, my son has been going since he was 18 months old, our daughter since about four months old.

SheilaFentiman · 31/05/2023 13:22

Wimbledon has a lower age limit of 5 which seemed about right - ds1 was fine at this age.

Took DS2 to the warm ups for the 2012 games when he was two and a bit, which were family friendly events, and he was pretty bored tbh. I wouldn’t have taken him to the main games.

So I would agree with your DH here

SheilaFentiman · 31/05/2023 13:23

Sorry, your DP, not your DH, just clicked your user name

Reugny · 31/05/2023 13:24

Depends on the sport and the kid.

My DD went to see a football match live when she was 3 and enjoyed it. However she had seen it on the TV and saw that people watched it live. She wants to go and watch more matches. (I've seen young kids at rugby matches as well however DD has no interest in watching it so I won't take her.)

She has seen tennis but has no interest in it, there as I've watched tennis live and there have been kids 7+ there. However the kids played the sport.

SheilaFentiman · 31/05/2023 13:25

I think outdoor daytime events like athletics are a better starting point. Also less echoey noise

AlltheFs · 31/05/2023 13:26

Depends.
DD has been eventing with me since she was little, but it’s outdoors in a field so she disturbs no-one and there’s plenty to entertain her. I wouldn’t have taken her to a football stadium.

nobodygoesdowninthejungle · 31/05/2023 13:35

I'd say 19 mths is about the worst possible age! Mobile, vocal, not interested in the sport and no respect for their surroundings.
Each of our DC went to sports events as ebf newborns and that was fine. We then waiited until DC2 was 4 before taking him to a Premier League game. We had snacks, sticker books & all sorts but actually he watched every moment avidly.

JaninaDuszejko · 31/05/2023 13:36

I think it depends on the venue and how big the crowd is. I'd not make her first trip to a big event with massive crowds or a likelihood of fireworks. Somewhere it's easy to get away if she's bored or scared or unhappy and somewhere that was cheap enough that you are happy to leave if she's not enjoying it.

FWIW I think this is true of any cultural event. DD2 would freak out as a toddler when the lights dimmed in theatres so we missed a couple of performances when we had to take her out, but since they were kids shows and tickets were cheap it wasn't too disappointing.

Original poster
LondonPapa · 01/06/2023 15:09

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses. You've all raised good points and I'm happy to leave it until she is 3 and go from there. She's very good at the children's theatre, for example, but they're a lot more interactive too than being in the stands of an ice hockey game or rugby match.

It is a shame as I'd love to get her into the sports as soon as possible but I suppose a year wait won't hurt in the long run :)

Thanks again.

OP posts:
gogohmm · 01/06/2023 15:13

Dd2 went to the baseball at 2 weeks old, she still loves sports!

gogohmm · 01/06/2023 15:15

Should say we took both through childhood to sports, but dd going as a baby I remember specifically because they put her name on the screen with the happy birthdays, literally in her case

Coffeaddict · 01/06/2023 15:28

LondonPapa · 01/06/2023 15:09

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses. You've all raised good points and I'm happy to leave it until she is 3 and go from there. She's very good at the children's theatre, for example, but they're a lot more interactive too than being in the stands of an ice hockey game or rugby match.

It is a shame as I'd love to get her into the sports as soon as possible but I suppose a year wait won't hurt in the long run :)

Thanks again.

Just because you like it it doesn't mean they will.

DP has bought DSS to both rugby and football at various ages and watched some matches with him at home. He is just not into it at all. Next door neighbours kid (11 same age as DSS) is football mad 🤣🤷‍♀️

Coffeaddict · 01/06/2023 15:30

Sorry sent that too early. Meant to say it massively depends on the child. Baby in sling would be fine, older it varies by child. My 3 yo is incapable of sitting still so would be a nightmare at a sporting event but he has some friends that would be able to manage it

Scont · 01/06/2023 15:38

Ive taken mine to football since just after birth, sling, ear defenders and all were fine. I think all learnt some interesting words and phrases at an early age 😂

DogsAndBirds · 01/06/2023 15:57

We have been taking our son to icehockey games since he was 5 months old - recently attending all the GB games with circa 7500 fans. He has ear defenders but isn't massively keen on wearing them so usually only wears them for part of the game before it becomes impossible to keep them on him. He will happily watch 1-2 periods sat on our laps and then often sleeps the remaining part of the game.

DogsAndBirds · 01/06/2023 16:00

I should add he was 6.5 months at the GB ice hockey games - he has also been taken to watch the cricket and will be at the T20 this week 🤷‍♀️ We are of the opinion that life doesn't stop because you have a baby and so they sometimes have to fit in with what you want to do :)

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 01/06/2023 16:24

I know a baby who went to an ice hockey match at less than a week old. Good for her mum!

We took DS to the Tour de France prologue and some associated exhibition racing when he was 9 months old.

LlynTegid · 01/06/2023 16:28

I agree about 3 is probably a suitable age. Unless it is to see Manchester United when you have no connection to the area (like about 99% of the Old Trafford tourists), when 103 might be a bit young.

I'd make an exception for a younger child, if a family member was playing (or refereeing), though this reminds me of a young child who was at a match where his dad was playing, was bored, out came the iPad and a favourite game, said child was so absorbed he missed his dad scoring twice!!

DappledThings · 01/06/2023 16:31

Really depends on the sport and the venue. We've taken ours to cricket from tiny through toddler and older but at smaller grounds with no fixed seating so we can wander about. Canterbury is great for this. When DS was 3 he was allowed to sit on the big roller and was thrilled.

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