Taking your children to a concert

[sue11]

Myself and friends (all adults) went to see the Jessie J concert last night. It was a fantastic concert and we all enjoyed it, but I was surprised to see quite a few youngish children (accompanied by adults) at her concert. Some of them only looked about 8 or 9 years.
I can understand youngsters going to see the Saturdays, JLS or One Direction etc, but Jessie J? I do not believe she expects her music to be listened to by a very young audience. She swore during her concert quite a few times, some of it was part of her song lyrics and some whilst addressing the audience, the word motherf"*%er was used a couple of times.
Of course I personally have no problem with her swearing as it is used within her song lyrics and anyone coming to one of her concerts would expect this, but I kind of feel that parents with children under the age of 14 should think twice before letting them listen to this kind of language.

Does anyone agree with me or am I being a bit old fashioned?
Thanks, Sue.

[ummmm]

Very unlikely they will. Or if they do, just don't get caught.

[sue11]

Thanks chelle, so it looks like there was no age restriction on the concert, perhaps parents took their kids in good faith, especially if she has the words bleeped out on the radio and has avoided using them at other venues. But once she used the mf word, they still let their kids continue to watch regardless, not sure from that what they would consider would be too bad for their kids to watch.
Thanks all for the further viewpoints.

[sue11]

Thanks guys, I probably do have fairly unrealistic expectations of how innocent a child is, it is a bit sad really, in my view a child should not be exposed to that kind of language as a norm, at least until they are a bit older anyway.
When I was 8 or 9, I only ever saw panto, I had no interest in any concerts, but I remember my parents taking me and my older sister to see The Towering Inferno movie at the cinema and my dad taking me out halfway through because I was terrified!

[Le Chat]

I definitely would not take a child to the concert in the full knowledge that language like that was being used. As far as I am concerned, although it is true and they hear it here, there and everywhere...I would have no control over that but I would have control over what they heard when I was in the driving seat. My other major issue would be that concert volume is way too loud for a child's developing ear. I would be concerned about physical damage to the inner ear. Tinnitus can be caused by excessive noise at an early age and I wouldn't want to chance it, as I have it and know how horrid it can be.

[hessy]

It is ok with that

[Ankou]

"I wouldn't have THAT much of a problem taking an 8 or 9 year old to a concert, especially if it was an artist they particularly liked.

After all, how many dads take their kids to football matches? I'm sure they hear far worse language there!"

agree with that completely, although i (personally) would raise it to 11/12 years old.

[NOX]

You sound quite a sweet, sensitive soul Sue, I can't imagine in a million years there being a film on the planet any of my kids would be scared of, but I really wouldn't have issues with taking them to a gig either- in fact they've been frequently with their Mum to many a heavy metal festival and have lived to tell the tale.

[ummmm]

I was swearing in the playground in the 70's :-)

[snodhutch]

I agree with you. I have been to numerous concerts and have been surprised at the number of young children attending. I don't believe there are any age restrictions however some concerts are definitely not suitable for young children and personally the price of tickets would put me off taking them anyway. There are much more suitable activities available for children at a fraction of the price

[tigwig]

Well I almost took my 7yr old to see Katy Perry but didnt in the end. More really because of the cost and that I decided she would probably be bored and tired after an hour at the most. I anticipated that she may swear too but like others have said she has heard swear words before and knows quite a few but wouldnt dare so them in front of an adult (yet lol)

[whiskeysheri]

I was 7 or 8 when I went to my first concert to see Take That and they all got their bums out. I was thrilled! :) I'm with B00 on this one.

[grffindoor2011]

So it's not ok for a ten year old to hear an F word, but four years later it is?

Swear words are just that. Words. My nephew is a regular at a league football club since the age of 1 and has heard many swear words on the terraces. It hasn't affected him at all. He knows people swear and there are times in life when most of us do.

Its the 18 rated violent xbox/ps3 etc games that are the problem for early teens and under not some bird from London using a few adult words on stage.