I have a 7 years old nephew who LOVES trains and model railroading. I try and help and encourage him. His parents are supportive of his interest in trains. There is a Regional Convention in North Carolina at the end of October. My nephew is off school and his mother is off work that weekend. I plan to attend the Friday and Saturday events. My sister-in-law is talking about bring my nephew with her to the show on the days that I am attending. My nephew is well behaved and his parents are strict with respect to his behavior. But, he is 7 years old. What do I tell my sister-in-law? I WANT new young modelers in our great hobby.[*-)]
My reply would be simply for the parent or adult supervisor to be prepared to leave as soon the child is no longer having fun. It could be a very short visit, or a few hours, depending on the child and the displays. And the parent needs to have a plan for the rest of the day. The plan could include taking a break, and coming back later for more. Or not.
If the distances and travel don’t warrant such a short visit, don’t do it. There is nothing worse than dragging around a child who is no longer interested while the adult tries to enjoy the convention.
In my parenting experiences, even theme park visits should be subject to the same rules. Quit, or take a break, while it’s still fun for all. Better to leave early wishing you had seen more than leaving after the event/place has stopped being fun. Don’t get me wrong - the cheap side of me hates visits shortened by children losing interest. But in the long run, the most memorable recreational experiences were always when we quit before it stopped being fun. It left us wanting more, instead of regretting having even started.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
What part of the convention are you planning to attend? Some of these conventions have train shows associated with them, sometimes open to the public. If the young man is well behaved, I see no reason not to have him accompany you.
On the other hand, if it is your intention to attend any of the clinics where various, and sometimes mundane, topics are discussed, then I’m not certain that the clinics would hold the attention of a 7 year old.
Even though it seems like it was back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, when I was 7 I would have loved to attend such an event. Even at 52 I haven’t managed to attend an NMRA event although I’ve wanted to attend the Nationals but the cost of traveling was something I couldn’t afford at the time.
I agree, if you can limit the boring stuff it should be a positive event if the 7 year old is interested in trains. I was interested in trains from an age of around 4 or 5 for sure.
When my grand kids were 7, they would go to train shows with me. They would be interested for a few minutes at different displays, but if I stopped to talk to someone, they were bored in minutes. A two hour visit was a long one.
If you want to go the the convention as a modeler, leave the child at home. If you want to talk the child to a train event, fine, but you will not get to do what you want.
You’ve nailed it. I would say any age is appropriate for a well behaved child, but understand that a 7 year old does not have the attention span to sit through a clinic, unless it’s very hands-on, and perhaps not even then.
But the key, as Fred says, is to time it so that you drag the child out kicking and screaming that he wants to stay, not have him doing the happy dance because you finally decided you’ve had enough. My 8 yr old has gone to the Amherst Model RR Show with me each of the last 4 years. I always check the location of my must see vendors / displays and go there first (the rule is I pick one, then he picks one), so when he’s ready to go, we go.
The other thing is to make sure the child ha
I’m 48 amd they still haven’t allowed me to attend!
No, I think the former post is right on…as soon as the child is not “having fun anymore” be prepared to leave.
Also realize that a child’s attention span is shorter than an adult’s often, so be prepared for “squirmyness”.
Also be prepared to be "drug along to the next “exciting” thing to them even if you are still interested in something back elsewhere.
If he is really well behaved, perhaps you could ply him with a new train when the convention is over…
good luck at bring in new “fresh meat” to the market" that is our private enjoyment of model trains…
[8-|]
Before taking a child to a regional event, I’d take him to a local swap meet/show. If he gets rowdy in a couple of hours at a smaller event, I think I’d pass on taking him to a regional one.
I will echo some of the thoughts already expressed. I have taken my kids to train shows. Even if we think our kids are reasonably well behaved any youngster that age will likely have a shorter attention span for things, will grow bored, and will let you know about it one way or another. Oftentimes perhaps. Especially if he has to fight through a crowd of big people and can’t see the displays and items as well as you can. As someone wrote, if your’e going to the show as a modeler, leave the child at home. If you want to make it his day, then do so but be prepared to leave the show a lot sooner than you might want to.
The OP stated the event is an NMRA regional convention. No real mention of a public train show. If there is, then certainly it would be a great place for a seven year old. Our local club has been hosting a public train show for 27 years, and the little people are the ones who seem to enjoy everything the most!
This show - the NMRA, MER regional convention does have a train show. It can be attended separately from the convention on Saturday and Sunday and according to it’s information page http://www.mer2011.org/train will have 2 operating layouts. I suggest you do the show and not try for the clinics with your nephew…
Enjoy
Paul
The OP stated that his sister-in-law was thinking of taking the kid with her to the show. Not that he was planning to attend clinics with a 7-year old in tow.
Tell your sister-in-law to try it - if it works, it works. If not, she will have to take the kid and go home on her own, or go do something else. Separate cars might be a good idea … 
Smile,
Stein
Stein nailed it. Whoever is supervising the boy should not be a person who is attending as a modeler but rather one whom is attending with the idea that the 7 year old sets the pace, the duration and the focus of the visit. I would research other activities in the area that might interest a 7 year old and make a fun day of it. Certainly don’t go with the idea that the 7 year old has to sit quietly and listen for a whole day, and IMO, don’t let him near pop or sweets until after the show.
By all means, take him. Remember, though, that the expedition is more for him than for you.
I would look around for some train books at his level, and maybe a bit above his level, and let him read and absorb the material beforehand. That way, he can associate stuff he’s learned with what he sees at the show, which will help to keep his interest. When you’re at the show, pick up a book or DVD for him, so that he can take it home and continue the experience.
Some of the shows around here have Lego layouts, Thomas rides and other kid-friendly activities. They’re well set up to welcome younger visitors. Our shows often have a modular layout built by the local Youth in Model Railroading group, with boys and girls running the trains through the scenery they’ve built themselves.
I remember when kids was welcome to any model railroad fuction and nobody worried about if it was proper or not nor did they ask questions before going.
Take the kid to the meet after all kids are the future of the hobby-and maybe future of the NMRA.
Jim,If you have a active NMRA division join for a year and attend the monthly meetings.You will enjoy yourself especially if they have private layout tours and the meet is being hosted by a model railroad club.
Remember my old amigo you’re not getting any younger.
Craig is North Carolina, which is the MER (Middle Eastern Region) of the NMRA, and is talking about a convention in October.
In other words: http://www.mer2011.org/Home
Hour long clinics, layout visits, operation sessions, prototype tours - maybe not that age appropriate for a 7 year old with a limited attention span.
But the associated train show (http://www.mer2011.org/train) is specifically mentioned as being open to the public, $5 per adult not attending the convention, kids under 12 free when accompanied by a paying adult.
One could possibly surmise that this train show part is indeed intended for letting smaller kids come and look at model trains.
Smile,
Stein
I have been to and still go to a lot of the shows, including NMRA and region shows. I have seen a lot of kids who act better than the adults. I could tell you war stories about some of the “adults” I have met at shows. I had a guy grab an ExactRail car (in box) out of my hand at a region show a few months ago when I set it down at the register to pay for it and he took off with it. that is about the most cheeky. I hope the roof walk was completely warped.
Bob