I have been attending K-State football games for 30 years. I lived the “greatest turnaround in college football history,” attended bowl games, pep rallies, tailgates and had a closet full of purple for my entire childhood. We still have season tickets today with my parents, making the trek six or seven weekends in the fall to Manhattan. We don’t do fall sports or activities–we do K-State football.
When our first son was wearable, games with him were fun. We even made the trip to the Cotton Bowl and he was the cutest little Wildcat there ever was. But then he got older and needed things like a potty, snacks, and room to roam. Playing “I spy the mascot” was fun for a few quarters until it just wasn’t anymore.
Now we have three kids ages 3, 5, and 8. They usually attend one or two games a year… or more accurately, a few first halves, and then go to a babysitter the rest of the season. If you’re thinking of bringing your kids to a college football game, whether you’re a regular in the stands or going back for homecoming, here are some things to consider.
This post is about having fun at a game with your kids, so to be clear, there are some situations where it’s just not in the cards. I can promise you no fun if you attempt the following:
- Attending with potty training toddlers. The bathroom is no doubt 120 steep steps up and when you get there, you’ll find the line of all lines. Unless you’re a dad, because the men’s restroom is some sort of vortex of bathroom efficiency.
- You have kids who can’t control their legs. Every other phrase out of my mouth when attending with kids is “put your feet down.” “Stop kicking him.” “Do you even SEE that other person in front of us?!”
- It’s raining or snowing. Nobody likes sitting in spitting rain for four hours watching players fumble slippery balls, but kids and ponchos for an extended period of time just don’t mix. You can’t make it fun, don’t even try it.
- It’s cold–or hot. We went to a game last year when the wind chill was in single digits. No, we didn’t have kids with us–this isn’t our first rodeo. The same goes for triple digits. There’s no pride in being the fan who gets carried out by first aid for heat stroke. It’s probably best to follow temperature guidelines of 65 to 75 degrees. No more, no less.
But … loyal fans are indoctrinated early.
There is nothing that brings me greater joy than a toddler voice singing the fight song with the confidence of a true Wildcat. Or their passionate distrust of strangers with Jayhawk shirts. And, what better place to show them how amazing college will be when they move to Manhattan and live with their grandparents while working hard to keep their full-ride scholarships?
Here’s how we make it work:
- Pump them up! When possible, we attend Purple Power Play, the K-State pre-season pep rally. This gives them a taste of what to expect and drills the fight song into their moldable little brains. Seriously though, we teach them the cheers, the songs, the traditions. When it works out, we bring them to tailgates and experience the glory that is a college football Saturday.
- Know the rules. Many venues now require all bags to be clear and within strict size limitations. Amazon has lots of options that are approved by the powers that be.
- Water bottles. Most venues will also allow one sealed water bottle per person, and many have bottle filling stations around the stadium. Bring your kiddie cup and fill their bottle over and over for free!
- Snacks. Though technically no food is allowed to be brought into the stadium, I’ve never had a problem bringing in Goldfish crackers and applesauce pouches.
- Strollers. Ditch ’em. Some stadiums allow you an umbrella stroller you can fold down and store underneath the seats, but I promise you, it’s not worth it. Maneuvering the stroller through 50,000 people is not a stress you need.
- Mother’s Room/First Aid. Good places to locate on the map ahead of time. There were two seasons where I routinely watched the second quarter while pumping. In the end, I found it way easier to wear my infants and nurse in my seat.
- Look, there’s entertainment all around! I can’t explain the rules of football for four hours, so instead I take advantage of all the gimmicks. Who can find Willie the Wildcat? Do you see that huge tuba in the band section? How many cheerleaders can stack on top of each other? Why is the student section acting like they’ve had too much… sugar?! We also walk around a lot, find the kid play area, etc.
- Have the right attitude. Pre-season games are a great option for bringing littles. The game that clinches the title/determines bowl eligibility/biggest rival is maybe not the best choice. We go into games with kids knowing four quarters are not in our future. Accepting that ahead of time and remembering it’s just a game, helps us focus on the experience and family memories we’re creating.
When looking back over the last eight years, we’ve had so much fun introducing our kids to the college football traditions that have been the source of so many happy Saturdays. And even the ones that were less than ideal — a tornado warning, countless spilled hot chocolates, and a second quarter surrender — have become the stories they will tell of how they were true fans from day one.
