Kids and Concerts: What's the Right Age for Kids to Start Attending Shows

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council takes your questions, gives advice and shares solutions.

Our conversation starts today with a question that most parents face eventually:

"What is a good age for kids to start attending concerts?"

Erin Calvo-Bacci:

On a Saturday, as our family was getting ready to go to a High School Graduation party a call came in:

“I have an extra ticket to the Taylor Swift concert, can your daughter go?”

My answer was, “let me check with my husband and I’ll call you back.” 

In my head, I was saying “okay my daughter is almost 11, which I think is too young for a concert, so if her father says “no” then my instinct is right. If her father says “yes” then maybe I’m overreacting. Her father said yes and, thanks to technology, the parent chaperone kept us updated with pictures and comments during the show.

Why was I hesitant? Not because I think the concert would expose my daughter to illicit behavior, but more because I want my daughters to have something to look forward to when they’re older. However at the graduation party I was telling of my conundrum and the response was:  “Taylor Swift is geared to 11 year old girls”.

Seriously? That’s the same argument as Hannah Montana was geared towards a much younger audience and look what Miley Cyrus is up to these days. And let’s not forget Britney!

Pushing mature events onto our girls at an early age makes me feel like we are condoning that our little girls go from “dress up” to “dressing inappropriately.”

Is this all happening from attending one show? No. This is happening because we, as parents, lose sight of what’s best for our children: good eating habits, sleep, enforcing morals and ethics and allowing our children to be children. I do not love adulthood, so I certainly don’t want to tell me kids to jump ahead and lose sight of their childhood when adulthood is not as much fun.

Maybe the other difference is I had to pay to see concerts. My girls certainly work and earn spending money. They do not get paid for completing daily chores, and to go to a concert is a bigger expense than when I was younger. The ticket to Taylor Swift was free, but my cost was the “extra money” for the concert t-shirt and still weighing in on the question “what is the right age to attend a concert?” 

Meghan Cogswell:

I am not sure this is just a question about age. I think it depends on who the musician is, who they are going with and where. I don't have a straight-forward answer to this, but I can share my experiences. 

 When my daughter was in first or second grade, she was invited to go to the Miley Cyrus concert with a friend and the friend's parent.  We decided that she was too young then.  Maybe if one of us was going with her, we may have said it was okay.

 We have had a few years with no requests for a concert until this past year, fourth grade. In the fall, Justin Beiber was the big thing and my daughter asked if she could go. Seeing as he was so young and his music is appropriate for their age group (nine) I thought, “why not.” Besides I could use a few "cool mom points". 

So, I went on-line and bought 4 tickets and took her and 2 other friends.  Besides the thousands of screaming girls, the girls had a blast and I had a blast watching them! 

 Then there was the Kiss 108 concert a month or so ago.  My daughter was asked by a friend to go with her family.  This was a tough call. It was an all-day concert and the musicians varied. For the most part, we felt they were appropriate for the girls. 

My biggest fear was the crowds and ensuring the girls did not get lost etc.

When in doubt, I check with my dad. So, I called and asked him "should I let Jane go to the Kiss concert."  He literally said to me "are you serious?  No way!" 

I was shocked at his reply, and then, after further discussion, realized he was thinking it was the band KISS! 

After weighing it out, my husband and I decided to let Jane go. We sent her with a cell phone and ensured with the parents they were going with, that they would not be left alone. I am glad we said yes.  They had so much fun, and, at age 10, it allowed her a "little" independence. 

Those are my experiences so far with my daughter.  As for my son (seven), we will have to see what his first concert request is. Hopefully it is something halfway decent as I am sure I will be taking him and his friends, too.

Alicia Botticelli-Tarasuk:

Concerts are a tricky thing.  I think the right age depends on the child and the concert he or she wants to attend. If the person on stage is appropriate, then I think you could take an 8-year-old—if they are into the music.

I have taken my kids to the North Shore Music Theater to see shows and concerts since they were four.

When it comes to the older-kids music, well then I think that depends on the maturity of the child. If you go with your child and hang with them, then I don't see why a 10-year-old and up can't go to a concert. 

Music is a huge part of my life, and my kids have grown up with the radio on more than the TV.  They love music and listen to all kinds of it.  I think it is important to enjoy music, and if my kids want to go see a concert, I would try to take them to it.  The parents have to make the choice if the act is appropriate or not.