in thinking Children should never be taken to a demonstration.

[Tokyotwist]

I keep seeing children in the crowds of demonstrators on the news at the moment.

While I support peoples right to demonstrate, I have never understood why anyone would take their child to something that could so easily become violent.

Even in the UK, I think this is highly irresponsible.

And I just don't believe that the child (particularly very young ones), have chosen to go because they strongly/passionately believe in the cause.

I went on lots of demonstrationsas a young child during the eighties. I don't ever remember seeing any violence or feeling threatened at all. But obviously parents need to pick where they take children to carefully and go at the first sign of any trouble.

On the news you often see only the demonstrations or parts of demonstrations that turn violent. People who want violence often start this after the official demonstration has come to an end. But with every demo I have ever been o, I have never seen any violence and only pushing on 1 (except maybe on news afterwards).

Demos that attract lots of people are often more like a large crowd at any event i.e. at a large event you may have a few people who cause problems, but the majority of people are totally unaware there has ever been a problem.

In this country its not so bad because both demonstrators and the authorities (as a rule)have a policy of non-violence. When you see news reports from other countries where police are resorting to violence and tear gas to control crowds of demonstrators I do start to wonder WTF those parents were thinking putting their children in danger like that.

I have only every experienced one. It was not in this country and I was not actually demonstrating, just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I ended up being tear gassed and running in abs fear as the police shot rubber bullets in to the crowd.

It was not an experience I would want to repeat. I understand why people demonstrate and admire them for doing so. I just don't understand why people take their kids along. Even the most peaceful of demonstrations can go wrong.

No, I don't think children should be taken on demos. You never know when one is going to turn from peaceful protest to riot, not worth the risk.

i used to go to EIS rallies and strikes with my mum, i plan to take my DS to them when we finally get around to it...

I've taken my children to several demos and marches, never had a problem and I would have no qualms about taking them again.

I went to lots of demos when I was younger. We often went with another family and we'd have a fantastic time. The only violence I ever saw was the police beating up a woman.

I think it's really important for children to see what their parents are passionate about, even if they later decide they disagree, and for them to see how people use their right to peaceful protest.

When I have kids I will definitely take them to demonstrations! :)

Nothing wrong with taking kids to demos (and as they get older letting them decide if they want to go).

You usually can tell when and if a demo is going to get violent or dangerous - you wouldn't put your family in that part of the crowd that is out for a fight.

The majority of demonstators are peaceful. You also get violence and crowd control dangers at football matches - should children never go to sporting events either?

TBH taking children to a demo is no different to taking them to any public event with lots of people e.g. fairs, festivals, firework displays, sporting events, etc. There are a very small no of demos that you know will probably be unsafe, so I wouldn't go to them never mind take kids.

But in most cases demos are no more risky than taking children anywhere where there are large crowds of people. If you wouldn't take your kids to any of these events than fair enough. Otherwise you ABU to single out demos.

Totally different abroad. I would avoid visiting anywhere where I thought there might be a demo. Some countries treat demonstrators very violently and of course I wouldn't trake kids anywhere near situations like these.

Agree with previous posters.
Always take mine to demos too (and blockades, and protest camps)
She does enjoy the socialisation (often the same bunch of kids), the solidarity, the easy chat between people, and sometimes the party atmosphere and freedom on camps and blockades.
Obviously, my level of participation and where I stand/sit is not quite the same when she's with me as when she's not. And when you know what's going on and you have an ounce of common sense, you know exactly where not to go with your child or when it might be appropriate to leave !

I find it really important to involve her in my activism, and dd is aware of a lot of issues and ideas that most kids her age are either not aware of or only get input on by the tv.
Also find it important that she knows that many people stand for what they believe, don't always compromise by trying to justify injustice and don't just sit there moaning at their tv.

She doesn't watch tv as we don't have one, but I'm very glad that when she does she won't be blindly believing all the crap that's on the news prejudiced as she has often heard many a creative debate on such or such issue and has come to meet and like a huge variety of people... yes even some of those that tv happily portrays as violent thugs and who are treated as such by a not-always-fair-police, but that she knows to be very considerate and lovely people (who just happen to disagree with capitalism!).

Stop watching tv and try things out for yourself.... you'll realise that tv does NOT equals reality, and yes yes even (especially) the news !!!

I intended to go to a demo of sorts last week but DD was ill. It was a shame, I would like my children to be aware of political action, means to change, differing opinions etc.
We wouldn't be chucking fire extinguishers and charging the police FGS!

A 2 year old child was shot and killed at the Bahrain demos during the last week.

i know it is not the same as demos in the uk as our police are not going to be firing live rounds into the crowd but i still wouldn't take a child under 13.

I was practically raised at demos and have never seen any violence. Would take mind without qualms.

i was taken and so are my children.i think its nice to see your parents standing up for what they believe in.ive never seen violence.

I was going to take DD to student demos but decided not to (correct call) can't really imagine taking her ever now water cannons have been okayed.

It's very sad, democracy is about more than voting every 5 years - and peaceful protestors shouldn't be scared to take their children because of police reactions.

I disagree. I think that children should have some concept of the world outside their own house. Ovbiously no sane parent would deliberately take their child to a demo that was likely to turn nasty, nor would they stay for long if the demo did unexpectedly turn nasty.

Our own children have fond memories of walking down the streets of central London during the anti-war demo ten years ago when they were 8, 6 and 4.

I have never been to a demo, nor do I want to. I certainly would not take a child to one either. Not really much fun for a kid is it.

Great fun for ours. I think some people are active and others not. I just checked and it was in fact in February 2003 so our children were 9, 7 and 5. There were between 750,000 and 1 million in the streets of London and there were virtually no incidents at all (according to the police themselves). It was extremely well organised and marshalled (thank you Metropolitan Police) and frankly my children could hardly have been safer in Central London as there was no traffic whatsoever.

We've taken DD on local demos.

I would be more concerned about taking her to a massive demo in London where kettling may be employed by the police. I believe some school children at the student protests were distressed after being kettled in for several hours, unable to leave to use the loo, get a drink etc :(

"A 2 year old child was shot and killed at the Bahrain demos during the last week.

i know it is not the same as demos in the uk as our police are not going to be firing live rounds into the crowd but i still wouldn't take a child under 13."

Why the age restriction?

squeakytoy - how do you know it's not much fun for a kid? I think it's the sort of thing I woudl love to hvae been involved in as a child, and would be taking my 7.5yo and 6yo to the MWR March in a couple of weeks, if it weren't for the fact I'm getting a weekend off instead!