Chicon 8 is a family-friendly event, for many definitions of family, and particularly welcomes families with children, from babies to teenagers! (Adult children are also welcome, of course, but they’re not eligible for the majority of services provided below.)
This convention is for young fans visiting or growing up in fandom, as well as for adult ones. In order to make it easier for those who are not yet adults to attend, the convention will offer Childcare, Children’s Program, and a Teen Lounge, amongst other things. What younger attendees will have access to will depend upon their age.
Note that the Covid-19 masking policy applies to children as well as to adults, throughout the convention. Please see the full policy for specific details.
Opportunities and Services for Younger Members
Childcare
Chicon 8 is happy to partner with KiddieCorp to provide professional childcare for children ages 6 months through 12 years old. KiddieCorp is in its thirty-sixth year of providing high-quality children’s programs and youth services to conventions, trade shows, and special events and has lots of experience in creating an engaging set of activities while providing appropriate oversight.
The cost for the childcare will be $10 per hour, per child. Children must be registered for a minimum of two consecutive hours per child for each day registered.
Parents are responsible for any fees resulting from the late collection of their children. Fees are $5 per five minutes.
Availability
Thursday, September 1: 10:00AM to 10:00 PM
Friday, September 2: 10:00AM to 10:00 PM
Saturday, September 3: 10:00AM to 11:30 PM
Sunday, September 4: 10:00AM to 11:30 PM
Monday, September 5: 10:00AM to 3:00 PM
Parents will need to provide lunches for their children (no nuts, please). Water and snacks will be available.
The advance registration deadline is August 18, 2022. While there will be registration on-site, there is no guarantee that space will be available when you want it. Advance registration allows KiddieCorp to schedule the right number of caregivers to maintain proper childcare ratios as required by law.
Additional babysitting services will not be available through the convention, but other commercial services, such as UrbanSitter, are available in Chicago for those who need them.
Please let us know if you have any questions
Children’s Program
The Program team is putting together a varied and entertaining program especially for the convention’s child members. Full information on Children’s program includes the hours of availability and rules for dropping off children there, are available here.
If you have any additional suggestions for family-focused program items, Program would be particularly interested in hearing about them. (As of the time of writing.)
While children may well enjoy attending program items outside of the Children’s program track, and are welcome to, they should only attend items which they and their caregiver are comfortable with. Where relevant to the topic, other program may include adult themes. Moderators are encouraged to give content warnings where such content is likely, but conversations may develop in unexpected directions.
Play Areas
Small play areas, with soft furnishings and/or coloring and other art supplies, will be available in several places around the convention.
Teen Lounge
There will be a dedicated space geared towards teenagers. It will be near other lounges set aside for specific groups and needs.
Nursing/Pumping Room
The convention will have designated space set aside as a nursing/pumping room. We expect it will be necessary to ask the Operations team for access to this space, since it will be kept locked by default.
Elsewhere around the Convention
Although most of our plans are provisional right now, many of them should come to fruition at the convention. Here’s some of what to (hopefully!) expect.
- There are plans afoot for a parents with babies and toddlers meet-up.
- If all goes to plan, you’ll be able to learn basic soldering skills in order to Build-a-Blinkie (with twinkling lights!) in the Maker Area in the Exhibits Hall, or play with a starship simulation computer game.
- You are forewarned that we expect there to be dealers with a tempting selection of age-appropriate books and plushies, amongst other things.
- The Art Show is likely to have a wide variety of engaging artwork appealing to visually-oriented younger people. If you are concerned about the possibility of mature themes which might be depicted in the art show, we recommend that caregivers wander through the show themselves before taking a younger person.
Hotel
The Hyatt Regency Chicago offers a variety of amenities to make staying with children easier. As part of a booking, you can request a crib, a rollaway bed, or connecting rooms. (Look for the check boxes under “Special Requests”.) See the Booking A Room page for additional information.
Tourism
Chicago has wonderful museums and parks for younger people to explore. In addition to items on our tourism page, specific highlights near the convention include playing in the water at the Crown Fountain and around the mirrored “Bean” (Cloud Gate), both in Millennium Park, a short walk away from the hotel. Also nearby is Maggie Daley Park, which has a ton of stuff for kids and families, including a climbing wall, mini golf, and a huge playground. The Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier (highly recommended) is a free trolley ride away.
For other suggestions, see the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau Families page.
Requirements
Memberships
Please see Memberships for specific details of, and requirements for, different convention Memberships, depending on age.
Adult Contact Person
Every person under the age of 18 attending the convention will need to have one or two designated adult contacts associated with them. Teenagers with Teen memberships may provide that information themselves, but younger people will need an adult to provide that information to the convention once they arrive. The details of how this information will be recorded at the convention are still being confirmed.
COVID-19 Policy
The convention’s COVID-19 masking and vaccination policy applies to children as well as to adults. Please see the full policy for precise details as to what is required, depending on age.
Questions
If you have any questions about the convention’s provisions for children and teens, please email us.