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Best Festivals for Toddlers – 2013
TweetThe toddler stage is possibly the most difficult age to do festivals, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done!
For really young kids we recommend small festivals, particularly if you are not an experienced festival-goer or camper. For a successful festival experience with toddlers you need space to run around or relax, less crowds, smaller distances between campsite, arena and carpark, a good selection of child-friendly food and a willingness to take things at your toddler’s pace (see also Naomi’s Top Tips for doing Festivals with Toddlers).
After much debate, we reckon this year’s best festivals for Under 5’s are:
What do children learn at festivals?
I love festivals, everyone knows that!
My reasons for going to them have over the years changed and my circumstances have certainly changed. Before it was all about me and my friends, now it’s not just about me and my friends; it’s also about my son and considering my reasons for taking him.
I want him to enjoy going to to festivals and have plenty of wonderful experiences from going, and from those experiences he can hopefully benefit every day.
At the grand old age of 3 (nearly 4) he already talks about and looks forward to his festival holidays. He is unaware of how much he learns from going to them, but such life experiences are hard to find elsewhere.
All this made me reflect on what those experiences can teach him? How can he develop from them?
I can see the light!
OK so it might not be Spring quite yet, but I am starting to feel the stirrings of excitement build in anticipation!
The last couple of weeks have been filled with festivals making announcements regarding headliners and line-ups, and I must confess I like the feeling that brings.
Although some parts of the country still have snow and Spring doesn’t officially get here until March 20th, it does feel as though there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.
Angel Gardens 2014
Angel Gardens create magical family spaces at festivals. We consist of a huge team of dedicated volunteers, children’s loos, cosy caravans and lots of beautiful Bell Tents.
This year Angel Gardens have looked at everything that parents need to help them get children through a weekend in a field as well as ensuring we have a good set of activities, workshops and entertainment that helps you work together as a family as well as learning new stuff as individuals.
Read more…
Trolley Tots – Hire a trolley wagon at a festival near you!
Trolley Tots are a friendly, festival-going family.
They’ve learned to take the fabulous British weather in their stride when it comes to festivals. Instead of worrying about muddy pushchairs they thought about solutions. This positive attitude is what got them using trolleys and now they want to share the good vibes with you!… Read more…
UK Festival Awards 2012
Thousands voted, shortlists were drawn up, and last night the winners were revealed at the UK Festival Awards…
The award for Best Family Festival 2012 went to… Read more…
The Bee Crèche at Shambala
A parent’s review of Moe’s Bee Crèche at Shambala 2012.
This was the first year that Moe had run the Bee Crèche at Shambala Festival, and I hope it’s not the last.
We have three children – a 5 year old and 2 year old twins. Even at a festival where there’s lots to occupy them everyday life is incredibly tiring, so given the chance for three hours off we grabbed it eagerly.
We went to have a look round the crèche on the Friday morning – we were allowed to take the children in and to see how we felt about it. Read more…
Good Coffee and Bottle-Feeding!
For my recent trip to VW Whitenoise, I took the opportunity to test and review two products which I felt would be an asset to family camping and festivalling. Read more…
Inspired by creativity and exploration
Today I took my children along to Toddler Imps on the Green, an outdoor creativity and play session at the beautiful Fair Green in Diss, Norfolk.
Run by Rachel Baker, a former primary school teacher with a passion for learning through exploration and creativity, Imps provide creative play experiences for under 5s and their parents, as well training and workshops for early years practitioners and Big Days In for early years settings.
This morning’s session was aimed at Toddler Imps, 18 months to 3 years but as it was the school holidays there were older children at the session as well as babies and toddlers and every child I saw at the session was engaged, involved and having a wonderful time.
Marvin the sheep in festival heaven!
Anyone with kids of a certain age will be very familiar with the adorable Marvin the Sheep and his loving friend Molly. I must’ve read the gorgeously illustrated children’s book ‘Marvin Wanted More’ to my pair nearly every night for several years!
Since then Marvin has been getting into all sorts of adventures and, in his latest story book ‘Marvin and Molly’… Marvin ends up at a festival in search of some ‘special things’.
Marvin and Molly had my kids giggling away, and we think it is a great little book to read with your kids before taking them to their first festival, as well as to read after you have been to help remind them of their festival fun! Or you can just read it anyway – it’s a sweet storyline about friendship, growing up, and the importance of being yourself and allowing yourself to be a little bit crazy.
