Each spring, a bit of unexpected sunlight penetrates my perception, initiating a sudden self-awareness of having been intangibly grumpy. I am emerging from hibernation. It’s time to book a festival! Jennifer Bishop reckons that taking your children to a festival can have manifold benefits.
There's an assumption that festivals are all of the same ilk and that festival-goers unanimously see them as opportunities to get off their heads. This is not the full picture. Many have been there, done that and moved on. In this era of corporate festival saturation, festivals are marketed at a diverse range of people of all motivations, interests, cultures, music tastes and age groups (including children). There’s comedy, cinema, literature, theatre, alternative therapies, crafts, the arts, real ale and high-brow food as well as acts that by the nature of their own eccentricity are uncategorisable.
I have been to festivals with friends and family for 20 years. It is what we do and have done every summer because we love everything about it. My daughter has been coming with us since she was a baby and taking the lead from us, she loves them too. As a parent, I believe that the opportunities for kids in terms of entertainment at festivals are infinite. As a teacher, I also see unlimited possibilities for learning and development. I reckon children can benefit from festivals in many ways but here are my top five:
