Preparing for Festivals with Kids: A Steady Guide for Families

Festivals are exciting. They're also loud, unpredictable, crowded, and full of things children and young people have never experienced before — which is exactly why a bit of preparation can make the difference between a memorable day and a meltdown by 2pm.

This isn't about making your child "festival-ready." It's about helping everyone stay steady enough to enjoy it — including you. Whether you're heading to Latitude with a toddler, a teenager, or both, the same principles apply.

How can I help my child stay steady at a festival?

The most steadying thing you can do is talk about what might happen before you go. Children and teenagers handle new experiences better when they've had a chance to picture them first. You don't need to cover everything — just the bits that might feel surprising.

• It will be loud, even if there's no music playing
• There will be queues — for food, for toilets, for everything
• It will be crowded, and people may bump into you
• The ground might be muddy, dusty, or uneven
• There will be smells — food, smoke, portaloos, grass
• You might walk a lot more than usual
• It might be hot, or it might rain, or both

You're not trying to worry them. You're giving them a map of the territory so it feels less unknown when they arrive. Teenagers might roll their eyes — do it anyway. They're listening even when they look like they're not.

What should we practise before the festival?

A few days before, try gently practising the things that might feel tricky — not as a drill, but as a game. This helps everyone's body learn what to do before the pressure is on.

• Waiting: Stand in a short queue somewhere — a shop, a bus stop — and notice together what waiting feels like
• Walking: Go for a slightly longer walk than usual and see how bodies cope — yours included
• Resting: Practise finding a quiet spot and sitting for a few minutes, even if nobody wants to
• Noise: If you have ear defenders or earbuds, let everyone try them at home first so they know what they feel like

What should I pack for festival creativity?

You don't need a perfect kit. A small bag with a few open-ended materials can give anyone in your family something to do with their hands when the waiting gets long or the noise gets much.

• A sheet of stickers (the cheaper, the better — more to choose from)
• A small notebook or pad of paper
• A few crayons or pencil crayons
• Ear defenders or noise-reducing headphones
• A comfort item — a small toy, a blanket, something familiar
• Snacks they actually like (festival food can be unpredictable)
• A water bottle

For teenagers and young people, consider adding: their own earbuds or headphones, a portable phone charger, a small sketchbook or journal, and snacks they've chosen themselves. The key is giving them their own bag — autonomy over their own comfort kit is steadying for older children and teens.

The stickers and crayons aren't about making art. They're about giving a nervous system something to do when the environment is a lot. Placing a sticker is a tiny, controllable action — and in a place where very little feels controllable, that matters at any age.

How do I make a simple festival plan?

Before you go, agree on a basic plan together. Not a minute-by-minute itinerary — just a few anchors that help everyone know what to expect.

• What's the first thing we'll do when we arrive?
• Where will we meet if we get separated?
• When will we eat?
• Where's the quietest spot we can find if it gets too much?
• What's our exit plan if someone needs to leave?

Write it on a piece of paper or draw it together. Having a physical plan your child or teen can hold or refer to can be incredibly steadying. For older children and young people, agree on a check-in time and a meeting point — they may want independence to explore, and having a plan means they don't have to worry about finding you.

What if my child needs a reset or wants to leave?

This is the most important part: have an exit plan, and mean it. If your child, teenager or young person knows they can leave when they need to, they're more likely to stay longer — because the pressure is off.

A reset doesn't have to mean going home. It can mean:

• Finding a quiet corner and sitting for ten minutes
• Going back to the car or tent for a break and a snack
• Doing something with their hands — stickers, drawing, sorting
• Putting on ear defenders or headphones and just watching the world go by
• For teens: retreating to a quieter area with their phone for 15 minutes — yes, that counts

If they do need to leave, that's not a failure. It's someone telling you what their body needs. A festival is a lot of input. Some bodies can process it for hours; some need to stop after 90 minutes. Both are fine — whatever age you are.

Do I need to expect every child to love every bit?

No — and this is worth saying out loud before you go. Not every moment of a festival will be magical. Some bits will be boring. Some bits will be overwhelming. Some bits your child or teen will hate, and that's okay. Teenagers may not show their overwhelm the same way younger children do — they might go quiet, get sarcastic, or disappear into their phone. That's not rudeness. That's regulation.

The goal isn't to have a perfect day. The goal is to have a real day — with moments of joy, moments of struggle, and moments where you find a quiet spot together and just breathe. That's what children and teenagers remember: not the headliner, but the sticker they placed on a piece of cardboard while you sat next to them.

What about teenagers and young people?

Older children, teens and young people need preparation just as much as little ones — sometimes more, because they're expected to handle it without support. A few things to keep in mind:

• They may not ask for help: Create a signal or code word that means "I need a break" without having to say it in front of friends
• They need autonomy: Let them choose their own pace, their own food, their own moments to step away
• Sensory overload doesn't stop at puberty: Teenagers' nervous systems are still developing, and festivals are a lot of input for anyone
• They may not want to be seen with you: That's okay. Agree on check-in times and let them explore — knowing the plan is there if they need it
• Their crash may look different: Instead of tears, you might see withdrawal, irritability, or them shutting themselves in their room for hours

Talk to them before the festival. Ask what they think they'll need. You might be surprised by what they say — and even if they say "nothing," the fact that you asked matters.

What if the adult is the one who's overwhelmed?

Let's be honest: festivals are a lot for adults too. You're managing the plan, the snacks, the children, the timetable, the toilets, the weather, and your own sensory input. By mid-afternoon, you might be the one who needs a reset — and that's completely normal.

If you feel yourself getting frazzled:

• Say it out loud: "I need a five-minute sit-down" — modelling this teaches your children that adults have limits too
• Find the creative space: sitting down with stickers for ten minutes can regulate an adult's nervous system just as effectively as a child's
• Tag-team if you can: if there's another adult, take turns being "on" so each of you gets a break
• Lower your expectations: you don't have to see every act, do every activity, or have a perfect day
• Drink water, eat something, sit down — the basics matter for you too

Your children and teenagers are watching how you handle overwhelm. If you show them that it's okay to need a break — that adults get tired and that's fine — you're teaching them something more valuable than any festival memory. You're teaching them that having limits is normal, at every age.

If you're heading to Latitude, come and find us — we'll have stickers, cardboard, and space to make something together, whatever your age. And wherever you're going, read our guide to festival creativity to see what making together can look like in the middle of it all.