Tots and tours

January 23, 9:52 PMRecreation ExaminerIris Carter

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Being on the mall at the inauguration of our nation's 44th president was an experience I will never forget. Many thought I was crazy for wanting to be part of the masses but I made an informed decision to go. As I watched people with small children navigate the crowds I remembered how difficult it was to venture out to any widespread location with my own kids  Before you decide to take your young ones along for the "opportunity of a lifetime" consider a few of these tips:

1) Will your children appreciate and remember the event? If they can't walk, they probably won't remember the trip. Memory capabilities vary in older tots. I have vivid memories of going to New York City and Washington, DC before I turned 4 years old. Some people don't recall much of their life before they turned 10.  The more they notice details, communicate and express themselves, the better their recall tends to be.

2) Why are you taking them and what are your chances of accomplishing this goal? If you are only taking your child because there is no one else to watch them, you may need to reconsider your own wants and desires. Dragging a child to an event that is only for your benefit is certain to create some level of misery for both of you. Your child will become bored, tired and distracted while you will not be able to enjoy the event if you are attending to your child's needs. If you are taking a child to an event because you believe it will benefit him or her, make sure the goal doesn't exceed their maturity level. Unless your 5-year-old is a certified genius, taking him to a political speech is not going to advance his intellect.

3) Can your children walk and do so for extended periods of time without complaining? Adults get hot, tired and cranky at amusement parks and then wonder why their kids are behaving badly. When you are exhausted it is hard to tend to anyone else's needs but your child needs you regardless of how you feel. Will you be able to navigate a stroller without rolling over other patrons' ankles? Can you hoist a 7-year-old onto your shoulders when you both are ready to collapse? Will your child stay close to you or try to squirm their hand free from your grip?

4) Will child-appropriate food be available? The sausage-peppers-and-onions hoagie at the state fair is not appropriate for tots and funnel cake will not sustain them for an eight-hour jag on the grounds. You need to pack food that they will like and pack more than you think they will eat. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese and crackers, individual fruit snack cups and carrot sticks are all great for travel. Carry water, 100 percent juices, or cold milk in a thermos or insulated bag. Avoid sugar-loaded and high fructose snacks because kids will zip around on a sugar high before crashing and burning.

5) Will your child disturb the event for other adults? Perhaps it doesn't bother you to have eyes burning a hole in the back of your head but if you have any compassion for other adults, please consider their comfort zone. I have attended events intended for adults but children in attendance behaved beautifully and everyone was able to enjoy the program. At other times, I have been at events where Satan's spawn ensured no one could hear the speaker. Noise levels aren't the only interference - trips to the bathroom, spilled drinks, flying food and soft, jingle bells on toys can be a distraction for both audience and performers.

Children are blessings and deserve every opportunity available to them. Adults overseeing a child's care have to make responsible decisions regarding the appropriateness of opportunities on behalf of the child's overall well-being. When you take your tot to trot be sure it's a trip you both can enjoy!