For all you doting Dads, that can't wait to bring your precious little bundles of joy to The County Ground, can I make a couple of suggestions?
1- If your worried about swearing, go in the family enclosure. That's what it's there for. Football is becoming sanitized enough already without some self righteous father complaining about a few expletives.
2- Make sure their little feet are kept away from the seat in front of them. It does my fucking nut in when there's a kid behind me drumming out a monotonous beat with his/her shoes.
I think it's great to get kids going to football, I took my lad to his first game when he was four. What I don't like so much is people expecting everyone else to modify their behaviour due to their decision to bring small kids.
Good pointers. I took my oldest for the first time when he was 6, but he got bored too easily and spent most of the game asking when it was time to go and being told off for kicking the seat in front as per Herthab's comments. Last season was much the same, but considering the dross we had to put up with, it wasn't surprising he got bored and fed up!
This season has been totally different. He's 8 now and understands what's going on and loves every minute of it. He does still enjoy Rockin Robin (particularly as the chap who dresses up sits just in front of us), the half time entertainment and a kick about with a rolled up sock or glove in the Legends Lounge afterwards! However it's the actual football which is his highlight now.
My youngest is 4 and I've not taken him yet. I may get him a ST next season and then the option is there if he expresses an interest. At the moment it's more about Tom & Jerry and Scooby Doo.
On the subject of taking girls, I was around 8 when my dad first took me. 28 years on I'm still going, so I don't think it matters whether you have a girl or a boy. If they have a football mad dad (or mum) it's difficult not to get involved.
