Child Safety at Games?
I haven't been to a Michigan home football game since the 2011 Michigan-Ohio State game and I've never brought a child to a game.
My daughter is 10 and wants to go to a game with me and it would be just the two of us. However, my wife is concerned about things such as if I have to go to the bathroom during the game that my daughter would then be left unattended even for a brief period.
Any ideas on this besides me wearing Depends? Probably not a good idea to go just the two of us?
Family bathrooms are near every other aisle.
Fwiw, my dad took me to my first game at the Big House when I was 9 or 10 (it was 1997 Michigan - OSU). It was totally fine to be there as a kid.
We've been bringing our kids since they were very little (2 and 4). You can get the wrist bands for your daughter in case she gets lost. At age 10 you could consider getting a burner phone just for use in large crowds, have your number programmed into it. Another suggestion is to get there early and orient her to the area - where your seats are, where the closest bathroom is, etc... You can also set up an emergency meeting spot - like if you can't find me, meet at the chicken and waffle stand (something unique, so there isn't confusion about which place). I really felt better once the kids had phones because we could text and we also have the Life360 app, so I could see where they were. Also, the ushers are really good about helping kids out, if your daughter needed to ask for help, they aren't going to blow her off. Maybe ask one of her friends and their Dad if they want to go as well, then one Dad can be in charge of the girls while the other goes to the bathroom or gets refreshments. Strength in numbers! Good luck!
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I agree with everyone who thinks it is safe. When the kids were smaller it was nice to go with my wife because she could take them if they got bored and I wanted to watch the game. Also there is likely to be foul language but nothing a 10 year old hasn't heard before.
They are good at reuniting lost families.
I brought my two girls in with me last year (ages 6 & 4) for most games and if I had to use the restroom I would either use the family restroom or bring them into the Men's restroom with me. My seats are in Section 18 up high so I use the upper concourse under the press box. Sometimes there is a long line for the family restroom and looking at the line there are no families just single men. If this was the case I would talk to an event staff person and mention what I saw and they would bring me with the girls right up to the front of the line for me to be next. Then tell all the guys that a men's bathroom was around the corner.
Since my oldest is now 7 I don't know what I will do when she is 10 and if I will feel comfortable having her come into the men's room. But I do feel safe in Michigan Stadium just me and the 2 girls. The event staff is always very helpful and observant.
Lots of good suggestions. Does she have a friend who would be interested in going? Maybe you and Dad 2 could go so you could take turns? Also, if she doesn’t yet have a phone, get some AirTags and put one on her.
I took my 6 year old last year when we beat Illinois. Perfect setting for his first game at -10 degrees. We sat directly behind where the kick was nailed.
I don’t think there’s any concern for safety. Stick together and all is fine.
I have young kids so I totally understand the concern. You can have her walk with you to the closest usher or any other stadium employee and I bet everything I hold dear about U of M that the employee will stay with her until you are back.
That all said, I cannot think of a safer venue in the world that holds 100,000+.
I took my 10 yr old daughter with me to her first game last year (Nebraska) and she absolutely LOVED it! The people we sat around were great, she loved the band and learning about the game and singing the fight song. I walked her to the bathroom when she had to go and she waited outside a family restroom when I went. It was a very safe environment to be in and I echo the other comments about using family restrooms and asking an usher for help. Also, time your bathroom run to happen BEFORE a major stoppage of play like halftime or end of a quarter.
I haven't taken my daughter (11) to a football game yet but plan to go to the BG game with her (I went to BG). I did take her to a bball game when she was 8 and it was great! They have plenty of family restrooms and we had no issue at all. Great experience for a dad and younger daughter to feel safe and secure and have a great time.
If you keep her out of the tunnel, she should be fine.
Girl dad here. Agree with most of what's been posted above - including the restroom issue. Highly recommend using the ushers as an option.
Two other quick things:
1. I believe there's some sort of program for first time Big House visitors (she'll get a certificate to mark the day and a trinket of some sort).
2. My daughter (10 at the time) struggled with the entry into the stadium. We were in a tightly packed mass of people (vs OSU 2021) where she was significantly shorter, couldn't see where we were headed, some highly intoxicated folk, etc... She's usually chill, but that fear of being trampled was nearly overwhelming. I've never seen her so charged up. I got a couple of other fans to help carve out some space for her - you may need to do similar.
Having some sort of locating device such as an apple air tag on your child is never a bad idea.
Also a predetermined meeting place if you get momentarily separated.
The 3:30 sept 9th UNLV game would be a good one (lots of scoring, band playing, and probably nice weather, plus there is bound to be some other events before or after the game. The volleyball game is a good double header suggestion. and look!
