9 Kids Theatre Tips to Know Before you Go

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Being a lover of the arts, I've always been excited about introducing our boys to kids theatre. We've seen everything from Mary Poppins to Cirque du Soleil together, but lately the kids are starting to take a more active role in their own entertainment.

10 things you should know before booking kids theatre tickets, from which seats to pick to how to handle parking

“Wild Kratts!” the big kid demanded the other day. “Please, pleeeeeease can I watch Wild Kratts?”

I took to Google to figure out what the heck a Wild Kratt was. The PBS show, I learned, features brothers Chris and Martin Kratt as they venture into the animated wild and use their collective creature powers to help animals. We don't watch much television here but between playdates and preschool, the kids inform me about what's cool and I do my very best to keep up. So I was thrilled to discover that the Wild Kratts are not only on TV, they also have a live kids theatre version showing around the country!

10 things you should know before booking kids theatre tickets, from which seats to pick to how to handle parking

Nothing like bringing your child's latest obsession to life to prove that you are the coolest parent in town.

Things to Consider BEFORE Booking Kids Theatre Tickets

9 things you should know before booking kids theatre tickets, from which seats to pick to how to handle parking

Having done this a time or two now, I'm here to share several things that you should know before heading out to the kids theatre.

1. Get excited. If your kids theatre experience is an in-person showing of a television show or movie, pop it in the night before!

2. Buy on Ticketmaster. We're working with Ticketmaster, and we've been SO pleased with their verified ticket service. They let you buy confirmed seats from other fans who are unable to attend (no more shady internet resales) and you have the chance to sell your tickets if something comes up.

10 things you should know before booking kids theatre tickets, from which seats to pick to how to handle parking

3. Confirm parking in advance. Certain kids theatre spots actually let you pay for parking in advance directly on Ticketmaster. This saves you from the last-minute headache of hunting for spaces, scrounging around for dollars if the place is cash-only, or walking from blocks away.

4. Nab aisle seats, if possible. This makes for an easy escape in case the little ones have a meltdown.

5. Consider nap time. A lot of kids theatre shows have afternoon performances, which is genius. Just take care that you're not overlapping with your child's witching hour.

6. Eat before you go. Nothing sucks more than hearing your kid mutter, “I'm hungry,” when you've still got an hour before curtain call.

7. Check the ticketing policy. Some kids theatre shows require tickets for every single person, regardless of age. Don't rely on lap-seating for your infant.

10 things you should know before booking kids theatre tickets, from which seats to pick to how to handle parking

8. Take pictures. You'll want to remember your adventures with the children at kids' theatre! I wish I had photos of myself attending some of the classics as a kid, from The Lion King to Christmas Carol.

9. Reflect. Once you get home, have a fun activity with the kids to talk about what they saw or learned. This can also be a great thing to share at circle time in school.

The boys had a blast at Wild Kratts Live, and I have a feeling there are more kids theatre performances in our future.

Have you taken your children to kids theatre shows? How do you make the most of the experience?

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