[Deptheads] As we grow...

Thu Jun 9 00:03:31 PDT 2011

1. Yes, we should work on more kids friendly programming in each dept and make sure it is labeled appropriately.

2. I also like the idea of generating a list of the kids friendly events.

3. No isolating of the kids and especially not in the room with Video games, because no matter what your intention, it will likely lead to abandoned kids and/or irate parents. If we want an area cordoned off for parents to sit and watch there kids, it might be possible to fence off a corner in the expanse between Collectibles and Miniatures, with the hotel's permission. And, this would be mostly for those too young to play the kids games we offer and maybe we'll be able to provide a few toys as time goes by.

4. We can look into professional daycare in the 6 month gap after Gateway, but it has to be something where they take on the liability, not us, and we/they would have to charge the parents. This expense or liability aspect is what has stopped this concept from happening in the past, because we also can't be liable for significant charges by the agency, if they don't get enough kids.

We've had this topic resurface every year or so, yet no one has stepped forward to supervise an organized kids track across all depts at the con. And with more kids games, you need more volunteers willing to deal with kids. It's great to hear that we have people volunteering to do a game here or there in various depts, if we can keep those people doing it and keep adding a few new people/games each con, the track will develop.

Tanya

On Jun 8, 2011, at 1:08 PM, Victor B wrote:

