Cohorts C0–C3 (≈0–12)
Each row is a product lane, not a marketing segment. Owner TBD per festival.
Teens (C4): separate page — different fit-tag menu and social grammar.
Access (SN-*): cross-cut all ages.
Design axes (every cohort gets all five)
| Axis |
Question |
| Mobility |
Stroller-bound · walking toddler · independent walker · wheelchair / mobility device |
| Engagement mode |
No interaction · parallel play · hands-on · passive viewing · structured participation |
| Parent surplus |
Logistics only · parallel rest · joint delight · photo/UGC hook |
| Sensory |
Quiet · moderate · loud/drum-forward · opt-out path |
| Exit |
Leave anytime without guilt · nap window · hard stop time |
C0 — Stroller-bound / pre-walking (≈0–2)
| Field |
Stub |
| Mobility |
Infant in stroller or carrier; parent may carry — but festival should not require carry |
| Engagement |
Often neither play nor spectate in the adult sense — visual field + calm motion |
| Parent job |
Carrier, nap manager, shade seeker |
| Spatial |
Wide flat paths, stroller parking clusters, low sightlines |
| Programming grammar |
Crib-mobile logic at festival scale — long-hanging, slow-moving, glittery/light-catching décor at stroller height (not stage-height spectacle). Lower install benefits walking toddlers (C1) too |
| Anti-pattern |
Main-stage-only programming; queue-only activations; décor visible only above 4 ft |
| Open product gap |
Stroller-mount lanterns / light strings — procession props assume hand-held; Mardi Gras stroller-decor culture suggests clip-on / rail-mount kits for LNY & Mid-Autumn |
| Infrastructure (non-negotiable) |
Diaper changing (not in food zone) · continuous shade to village · quiet rest / nursing · stroller paths min ~36–42 in · feeding + water refill · sound discipline near rest zone |
| Programming (light touch) |
Parent–child movement (Zumbini-class) · sensory touch table · low-volume roving music · themed stroller parade pre-procession |
| Parent acquisition |
Copy like “0–2 welcome — changing station @ Village” on Sacramento4Kids listings — not only “family fun” |
| Success signal |
Parent completes one loop without reversing stroller; baby calm duration in shade corral |
C1 — Walking toddler (≈2–4)
| Field |
Stub |
| Mobility |
Independent steps; short legs; bolt risk |
| Engagement |
Parallel play — beside other kids, not cooperative games |
| Parent job |
Boundary-setter; 10–15 min attention window |
| Spatial |
Bounded zones, soft edges, exit-visible from every station |
| Programming grammar |
Bubble mat, story circle, make-and-walk (craft → short procession), duplicate stations to shorten lines · dancing costumed characters (5–15 min roving) · touch-a-truck open house |
| What works (3–5) |
Short stage sets 20–30 min · Children’s Theater 15–20 min · hands-on craft 10 min · bounded pocket + photo backdrop |
| Character strategy (no Disney IP) |
Heritage zodiac/moon/lion · local vendors (S4K: Princess Party, Pixie Tribe) · community mascots · gap: Vietnamese parent–child host in NorCal |
| Anti-pattern |
Seated 30-min show; competitive games; open bounce without shade adjacent |
| Success signal |
Repeat station visits; no meltdown at zone edge |
C2 — Preschool / young child (≈4–6)
| Field |
Stub |
| Mobility |
Running; still needs hand-holding in crowds |
| Engagement |
Active interaction preferred; brief passive OK if hooked |
| Programming grammar |
15–20 min show blocks; lantern craft; instrument petting zoo; contest 2D entry · genre hooks (hero journey) without licensed IP |
| Parent surplus |
Photo moment + “they made something” |
| Success signal |
Completes craft → joins procession with prop |
C3 — School age (≈6–12)
| Field |
Stub |
| Mobility |
Independent in crowd with meetup plan |
| Engagement |
Mix passive (show) and active (contest, gallery pride) |
| Programming grammar |
Classroom contest wedge, People’s Choice, weekend-school booth · Tet Relay heats · story theater + enactment · craft → procession |
| Parent surplus |
Community + kid pride shareable to PTA / FB |
| Local synergies (Greater Sacramento) |
S4K-indexed martial arts, dance, sports, camps (Kovar’s, i9, Code Ninjas, library storytime) → demo slots + relay teams |
| Tween slice (≈9–11) |
Skill challenges · club heats · junior volunteer roles · school-age tags — never “little kids zone” copy |
| Success signal |
Pre-festival submission + on-site gallery visit |
← Overview · Fit tags · Cohort C4 — teens