Taking Kids to Expo: Fun Excursion or Nightmare?
There are only five days to go before Expo officially opens. Shanghai looks beautiful and everyone is excited. The big question for many parents is whether it is worth the effort and potential hassle to take the kids. I recently surveyed a number of parents regarding their top concerns about taking children, especially very young ones, to Expo.
Here is what I discovered.
Top 10 Concerns
Will the kids be too impatient to wait in the long lines?
Will the crowds be overwhelming for the kids?
Can our car drop us off at the entrance of the Expo site or will we the kids have to walk a long distance to get there?
Will there be designated areas for changing diapers?
Will there be shaded areas outside the exhibitions where we can get the children out of the heat?
What kind of food options will there be? Can we bring our own food inside?
Can we take our strollers inside the site? If not, can we rent strollers?
When passing through security, will there be items in our diaper bags which we will not be allowed to bring inside?
Will traffic in and out of the Expo area be difficult and thus is it better to take the subway?
Are the exhibits interesting and/or appropriate for children, especially young ones?
I plan on attending Expo shortly after it opens to investigate the situation. Please let me know what other concerns you might have.
Photo by ernop at www.flickr.com
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I went today and here's a few things I found out:
The lines will be unbearable for anyone with a short attention span or little patience. There is a jungle gym next to the Sweden pavilion which looks cool for kids. You can bring in a stroller. There are places to change diapers and nurse babies, but not enough and they are far apart. But they are marked clearly on the map. There are parks between the river and the pavilions which have plenty of shade. Everything will be crowded. You can bring in your own food.
My 4 year old daughter and I went to the Expo yesterday (Monday April 26) and brought our stroller and snacks for her. Bringing the stroller was key - not just to save her legs, and a place to nap, but because in some pavilions we were ushered ahead of the line! Lots of places to buy drinks and snacks no problems with lines or supplies. Clean bathrooms with toilet paper supplied. All in all it was okay that she went, she had a good time (a little bored here and there), but I don't feel the need to bring her again.
I'm pretty worried about the crowds, my housemate went to one of the trial days recently to look around, and complained that there were too many people. When the World Expo site actually opens I don't even dare to imagine how busy it's going to be! <:-(