13 replies to this topic

[DeclarationOfWar]

Okay my Dad is too technophobic to make an account on here so i'll post what he's a bit worried about atm. Anwyay we was planning on taking my brother to Glastonbury coming down on the Thursday, and he's 11 years old and fairly responsible, however it's only our second Glastonbury and he's got an irrational fear of losing him, the thought of it makes me a bit worried aswell, cant think of anything worse... well i could but you know what i mean.

Anwyay he's got a mobile as all youngens do these days but my dad for his own peace of mind was on the lookout for any tips or advice on ways he could make sure he's safe and that if he was to get lost he could find his way back alright. Or anything really he could buy as sad as it sounds to tie him to him or something haha.

As terry tibbs rightly said, tawk tah me.

No on a serious note it's quite important so any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

[AbsolutelyNo]

Well, wherever you're going each day make an easy to find rendezvous point should you get seperated.

[rhysieg]

i dont have children myself or have any tips on them getting lost, however i just thought it would be worth saying that when taking a child, they may not like listening to music/watching bands all day, they may want some kiddy time in in the kidz field/cinema, so i'd make some space in your schedule for a bit of fun for the young'un

[DeclarationOfWar]

Well, wherever you're going each day make an easy to find rendezvous point should you get seperated.

Thanks for the reply, but its my brothers first time and only my dads 2nd and he didnt really explore the festival site that well. Plus on a site such as glastonbury and its vast length, to say meet at this burger van or whatever, when theres could sound a little daunting to a lost 11 year old.

Many thanks for the response though, much appreciated.

[George Saguna]

Thanks for the reply, but its my brothers first time and only my dads 2nd and he didnt really explore the festival site that well. Plus on a site such as glastonbury and its vast length, to say meet at this burger van or whatever, when theres could sound a little daunting to a lost 11 year old.

Many thanks for the response though, much appreciated.

I took my 4 year old daughter and an other 4 year old friend of hers was with us too. To tell you the truth it was easier then I could have imagined. We had our phone numbers wrighten on their arms and had them practice asking people to call us just in case they really got lost. We also gave them a loud whistle each and they would use it if they couldn't see us. I am sure that an 11 year old is much more understanding and he can use a phone with out a problem. Make pre established meeting points so that you can meet up with out much complications (like next to a particular tree or flag)
Dont worry about it much, you will have a good time, children are good company.

[musky]

You might like to read through the last few pages of the questions forum. There have been a few other people asking similar questions recently.

I don't have kids, but if you're relying on mobiles to keep in touch you might like to buy one or two spare mobile batteries from ebay and tell your brother to try to not drain the battery too much.

[Ommadawn]

Does he have gps on his phone? if so, it should be easy for him to find his way back to a set point if he does gets lost.

[FunkyDenz]

Make sure your brother has written & photographic information with him about where you have camped and what your tent looks like, along with details on the agreed meeting points.
Make sure your Dad knows what your brother is wearing, so that, if he does go missing, your Dad can give a detailed description to security.

[amfy]

Make sure he knows the name of the field you are camped in, then he will always be able to find his way home by asking stewards.

Mobile phone signals can be a bit inconsistent and you can sometimes get a text that someone sent yesterday! When you are going to be around an area for a while, establish a meeting point which is obvious. It happens to all of us that we are sitting with a group of friends at a stage, wander off for an ice cream, food or beer, sure that we've got a really good picture of where we're heading back to and then find that you get back and wander round in circles for ages! Know that if he has disappeared for a certain length of time you need to head to the tree, or the sound desk, or the loos, or whatever to find him. Don't pick ice cream or burger vans as there is a nasty pattern of discivering there is more than one of them just when you need it.

A couple of years ago i was stood with a group of people watching The Verve on Sunday noight and we made a little bonfire out of paper cups, we were all just stepping away and coming back with more cups to burn, but I guess each time a little further - then one time i suddenly realised that ther were loads of little fires, and it was dark and I couldn't work out which one was ours! I wandered round looking into peoples faces for ages before wandering over to the loos and texting my b/f. "I'm by the loos - please come and find me!" I stood there for ages, getting colder and colder out of the crowd before he eventually realised I was missing and switched his phone on! Then the text came back "What are you doing there?"

People are really helpful at Glastonbury - if he is lost but thinks he is near you - maybe he could get a group of people to shout your name as loud as they can! -- As long it's not Dan - because that just gets confusing - "dad" probably won't work for the same reason!

[tinners]

I took my daughter when she was a few months old which was just fine. Basically immobile in her crib. I've told her she can return when she's 37 by which time I'll have hopefully stopped going.

[dancingdaisy09]

Firstly never take children to Glastonbury as they then insist on going every year! It's my daughters 7th Glasto this year.

I first took her when she was about 11, we didn't have mobiles and she was fond of running towards stages to see who was playing...grrr.

Whichever area we were in we arranged a meeting point incase we became split up, it wasn't hairy fairy either, very specific.  To this day we still meet "At the back of the pyramid field, near the toilets, at the left hand wheel, at the front of the red ice cream van.  It works!

She was also made very aware of Glastonbury 'o clock, that just because she gets lost doesn't mean that I will follow her to the pre arranged place within 5 minutes, she soon realised that she might have to stand in that spot for a while and just wait.

I also made sure that we camped near a steward, a fire sign, something which meant that she and I could always find our way home.  We liked the fields behind John Peel stage, easy to find, a couple of tea vans and near pedestrian gate A, simples.

I would also suggest not stressing, you all have mobiles, if meeting spots are specific and your tent is easy to find then there is no reason why your 11 year old is going to go missing and you are not going to be able to find them.

[noodle24]

make sure he knows which field they're staying in so he can tell the stewards if he does get lost.you could also get him a high visability jacket to wear.. he would definately stand out in a crowd of people could possibly write your dads phone number on his arm or on a wristband just incase he loses his phone.
hope this helps a bit

[strudders]

Sorry if it's already been mentioned but I much preferred festivals before mobile phones...

OK you all need to stick together but.........

Glasto is the best place to get lost in as a youngster....

several things

Get a wristband and write your mobile number on it (kids field may do them) if he cops a strop, my daughter who was 15 at Beautiful days last year had to have one and was OK about it eventually.

Make sure you all know exactly where your camping... a flag is a good idea and make the campsite look ultra cool as well.

Always know where each of you is going and how long you will be.

I am sure he will have his bearings before your Dad, cos that's what youngsters are like...

Have a last ditched plan, ie if you cant find each other in an hour go to the kids field... and wait..

Explain the fact that going missing is not an option and it will send Dad into a spiral of panic, whilst he may not take this onboard staraight away there is always the possibility it will sink in..

Last thing, make sure you  you get time away from Dad as brothers and then turn back up at the right time so he knows you can be trusted...

I first went when I was 14 and with two mates and no parents... I cant say how brilliant it was for us and changed us all. Glastonbury is wonderland for smallies and teens and I firmly believe this now as I did in 1986...

[lme]

I regularly take my kids (now aged between 8 & 14) & they often go for a wander.  Half the fun of glastonbury for them is that there is so much to explore. We always spend the Wednesday & Thursday wandering round / refamiliarising ourselves with the site.  The kids carry mobiles / have my mobile numbers written on their arms (I tend to take 2 mobiles on different networks). If one of the kids wants to go for a wander or we are somewhere where they may get lost, we agree a really obvious / easy to describe meeting point or arrange to meet back @ the tent. They also know to ask for help if they is a problem. A couple of years ago, my then 9yo couldn't get her phone to work, so she asked a girl working in the circus field to call me / say where she was & I went & got her.