My son brought it up for his birthday party. He understands the concept but since I've never done it I wasn't sure if it is too challenging for his age or if it's worth trying. Any thoughts?
We had a chance to try it out this weekend and as expected, my son absolutely loved it!
My kids love laser tag and I've played with them a couple of times. They've played at several different locations.
You need to ask questions and get specifics from any place you're thinking about going. The equipment tends to be heavy and a lot of places have minimum height requirements, particularly if they use the armor-style sensor vests. My younger son wasn't large enough to play with this type until he was 10.
It depends on the age range of the place. My oldest went to a laser tag party in Kindergarten (for a 6 year old) and it was way too overwhelming for him and several other kids. The vests, helmets and weapons were huge and the place was dark with really loud music inside. This particular place is geared for ages 10 and up.
By contrast, my 9 year old went to a birthday party last weekend that included Laser Tag that was geared towards a younger group so it was too easy and not as much fun for them. The walls were really low so they could easily see over them, it wasn't very dark inside, etc.
So check out the recommended ages of the places near you. Around here, the place that are 100% Laser Tag with maybe a couple of video games and some pizza really are for older kids, teens and adults. The places that are more like indoor play spaces where laser tag is one of several options are more for younger kids and would give the kids who don't want to play something to do while the other kids do play.
Laser tag is so much fun! Why not?
We did this for my 9 y/o's bday and my 5 y/o had a really hard time with the vest. It was way too large and very heavy for him. Find your venue then take your son and try on a vest before deciding.
Laser Tag is super fun ~ we had a blast. If the 6 y/o's are on the bigger side it could work. My 5 y/o is quite small.
My kids liked it at that age.
I think it would be fun! I have taken my youngest brother when he was around 4, and while he didn't fully grasp the concept he had a blast.
I would check around with the parent of kids you KNOW your son would want, if he has "best friends" or whatever... Just to make sure they wouldn't have a problem with it. While I personally think that toy guns/ pretend gunplay is perfectly acceptable and fun for kids this age, a lot of mothers are really against it. It would suck to plan this out, only to have his friends no-show because their parents aren't a fan of this type of play.
SO MUCH FUN. Joseph was doing it at age 5 with an older friend of ours, and now at age 7 goes along with dad for "man days" to an indoor laser tag place once every month or so. I remember the Christmas when we got laser tag from Santa, and all the fun we had with that. My little brother was probably 5 or 6 when we got that set. It wasn't too big, it was a square thing that strapped across our chest, an X on our back, and a gun about the size of my arm back then. The place we go to, the gear IS too big and heavy for my youngest son (age 4 now) but he's a little guy. Maybe shop and see where the place is you're taking him---I think that's a good idea no matter what. When there you can see their rules, their gear, and ask the rules and age requirements. Ours lets Joseph go in all the time, but yours may be different. At ours, there's NO running allowed (just fast walking in a maze-like thing), and they have all kinds of different games they play. Our favorite is black light capture the flag (no flag though, you gotta get to the other team's base and shoot up in the ceiling at the sensor there so many times to have it "captured". We especially love that because my husband's hair is white and glows awesomely. I can always recruit random strangers (especially the age 7-12 crowd) to attack him for us. :)
We just had one for 5 year olds and it was awesome! They had us play each other. All kids had a great time. Yes the vests were big but it was fine. They turned the lights up and had helpers from the place keep the kids from running. It was really fun and no problems. The rules are simple. No running no touching. The kids all got that. I will say all the kids we invited are sweet well behaved. I would not invite kids who are wild or can't follow rules. If so, just have an adult follow them around. You should do it! Super fun!
Six is pretty young for this. They have to wear a special vest & sit and listen to directions and rules before going in. It's very dark and there are usually a lot of bigger kids which can be scary and intimidating.
I would go play it with him as a family first, do a trial run before making it a birthday activity. If he decides he really wants to do it make it a small group. You don't want to spend a lot of money on something that many of the kids want enjoy or even want to participate in.
I think nine or ten is a better age.
Laser tag is sooo much fun!!!
Call around and see what they offer..
http://www.bowlbrunswick.com/game-zone-and-lazer-zone/277/
I would do it!! In fact, I HAVE done it!!
They will have a blast. There really isn't a concept. The only problem we ran into when my daughter was invited to a laser tag party is she is afraid of the dark.
It didn't take her long to adjust to the dark and have fun.
No. Laser tag isn't for the younger kids. It's running and hiding with gear and guns almost as big as they are.
Call the facility you'd be reserving and ask their age limits. Ours does not allow kids under 8.
It's worth letting them run around if you can afford the party. Get some older kids in there, and some parents willing to take a dramatic death and make the little kids' day. We've done laser tag parties for my stepkids. They are a lot of fun.
ETA, I agree. Look for the place with the vest vs the helmets. Little kids turn into bobble heads and can't see anything in the helmet version.
