I have moms ask me if I take my two daughters to comic book, gaming and sci-fi conventions. I always tell them yes, I do! Nerdcore newb moms usually do one of two things at this point: 1. they look at me funny or 2. they ask me questions about how we do it as a family.

So, here’s my answer as to making conventions a family affair. First off, know what your kids can handle. If they don’t do well in crowded spaces with lots of people dressed up in cosplay (in character), a convention is probably not the best idea for them. I started my kids off young. Sarah was a baby (and almost born at Emerald City Comicon 2009) and Sophia was two when they attended their first cons (conventions). I choose to use cons as teachable moments. Sophia (6) can’t get enough of Penny Arcade Expo (PAX, for short), she loves playing the games and talking to the people who made the games. At PAX Prime, she played Epic Mickey and loved it! So much, that she was telling her friends at school that they needed the game and it wasn’t set to release until four months after the con! Most con people love seeing kids at the con. In fact, I can tell you that Sophia has gotten up on stage every year at the Harmonix booth at PAX and they remember her and love her to death! She gets up to sing and rock it out and they eat it up! Sophia has actually been featured on the Harmonix website. (Not bad for a 6 year old!)

What moms also ask me a lot is what do I do about my kids and scary cosplay costumes. As I have a theater background, I am really big on turning these types of moments into teachable moments. For example, Sophia was terrified of people in masks at previous cons, but all it took was one guy dressed up (in amazing) Master Chief (Halo) armor to take off his mask and get down on her level for her to stop being scared. Once Sophia saw that it was a real person inside, she was just fine. Most cosplay people are really cool about things like that. At PAX last year, there was a guy promoting a zombie fest or something like that. His makeup was amazing, but scary! It scared the poo out of Sophia, but I nicely asked the guy if I could borrow him for a moment and he got down on her level and told her all about the makeup he was wearing and that it was just makeup. She then thought that was the coolest thing EVER and she gave the zombie a hug, because zombie need love too! Sarah was a HUGE hit with the Frag Dolls and as you can see from the video, they loved her!

Now for the essentials to have at a con with kids:

• Baby backpack! Strollers are really not practical, because you spend most of the time fighting the crowd and hitting peoples ankles. Totally not worth it if you have small kids!
• Snacks (if allowed). Snacks are always good to have on hand as cons are typically all day events.
• Knowing what the event staff shirts look like. This is important! Make sure that your kids know what the event staff shirts look like, in case God forbid they get separated from you, they know who to go to. (As a former event staffer, it happens and we are all prepared for it)
• Knowing the layout of the con. Again, really important, especially for knowing where all the bathrooms are. If it’s emergency, you don’t want to have to consult the guide for 5 minutes while your kid is trying not to have an accident, which brings me to…
• Extra clothes. Accidents happen and not just the potty kind. I got drenched one year as a staffer by someone who bumped into me with a full soda. Luckily, I had an extra staff shirt.
• Bring a camera! I have some of the best photos
• Lastly, remember to have fun! This is a chance for kids to explore, learn and understand the world around them! Sophia has comics this year that she wants signed at Emerald City Comicon and again, she is ready to go when PAX comes around. Go to the booths and let the kids talk to the people, who knows they might learn something new. Sophia learned about roller derby one year and she loves seeing the gals at Rat City Rollergirls now!

Here’s a video showcasing our family experience at PAX Prime last year! And a big shout out to my friend, Jessica, who inspired this post!