Best Festivals for Toddlers – 2013
The toddler stage is possibly the most difficult age to do festivals, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be done!
For really young kids we recommend small festivals, particularly if you are not an experienced festival-goer or camper. For a successful festival experience with toddlers you need space to run around or relax, less crowds, smaller distances between campsite, arena and carpark, a good selection of child-friendly food and a willingness to take things at your toddler’s pace (see also Naomi’s Top Tips for doing Festivals with Toddlers).
After much debate, we reckon this year’s best festivals for Under 5’s are:
I can see the light!
OK so it might not be Spring quite yet, but I am starting to feel the stirrings of excitement build in anticipation!
The last couple of weeks have been filled with festivals making announcements regarding headliners and line-ups, and I must confess I like the feeling that brings.
Although some parts of the country still have snow and Spring doesn’t officially get here until March 20th, it does feel as though there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.
Trolley Tots – Hire a trolley wagon at a festival near you!
Trolley Tots are a friendly, festival-going family.
They’ve learned to take the fabulous British weather in their stride when it comes to festivals. Instead of worrying about muddy pushchairs they thought about solutions. This positive attitude is what got them using trolleys and now they want to share the good vibes with you!… Read more…
The Bee Crèche at Shambala
A parent’s review of Moe’s Bee Crèche at Shambala 2012.
This was the first year that Moe had run the Bee Crèche at Shambala Festival, and I hope it’s not the last.
We have three children – a 5 year old and 2 year old twins. Even at a festival where there’s lots to occupy them everyday life is incredibly tiring, so given the chance for three hours off we grabbed it eagerly.
We went to have a look round the crèche on the Friday morning – we were allowed to take the children in and to see how we felt about it. Read more…
Inspired by creativity and exploration
Today I took my children along to Toddler Imps on the Green, an outdoor creativity and play session at the beautiful Fair Green in Diss, Norfolk.
Run by Rachel Baker, a former primary school teacher with a passion for learning through exploration and creativity, Imps provide creative play experiences for under 5s and their parents, as well training and workshops for early years practitioners and Big Days In for early years settings.
This morning’s session was aimed at Toddler Imps, 18 months to 3 years but as it was the school holidays there were older children at the session as well as babies and toddlers and every child I saw at the session was engaged, involved and having a wonderful time.
What do children learn at festivals?
I love festivals, everyone knows that!
My reasons for going to them have over the years changed and my circumstances have certainly changed. Before it was all about me and my friends, now it’s not just about me and my friends; it’s also about my son and considering my reasons for taking him.
I want him to enjoy going to to festivals and have plenty of wonderful experiences from going, and from those experiences he can hopefully benefit every day.
At the grand old age of 3 (nearly 4) he already talks about and looks forward to his festival holidays. He is unaware of how much he learns from going to them, but such life experiences are hard to find elsewhere.
All this made me reflect on what those experiences can teach him? How can he develop from them?
Angel Gardens 2014
Angel Gardens create magical family spaces at festivals. We consist of a huge team of dedicated volunteers, children’s loos, cosy caravans and lots of beautiful Bell Tents.
This year Angel Gardens have looked at everything that parents need to help them get children through a weekend in a field as well as ensuring we have a good set of activities, workshops and entertainment that helps you work together as a family as well as learning new stuff as individuals.
Read more…
UK Festival Awards 2012
Thousands voted, shortlists were drawn up, and last night the winners were revealed at the UK Festival Awards…
The award for Best Family Festival 2012 went to… Read more…
Good Coffee and Bottle-Feeding!
For my recent trip to VW Whitenoise, I took the opportunity to test and review two products which I felt would be an asset to family camping and festivalling. Read more…
Marvin the sheep in festival heaven!
Anyone with kids of a certain age will be very familiar with the adorable Marvin the Sheep and his loving friend Molly. I must’ve read the gorgeously illustrated children’s book ‘Marvin Wanted More’ to my pair nearly every night for several years!
Since then Marvin has been getting into all sorts of adventures and, in his latest story book ‘Marvin and Molly’… Marvin ends up at a festival in search of some ‘special things’.
Marvin and Molly had my kids giggling away, and we think it is a great little book to read with your kids before taking them to their first festival, as well as to read after you have been to help remind them of their festival fun! Or you can just read it anyway – it’s a sweet storyline about friendship, growing up, and the importance of being yourself and allowing yourself to be a little bit crazy.