- Category:
Lifestyle - Published:
November 14, 2014 - Updated:
July 6, 2021
Tips for a Fun Family Football Tailgate
The idea of bringing your kids to a football tailgate can be a bit daunting. But it doesn’t need to be! Make a plan ahead of time to make things family friendly and appropriate, while still keeping both the kids AND the adults entertained.
Dress the part
Get everyone in the spirit with jerseys, temporary tattoos, pompoms, and beads. This is especially important to make your kids feel included in the festive spirit of the day. Set up a face painting station and transform the little ones into star athletes with colorful war paint on their cheeks. Last but not least, remember to bring some extra jackets and gloves in the colder months for anyone who didn’t dress appropriately.
The more entertainment the better!
If you’re planning on a long day of tailgating before the game with the rest of the adults, you’ll need to bring plenty of games and activities to keep the kids occupied. Pack at least 2 footballs and a few other crowd pleasers like corn hole and ladder toss. Music is also a must, but try to find channels that won’t scar younger ears. Try Pandora’s “Radio for Kids” station for a mix of both adult and kid favorites.
Fill the tummies
We can all get a little carried away when it comes to food preparation when we entertain. Tailgates are the perfect opportunity to fall back on the easy stuff. Don’t make more work for yourself. Pack up some pigs in a blanket, hamburgers, and chips and dip and call it a day. Focus on foods that you can move around with. And the good news? It’s ok to make a mess!
Stock up on the basics
While getting messy at the tailgate is a blast, everyone will want to get cleaned up before they head into the game. Bring hand wipes and hang paper towels from the car with bungee cords for easy access. Position black trash bags and clear recycling bags throughout the tailgating area and be sure to remind everyone to recycle bottles and cans. Tailgates can be a great opportunity to solidify the importance of recycling and the consequences of littering. Before you leave the tailgating area, have each of the kids find and properly dispose of 2 or 3 pieces of trash.
