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Smiling toddler girl wearing head phones dances among glowing light sticks.

My son just turned 3, and we celebrated with two of the things he loves most: Music and monster trucks!

Although we did have a wonderful time at both events, I realized I wasn’t as prepared as I could have been. So, I made a list of things I’ll do differently next time.

If you’re taking your child to a big event, try out these tips and tricks for what to take and how to stay safe. 

First things first, check the event’s website. Some banned items actually might be allowed for parents. 

For example, lots of venues require clear bags or no bags at all. This did not apply to our diaper bag. Reusable water bottles are great, but they do need to be emptied before going through security.

I made a mistake assuming that couldn’t  bring in food or drinks. However, we actually could have. That would have saved us a lot of time and money spent standing in line for expensive festival food truck cuisine. 

 A lot of festivals also have events, activities, and areas specifically for children. Check out the activities on the event’s website.

Layers and Ear Protection

What about extra clothing? With a little one, we get the perk of being able to bring a stroller/ wagon to haul everything. Where I live, it gets so warm during the day, but, as soon as the sun goes down, the temperature drops quickly. It’s important to have some layers for when it gets colder, comfortable shoes for walking, and even a rain jacket just in case. 

We always bring some ear protection for our little one as well. It can get loud and we want to protect our baby’s ears. Headphones also can help when little ones just need a break from the noise.

Changing Spaces

Don’t forget the diapers and wipes if your kiddo needs them and a mat to lay down for changing them. 

Another obstacle I ran into was the porta-potty situation. How does one change a diaper/pull up in a porta-potty that many concert goers before us ‘missed’ in? I opted to find the first aid tent. The EMT’s allowed us to change our son in their tent on a gurney.

Event volunteers also might be able to direct you to the closest changing area.

Stay Safe

It’s exciting to take your kiddo to their first big event, but you might feel nervous about keeping your child safe. As parents, we tend to worry (in my case, probably a bit too much). Here are some safety suggestions that may help calm your nerves. 

The idea of being separated from your kiddo at a big event like a festival or a concert, is nerve racking. You can put a wrist band or sticker on your kiddo that has your phone number listed, in case you are separated. Do not put your child’s name on the wristband or sticker. Just list a parent or caretaker's phone number. 

I’m sure you were already planning to take pictures. Make sure to take a photo of your little one before leaving. That way you know exactly what colors and clothing they were wearing to describe them to security, if needed. 

I opted to bring a stroller to our outdoor music festival. We used the stroller when my son was tired of walking or if he was trying to stray too far away. The stroller also was great for holding all the stuff so we didn't have to carry it.

Worth It! 

Events like these can be a huge undertaking when attending with small children. But I promise, it is totally worth it to see them with those huge headphones on dancing and jumping around having the time of their life. 

Plus, they will be so tired by the time you get back home, they’ll definitely be sleeping through the night! 

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is three years old.

Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.org or call us at 929.228.1180.

Happy little African American boy in a pumpkin patch in autumn,

Hi, parents, and happy October! I’m so happy to celebrate my favorite season of the year. It's that time of year for fall fun with little ones. Here are some autumn- and Halloween-themed suggestions to keep your little one entertained.

As always, we are keeping these as simple as can be. Let’s get started! 

Squishy Fun

First is an activity that is great for our really tiny humans. If you plan to carve pumpkins, don’t throw away the guts of the pumpkin.

Instead, toss them in a gallon zip lock bag to create a super simple and squishy sensory activity for those 12-24-month-olds.

This way they are still involved in the pumpkin carving, but in a safe way. And this allows us parents to really focus on our own pumpkins, am I right? 

Pumpkin Washing

Another idea for our little littles is a pumpkin washing station. To keep it really simple, go for smaller pumpkins. You’ll need to grab a container, fill it with warm soapy water, and make sure there you’re set up in an area that is protected from the splashing or is OK to get wet.

Our three- and four-year-olds can really get involved in the activity by washing everyone’s pumpkins before the carving begins! 

With larger pumpkins, skip placing them in water. Instead, just give your little one a couple of washcloths and some warm soapy water. This way they can wipe down all the pumpkins, and get them nice and clean for carving. But you don’t have to find a giant tote to fill with water either. 

Sensory Bin

Another easy peasy sensory activity for our littles ones is a fall-themed sensory bin.

You could use multicolored dry pasta, pinecones, smooth acorns, or even some leaves. There is basically no mess when it comes to this activity since everything is pretty large and we parents love to hear that.

Give this one a try and let me know how it goes and how long your kiddo stayed engaged in the activity. 

Hunting for Decorations

This next one, I just did with my kiddo over the past weekend, and we had such a good time. I realized, I didn’t have any Autumn or Halloween decorations for our house! As such a huge fan of this time of year, that did not sit right with me. Lack of storage space keeps me from holding onto a lot of decorations, other than those we have for Christamas. 

So, I asked my kiddo if he wanted to go to the thrift store to pick out some decorations. Surprise, surprise, his response was “NOW?” It just so happened we had a few free hours before I had to go to work. So, I said “Sure!” and we were off. 

We headed over to our local Goodwill. I really tried to let him pick out the things he thought would be cute for our little home. He found some pumpkin string lights (LOVE), tealight candle holders (one black cat, a pumpkin, and a little ghost), a wooden pumpkin door hanger, and the cutest little stuffed pumpkin with a black top hat and black and white striped arms and legs. They are absolutely perfect.

Extra tip: Bring something to donate to the thrift store. Most thrift stores offer a coupon for making a donation. So not only was everything pretty cheap in the first place, we also got 20% off! We spent a total of only $10. And we had a great time doing it. 

But, the fun didn’t stop there. We still get to go home and decorate with our super fun finds. 

There you have it, friends! Easy peasy autumn activities to incorporate when you’ve got the time.

I hope they are just as much fun for you as they were for me. Let me know how it goes!

Sophie Hamel is a freelance writer and works as a crisis responder. Her son is a 3½-year-old preschooler.



Luminous removes the hassle of arranging for tuition vouchers and helps make childcare affordable. Vouchers can help ease your financial stress. Learn more about qualifying for HRA and ACS vouchers at our Bronx and Brooklyn centers. Payment can also be made by SEIU/1199 Child Care, check, credit card, and through the Luminous reimbursement program. Contact Luminous Early Childhood Learning Center at enrollment@luminouschildcare.orgor call us at 929.228.1180.