County Fair Tips for Parents

Crisp, cool autumn air and days of family fun are signs that the county fair is back in town. Bright colored rides, delicious foods and fast-paced music will put your kids on "go" as soon as they enter the fairgrounds. Whether taking your family to the county fair for the first time or the tenth, you should be safety-minded when it comes to your little ones. Learn how to make fond family memories with your family without a lot of hair-pulling hassle with these county fair tips for parents.

Prepare to Wait

Chances are the county fair will be an exciting attraction for more than your family. Hundreds of people will be heading towards the same destination as you, so be prepared to wait. Your patient example will teach your kids valuable lessons that will help them enjoy their fair experience.

Feed Them First

County fair food is part of the fair experience but if you have more than one child, the price of fair food can put some real hurt on your wallet. Feed your children before you leave the house. Offer food in the fair theme and serve your kids fair type finger foods for lunch or dinner. Children, especially small ones, are less likely to ask for a hot dog if they just ate one. You can enjoy some delicious funnel cake as an extra without buying an entire meal for everyone.

Bright Colored Clothing

The best advice to prevent disaster is to keep kids tied to you at all times. Hold a hand, grab a jacket, just keep kids close. However, when Mom and Dad have to separate for potty breaks, having everyone dressed in the same bright colors will come in handy. For fun, ask everyone to wear a bright green cap or a yellow scarf. Give everyone a whistle necklace to use if they become separated from the group.

Spending Limits

Chat with kids before you leave the house about spending limits. Give everyone the same amount of tickets to use for rides and games. Explain to older children that rides and games at the county fair often cost three to four tickets each so they should choose wisely. Offer to take kids through the fairgrounds on reconnaissance so they can see all the rides before they decide on what to ride.

Time Limit

Set a time limit for your county fair trip. A couple of hours are long enough for little ones or kids with disabilities. Let everyone know ahead of time when you will be leaving so children and adults can plan their rides.

Return Trip

If you face a trip home that is longer than ten minutes, you should prepare for the return trip. The fair will wear out playful children so have an extra blanket or two in the cargo area for kids to snuggle with. Keep antibacterial hand sanitizer and baby wipes handy for quick clean ups. Stow a small cooler in the back with some bottled water for thirsty kids.

Enjoy your trip to the fair by doing a little planning before the event. Our county fair tips for parents will make your trip smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.