Rules for Taking Kids to Science Fiction Conventions

For families that share a love of science fiction and/or computer gaming, a science fiction convention can be a great place to take the kids on vacation. But because things at conventions can be just a little different, you should take pains that you and your children are comfortable and safe there.

Your most important first task is to assess the convention for how adult things get at night. For this, you really need to attend a whole convention by yourself the year before you bring your kids. Some public behavior at some conventions is simply not appropriate for children. In the evenings, the strange things start to emerge from the dark corners. I've seen leatherwear and partial public nudity; on party floors, strippers attend some parties, and the popular "adult toy" company Adam & Eve sometimes sponsors parties. In addition, during parties the liquor flows freely. At most cons, intoxicated guests are supposed to keep it private, but that's hard to control.

If you find the convention great but the level of adult behavior unacceptable, consider booking a room at a nearby hotel and staying there with your kids. You may find, though, that the behavior is completely unacceptable for a family, in which case you should consider a different convention.

If you bring them, check on childcare and children's convention programs. Most kid-friendly conventions will have several programs during the day for the kids to do science-fiction-themed crafts, and you'll also find childcare to be a fairly common offering. Talk to someone at the convention who uses the childcare, though; when working at conventions, I've caught caregivers in unacceptable behaviors. Though it isn't as fun as just dropping the kids off, your best bet might be to swap off childcare with your spouse, or to take the kids elsewhere at night if you want to participate in evening events.

Know how the kids-in-tow rules work. Most conventions admit children for free if they are under a certain age and will be remaining with their parents at all times. If you do this, be courteous of other con guests and take crying children out of panels and presentations.

Make sure your kid isn't bored. This is one of the problems with the kids-in-tow rules -- many children without other stimulations may be bored quickly with the lecture on how to create unique characters, or how to make chainmail by hand. This is one of the great blessings of the children's track programming -- the events are kid-friendly, and you get to go to panels by yourself. Every convention, however, requires the child to pay admission to participate in these.

Never leave your child unattended. This should be a no-brainer, but it isn't. Your kid is not okay by himself in your hotel room, and you can't just drop him off in the movie room to watch the two-hour cartoon -- this has been done to a friend of mine who runs movie rooms and is also a cop, and he has made his disapproval known! People who run the con are not babysitters. It is illegal in most places to leave children under a certain age alone. Con management will not hesitate to call cops if necessary.

Plan ahead, selecting family-friendly events to attend together (like Masquerade). The great thing about conventions is the variety of family-friendly stuff to do. Masquerade, for instance, can be great -- you all get to watch the beautiful costumes, silly presentations, and just have great fun. Other family-friendly regular events include some of the gaming, the art room, and the huckster's room, where you can buy your little one the toys you loved at his age -- or wish you'd had.

Give them a small allowance for the huckster's room. This is the most expensive part of a convention because there are so many things you want to own in here. You can minimize costs and add to your kid's fun by giving him or her ten or twenty dollars to spend on whatever they want -- and no more. From comics to toys to jewelry, your child will find plenty he wants.

Have a plan for attending evening parties. This is critical. Evening parties are adult events. Not only are kids not allowed, they don't belong here. You could consider having a slumber party for your child and friends, or you could take turns with a trusted friend in childcare. Or you could eschew evening parties altogether. They're just free alcohol and sometimes nudity, after all.