What age to you take DC with you to rock concerts?

[notpodd]

DD1 wants me to take her to some of the concerts I'm going to this summer. She is 7. I would obviously protect her ears appropriately, but should a 7 year old being going to a rock concert?

Depends what kind, I'd have thought - if it's an outdoors festival type thing, then there are usually loads of children there - just stay back a bit and away from the speakers, and ear protectors are probably a good idea. I'd be a bit more wary of an indoor event at that age, but it depends on the band and likely audience - seated, all standing, will she be able to see anything without being on your shoulders? A friend of mine took her daughter to see an indy girl band when she was 7 and she loved it.

Depends.

My ds went to Biffy Clyro at 9. He wore ear defenders and we were sitting down. I think standing would be too scary for anyone significantly shorter than most of the people round about - I;'m 5'3 and know what I'm talking about.

Also depends on how gutted you would be if she didnt like it and you had to leave!

Valid point on the being able to see thing - hadn't thought of that (I'm 5' 8"). She especially wants to see the Kings of Leon, which is in Hyde Park. There is no seating at all, but we could stand really far back so she could watch on the screen. We also have to take the train, so its a 2 hour commute each way... Seeker - I think I'd be more gutted about the cost than anything else if she wanted to go home after 5 minutes :)

I've taken my 2 slighty older children to various things at the O2 and at smaller outdoor things but it was bands THEY wanted to see (not exactly my taste!) so the audience was mostly kids and parents. I would hesitate to take them to more "adult" bands on the grounds of appropriateness and also the other audience members - my 2 get quite alarmed at lary / drunken behaviour and might get scared if they saw that kind of thing. I would think this is highly likely at a Hyde PArk gig!