To take 11 year old to a ‘big’ concert

[SliceoQuiche]

My son will be 11 in September and has very much inherited our love of rock and metal music.
His favourite band is Shinedown; he’s a proper little fan and has asked for at least 3 years if I’ll take him to see them one day.
They’re playing in the U.K. in December and I’m wondering if it would be inappropriate to take him. We’d have to be seated
given the rules of the venue, and there’d be two adults and him so we could keep an eye with crowds etc.
How old were you/your children when they first went to a big gig? AIBU to be considering taking him?
(FWIW someone asked if I’d feel the same had he had an interest in seeing say, Steps or Ed Sheeran, and I admit, it wouldn’t have even crossed my mind not to..)

My daughter went to her first concert aged 5

100% take him!

I went to my first gig at like 12 unaccompanied and standing. Honestly I thought I would die it was brilliant.

Seated with two parents he'll be fine. Maybe you might need some convos before or afterwards about alcohol consumption etc if you think there will be proper wasted people. That's OK though.

He’ll never forget it, go!

I’ve been taking DS from about 8. Just take him, I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t.

Last Metallica concert I went to had loads of toddlers there.....searing obviously they had a whale of a time.

There was some sort of posh standing area right by the stage, (( basically with space, not all.rammed in )) that also had younger kids in. So yes. Go for it.

Absolutely take him if the rules allow, I went to see Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer the other night and there was an age restriction of 14 plus with an adult. There were loads of teenagers at the gig and they looked to be having an incredible time. I think the age limit was probably language related as there was a bit of swearing but nothing else

Think both mine were around 9 for full arena concerts. I would.

My kids are 7, 9, 12 and 14 and I can’t wait for the older 3to go to their first concerts. As your friend said though eg steps I’d be running in, but I don’t know the band you’re talking about- it depends on how tough the crowd and or band would be

We've been taking ours for a while. Think eldest was 8 when we took her to see Blink and last week we were at the Hella Mega tour with her (now 13) and our 9 yo.

They were fine, definitely weren't the only ones, and I've loved watching them experience their first gigs that didn't feature their Dad's band 😆

We've found folk to be really friendly and accommodating when we've taken them.

12 was my first rock concert.

Mind you family are musicians.

Seen plenty of young ones backstage watching parents, why not in the crowd.
Take him, he'll love it.

Just don't be too close to the PA system.

Do it. Took my dd to see Justin Bieber when she was 10. She loved it!

Check the age limit for the specific venue to make sure children are allowed, but otherwise yes, I'd absolutely take him.

My 15yo went with her dad too her first gig - the Green Day one that a PP mentioned. She is now completely hooked!

Absolutely take him! 🙂

Obviously Dave Grohl spends three hours calling everyone Motherfuckers in between the best songs ever. So prep your DS and don't be too shocked if the language gets repeated to Grandparents when they asks about the concert. Have fun!

Haha, we (the adults mind, not my son!) were meant to be seeing the Foos tomorrow before their shows got cancelled- quite partial to a bit of Dave Grohl motherfuckery 😁

If the age restrictions allow it, then definitely! We've taken our DCs to festivals from a very early age (DD1 was 3.5 months at her first but she obviously has no memories of that!) and they've loved it. You just need to be aware of drunk wobbly people and over-enthusiastic dancers, and explain they/their ears will thank you in later life for preventing them hugging the speakers 😬
FWIW I was still going to punk gigs up to 7.5 months pregnant with DD1. I just found a bit of space at the back amongst the Dullsville non-dancing beard-stroking middle-aged mens' music appreciation society to have a restrained bounce and dance. I had no problems.