Michigan vs. Duke
Saturday, Sept. 9 • 7 p.m.
check : www.mgoblue.com
• Football Ticket Redemption -- Present your ticket from the Michigan vs. UNLV Football game to receive free admission *while ticket inventory lasts*
As others have mentioned the family restrooms are there but I do understand how hard it is to get kids to stand somewhere in a crowd when you aren't around. Scheduling bathroom breaks during non-busy times is probably the best bet.
I'm interested in everyone's tips and advice as a girl-dad looking to take my eldest to a game soon. I did a sort of "test run" last year at the MSU game by bringing them to a friend's tailgate on the golf course last year for the MSU game. I would say the sheer number of people is the biggest risk and concern with little kids. Some adults have problems being in such crowds; imagine being a foot or two shorter than everyone and unable to fully see where you're going. A crowd can easily create an undertow affect, where if the kid is not big enough to bump their way to the side, they can easily be taken in the crowd until there is a break.
I think the wristband idea is wonderful. Even under the best of circumstances, it's easily possible to get disoriented in a large crowd like that. Even coming into one of the sections, it can be hard to find again exactly where your seats are.
Fortunately, my daughters are a bit extraverted and so being in a crowd was no issue, aided by the fact I had them sitting in a wagon I was pulling.
I'm comfortable with my kids being able to stay in one place for a short period of time. I'd probably direct them to the exterior edge of the concourse area or the fenceline of the outer concourse just so they would be out of the way from the majority of the crowd, have a little bit of space to run around (e.g. "stay between this post and that post"), and easier to find them.
As for bathrooms, I think my first strategy would be to use the family bathrooms. If that's unavailable, I've been okay letting them use the ladies' room together by themselves and I just wait outside the exit for them. I've done this in other venues and airports. My oldest is capable of helping her sister if need be. But otherwise, most people are accommodating and helpful, especially with children. Sometimes my daughter will come out saying a lady helped her reach the soap or sink to wash her hands, etc. Perhaps I'm fortunate, but I've just never had an issue with my daughters using public ladies' rooms, and would be equally okay if I had just my one daughter. While I have brought them into the men's room, it's been at smaller places like church where there's sure to be a stall available. I would NOT bring them into the men's room at the Big House.
My kids are now 25, 22, and 18. The two girls are the oldest and both started going to games when they were relatively young. At that point, we had 2 tickets and sometimes it was just me or my spouse and one daughter.
Back then, we safety-pinned into a pocket cell phone info for both me and my wife. The wrist bands came later and mitigated this issue. We also talked about what our plan was and introduced them to the ushers in our section when we arrived. Over a couple seasons, the ushers would recognize and remember the kids (not applicable for just one game obviously).
Here's the two big things that I didn't see mentioned:
- Make sure your daughter is the one who wants to go, not you wanting your daughter to go. No judgment here, just saying, this should be special and exciting for her.
- If it gets to a point where it isn't going great, just remember, this might end up being a game you leave early, or where you spend a lot of time in the concourse. If you do it right, they will be actively wanting to go to games in the future!
Good luck and I hope it works out. My oldest (the black sheep of the family) ended up going to Northwestern. But my middle daughter just graduated from Michigan and my son will be starting at Michigan this fall. I'm thrilled that Michigan football is something my entire family now enjoys together whenever we can make it work.
I've been to games with my children since they were five years old. We've never had an issue - but, we have also used common sense.
As others have noted - if you're seated near a family - then, your child can sit with them. I'd also plan any visits to the washroom - so, you're not waiting for a long period in line.
We haven't used the Family restrooms - and, the bigger challenge might be the time your daughter needs to use the washroom.
I'd suggest "visiting the facilities" before you take your seats - and, drink "smartly" so you're not running back and forth.
Oh - one thing to plan for is - the weather, especially rain. It's a lot easier to manage being a fan if you're dry - especially, for younger children.
Go Blue!
I would not leave my young child unattended in the stadium or allow them to go to the bathroom themselves unless I was outside the exit waiting.
Wow, lot's of consternation on this topic for sure but overall really surprised your having an issue about a 10 year old going to a game?My advice would be ... do NOT leave her in your seats since will be strangers. Same for ushers plus they are not babysitters. For the wristband why not teach her your phone number or just write down on paper and give to her?! For the bathroom I would naturally just keep her with me as much as possible in general but get seats in South end of stadium and use the bathroom in that end zone underneath ... really fast in and out and she can just hang out outside of it for the minute you are separated. Like others said I would plan walking around some. One of my favorite areas is the upper mezzanine on the West side... good views/protected and some vending and a bathroom!
I would not be worried at all. While something horrible could happen anywhere of course, I'd feel safer leaving a 10 year old alone for a few minutes at their seat in Michigan stadium than at a mall or park. They would be surrounded by people there to watch sports, not harm a kid. It'd cause a huge scene to kidnap someone from their seat, and if someone was trying to hurt a kid, why buy a football ticket and do it in a public place that has security? Take your kid, have fun, don't worry more than you would on any other normal day.