> As I said earlier....years ago we had kids programming until it turned into daycare and the volunteers and staff for it were burned out. They volunteered to work a game convention not work daycare. So currently we offer kids, tween and teen events in several areas. Making sure parents can spot those events easily in the program book will help.
> 
> There are cons like gencon  that offer kids tracks (kid rooms with lego, blocks, crafts, candy land and other board games, etc.) but they charge for that room and you can only drop off your child for 1 or 2 hours at a time.
> They have volunteers as well as daycare staff in the room. Some have parents co-op volunteer. Note that most all of them charge a fee and have actual daycare staff.
> The family fun pavillion area of gencon is for kids 4-12  and free....but kids must be at all times be accompanied by an adult. Families playing games together. Sunday is family day and extra events for families that day.
> Comiccon uses an outside agency (kiddiecorp) for kids. Music, age appropriate games, story time, board games, group games and arts and crafts. It also costs additional money.
> Gencon and some others not only have kids rooms (at addditional fee) but also have spouse programming- things for non-gamer spouses to do at the convention (crafts like knitting and beading, irish dancing, tours of sights
> outside of the convention area, yoga, self defense, etc).
> 
> It is not as simple as making a kid's room and having volunteers man it.  Liability is an issue (negligent supervision). You have to have so many adults per kids at certain ages etc.
> Since we do not offer daycare or invite parents to drop off their kids for us to watch them we are ok. Once we do provide those services we get the liability that comes with them unless we have an outside source handling 
> it (which we discussed in the past).
> 
> At this point kids programming and daycare can be discussed and hammered out after Gateway when we have our 6 months of downtime and can weigh all options carefully.
> For now let's sprinkle in some more kids events for Gateway and make sure the kid friendly events are easily spotted in the program book. 
> 
> 
> V
> 
> From: Nekojin <nekojin at gmail.com>
> To: deptheads at strategicon.net
> Sent: Tue, June 7, 2011 11:51:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [Deptheads] As we grow...
> 
> Let me give a resounding NO to that idea. Video Games volunteers are mostly teenage and post-teen video game players, not babysitters. Making us actually be responsible for children and keeping track of them, coordinating with parents... no. Not unless you can find us a handful of people who WANT to be substitute parents. By my reckoning, we'd need at least six volunteers - two people to cover 4 hours each day Saturday and Sunday (10-2, 2-6, 6-10). 
> 
> And if you're going to go to that effort, at that point, you may as well make a Kids/Babysitting department. 
> 
> Jason DuVall
> Head Videot 
> 
> On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 11:19 PM, Frank <Frankvas at pacbell.net> wrote:
>     Me being a parent, I think it would be nice to enlarge the video games room and add some non video games in it for the younger ones.  Make it the kids corner, have some blocks, yougling board games, large legos, etc. (I can lend some of these by the way)
> 
>     Parents are with their kids all day, every day.  I don't think they want to go to the con and have to play with their kids there again, they want to spend some time with adults and play with adults for a change.  If you (we) get someone to volunteer to watch the kids:
> -To leave your child you have to leave your cell phone number.
> -If called, you must come back within 5mins.  If not then you are banned, no second chances.
> -No kids under ... 7?
> I've watched my daughter play, it doesn't require any effort, a book is recommended.
> 
> Frank V.
> 
> 
> On 6/7/2011 10:59 PM, Karl Kreder wrote:
>> 
>> I would say that maybe we are approaching this thing all wrong.  It just dawned on me, why don't we encourage the parents to play games with their children.
>> 
>> I understand there are a few parents out there that do not want to do this (I am not going to argue the reasons why) but what if we gave incentive to parents to game with their children and have the take part in the games that make the con what it is.
>> 
>> This is what I am doing with my kids...
>> 
>> My two cents
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 8:34 PM, <fad23 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> One of my new volunteers approached me last weekend and had one item of conversation which she felt we (the convention) must consider as we grow: how we deal with our child guests.
>> 
>> At the moment we have a "family Sunday" which seems like an attraction. At other times it appears that children are left by their parents in the video game room, or roam with no real direction. This is just an observation, but I imagine that means that we could implement some idea that could give these visitors some real content.
>> 
>> For the last convention, I brought in Bill Chott to do Simon Sez. I'm sure he'd come back to do it again, but I think we could do a lot more!
>> 
>> I'm not suggesting a specific plan at the moment. I'm not a parent, so I can only guess the concerns of the gamer parents I know who attend. The aim of this message is to spark a discussion that might lead to ideas that eventually become a plan.
>> 
>> Obviously there are many issues that would be of concern: content, staffing, scheduling, and other practical matters. I suppose I'd like to read your thoughts on this notion, and consider them as much as I am able.
>> 
>> Then there's the idea of a short term plan and a long term plan - things I can add to the schedule for Gateway and what we imagine as the shape of the convention in the years to come. Just in the typing of this message I'm getting inspired. Any light bulbs popping over your heads?
>> 
>> I expect I'll be opening this discussion up to my friends in private. In the mean time, if you have opinions or ideas, I'd be interested in reading them.
>> 
>> Thanks for your time. I look forward to reading your responses.
>> 
>> twenty-three-skidoo,
>> 
>> Neil Figuracion
>> Fad23
>> 
>> Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: "Eric M. Aldrich" <ealdrich at mac.com>
>> Sender: deptheads-bounces at strategicon.net
>> Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:10:01
>> To: <Deptheads at strategicon.net>
>> Reply-To: deptheads at strategicon.net
>> Subject: [Deptheads] A few new additions to the list
>> 
>> I've added three new people to the list -- one way overdue :-(
>> 
>> The overdue one is Fred Upton -- he's the second on the RPGA side. He's been actively helping us for years, and Mickey and Mike have frequently asked me to add him and I've flaked, so he's finally here.
>> 
>> The next person is Taralyn Frasqueri-Molina, or "TL" as she goes by. She's the person behind lining up the artwork and is working with marketing. Thanks to her we had the wonderful conbook cover art and TShirts this last show.
>> 
>> Finally, we have someone who is genuinely new, Frank Vassallo, who is taking over for Harmon Ward running the historical end of the miniatures team for at least this show. Harmon is still on the list as well. Things are a little complicated right now, but more on that later.
>> 
>> Glad to have the three of you here!
>> 
>> I still need to add some of Neil's board game assistants.
>> 
>> Hopefully we'll have final numbers from Gamex soon. They're looking pretty good.
>> 
>> Eric
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>> 
>> -- 
>> Karl (zeotter at gmail.com)
>> 
>> "When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half." 
>>   - Gracie Allen
>> 
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