I have attended multiple Gen Cons over the last 15 years, but next year I plan to bring my son for the first time. He will be just a few days shy of 11 years old at the time. I am already planning for 2018 and the first question that come to me is how do I buy his badge. Do I have to create a separate account in his name to purchase his badge, or do I somehow do it from my own account? Same thing for event tickets? Thanks for any help you can provide and I'm sure I'll be back many times over the next 6 months with more questions. Thanks again!

I would create an account. Then when he gets older and wants to keep going, he'll have an account set already.

Plus, you'd get two shots at the housing lottery

Can a 10 year old have his own account and housing code?

Congrats on take your son at the age of 11! My mom took me to my first GENCON at the ripe age of 10 in 1976.
 

Please go here to get the ins and outs of account creation:

https://www.gencon.com/attend/your_account

You can either create a dummy account for your son that you are linked to using the "Someone Else and "Don't Know" feature when buying a badge or you can create a separate account for him and  link to it via your own account (Recommended).

You can either buy a badge on that account (If you want the housing access on his account) or buy it on your own account.

Mike Boozer 
Customer Service & Event Team Manager
Gen Con LLC

I am taking my son for the first time this year as well. He is a little older at 16.

This will be my son and I's first Gen Con as well.  I wasnt sure which day would be best for first timers, so I opted for Friday. Hopefully a wise choice

Since your son will still be 10 you should be able to get him a wristband instead of having to purchase him a badge, unless he intends to sign up for any events of course.

To provide some unsolicited advice:

• have extra snacks and water in a bag or backpack, makes it easier when the kids are in tow
  
•  you don't need every accessory to every game each time you go to the convention center, too much stuff means you (Mom/Dad) typically have to carry it
  

I took my son last year for the first time. He was 2 months old. hehe

0 kids: easiest
0-2 years: easy (throw em in a stroller and carry harness)
2-4 years: moderate (you can still leash them)
5-10 years: elite difficulty. Use multiple adults and prepare for a lot of hotel time.
11-17 years: easy (here is your badge, have fun)
18+ years: get your own badge and good luck in the housing lottery :)
 

yeah, I'd love to bring my 6 year old, but he needs to run and climb

I brought my (then) 11 year old daughter a few years ago.  She was not a gamer at all but I viewed this as good dad/daughter time.  Seriously, it was one of the best times I've ever had.  We stuck to mostly board games, which she really liked.  She also played thru both True Dungeon (combat) adventures that year and literally never missed her attack slides.  She wore her Halloween costume (a unicorn) walking around the dealer hall and the Con and was excited to have her picture taken so many times.  I can't say enough what an absolute great time it was bringing my daughter.  For anyone on the fence (about bringing your kids) I would absolutely do it!

I brought my son for the first time at age 12 and he hasn't missed one yet.  Next year he will turn 21 at GenCon!