Why is it that parents have no common sense when deciding to take their kids out for the afternoon?

Question

My girlfriend and I wnet to see the movie "Cars" this weekend.
We decided we should see it this weekend since it had been out for a couple of weeks and has received some good reviews.

While this is an animated movie, we did expect that some people would bring their children to the theater.
As we started watching the previews, it was obvious that the parents were not going to be able to keep these kids quiet.
Parents didnt just bring in children, they brought in toddlers.
Im talking abouot children under the age of 5 who have no understanding of what they are going to see. Children that have no ability to sit still for an extended amount of time, and will begin to cry or yell at their parents when they are bored or arent able to get up and do something that they want.

Is it reasonable to expect that there may be a time in which children under the age of 5 would be banned from the public movie theater, until they can sit still and focus on the movie?

Answer 1

I totally agree, but have to tell ya that it is never going to happen. Those parents that bring in the little kids always will bring in the little children. That is a movie ticket, movie ticket cost money. So they bring in the money. I am 24 and love to go to children's movies but have stopped when my little sister grew up because I just can not handle the little kids chatter and crying and wining. I just have to settle for rentals. No biggie, just got to deal with it. But what I really hate is when parents bring their little children to a non chidlren's movie and they are loud....Ugggh now that they should ban the little kids from. I mean really, get a baby sitter parents!!!

Answer 2

First off, children under the age of 5 *do* have the ability to understand what they are seeing. Depending on how young they are, they may not be able to recall it all later, but they can understand things as they are happening.

I do understand how constant interruptions during a movie is annoying. My husband and I don't like going to movies rated PG-13 for the fact that the theater will inevitably be full of 13 and 14 year olds, chatting on their cell phones, talking too loudly, and getting up and down out of their seats a hundred times. In those cases, I definitely think there should be times when the theater is open only to those 18 and up.
But, in my opinion, if you are going to see a children's movie, expect that there will be children in the theater. It always amazes me how many people want to do something like this (see a children's movie, go to Disney World, etc), and not want children to be there, and/or get upset when children act like children. If a child is completely disruptive, then I agree that a parent should remove them.
But to "ban" children from a children's movie? That's downright silly!

Answer 3

As long as you go to the "cheap seats" (do those really exist anymore?) The parents will spend the $5 or $6 but if it's the later movies and $$$$, my guess is those parents wouldn't pay that much for a toddler to "not sit and not watch" the movie. I have a 10, 6 and 4 yr old children- I want to take them to see Cars, but I will only take the older 2. Mainly for the reason you stated and the one I responded with. I don't want to spend the money for the 4 yr old to constantly be bugging me and I miss the movie too. Then I'm out her $ and my $. I'll pay for a sitter!

Answer 4

I think it's unrealistic to ask this for an animated movie, hence the G rating. I think you're better off waiting for the DVD to come out in stores and watching it in the privacy of your own home. Children under 5 can easily relate to an animated movie too, but of course it depends on the child. Each child is different and every child behaves differently in public. Banning children from a theater is completely unreasonable.

Answer 5

Um no. I have 2 children under the age of 5 whom are perfectly well behaved. I dont have a problem out of my kids at the movies. We went to see Ice Age 2 and they were perfect, they ate, laughed and enjoyed themselves. The 1 yr old even took a nap.

It's not fair to ban all kids under 5 when there should be people in the theatre that ask parents to step out with their children until they calm down.

kelsey my suggestion to you:shut up. I have a 3 yr old who LOVES the movies and yes he can sit there for 2 hrs and enjoy it. I make sure all my kids have snacks and drinks and that we are easliy able to get up to go to the restroom if need be. We're not all ignorant parents that can't control their kids.

BTW, if u dont want to deal with kids at a g-rated the movie then maybe you should wait for the dvd to come out. And if i were your girlfriend and i knew how u felt i'd dump your as*.

Answer 6

yes!!! Oh my God, you are absoultly right. Children whgo can't focus and sit still during a movie should not be allowed. It's annoying to everybody else and the kids aren't enjoying it. I went to see the movie Silent Hill a couple of weeks ago (scary, gory R rated movie) and there were kids like that in there. Also, my sister got up and left during a movie because some inept mother couldn't shut her brat up. Kids don't have fun in the movie theaters when they're 3 years old. It's quiet, dark, and long, everything a kid that age hates. My advice, get a babysitter if you're that damn eager to see a movie! There that was my little rant....

Answer 7

My son is 5 years old and I have never taken him to a movie yet. I felt that he wouldn't be ready and didn't want to bother people such as example you and your girlfriend. We haven't even taken him to a restaurant yet because there is nothing worse than a misbehaved kid when you're trying to relax and enjoy a meal. I have taken him for lunch but we go around 2 when it isn't as busy.
On the other hand it IS a child's movie. Some parents may really be bringing there 10 year old but have to bring the youngsters because no one to babysit, single parent who knows what the reason may be. You might want to try to be more understanding and if the children bother you wait till the "kids" movie comes out on DVD and go to a movie were kids aren't allowed. You are probably just as annoying to the kids being there. It is hard for them to see over adults big heads you know.

Answer 8

No, and definately not from a movie centered for a child. There are kids who enjoy sitting in a theatre watching movies. All children should not be judged from your experience. If I want to bring a one year old to a childrens movie it is my right as a parent. Sorry if some people can't deal with that. You don't sound like a person that has children. there are some adults that can't act right in a theatre.

Answer 9

My 2 1/2 year old daughter saw the movie and she did fine. Some parents let their kids run all over them and have no control. Some parents have more than one kid where one is older. If you are taking the old kid, then you have to take the young one also. Also when you go to kids movies, you can't expect it to be quiet. It is a kids movie and there will be kids making noise and laughing.
You question should have read: Why is it that parents have no common sense and expect total silence at a KID's movie?

Answer 10

i dont think any age child should be banned from movie theaters because while they might not be able to sit for like 2 hours they do understand wuts going on...they see commercials and they ask their parents to see the movies...if u go to see a childrens movie they u should accept the fact that there are gonna be younger chilren there...but a good idea would be to the afternoon movies are for younger kids and then like the movie times after say 6 are for adults and that would be understandable if there was a rule for that

Answer 11

The problem is not the children - it's the parents.

We took my youngest, when she was 4, to see Spirit - Stallion of the Cimerron and she sat quietly throughout the entire movie. If she started squirming and making noises I would tell her to sit still or that I'd take her to the car while her dad and her sister finished watching the movie. She sat still.

Of course, this doesn't work if you're not willing to follow through on the threat. However, if she had continued to disrupt the movie I would have taken her to the car... and she knew it.