What is the best age to introduce toddlers to a movie theater?

Question

I have a very active 4 yr. old boy who can barely sit through a 30 minute TV show. I want to take him to see the new Cars movie, but I'm afraid that after the first 30 minutes, he will want to get up and explore around and run and talk. Should I wait for it to come out on DVD and try the movie theater another time when he's older?

Answer 1

Yes, wait. It is not fair to the other people who paid to see the movie. I know it's frustrating, I have 2 kids.

Answer 2

Really depends on the child. My children have all been going to movies since they were babies. (they were free, breastfed and would always fall asleep :-)

You know your own child. If he can't sit through a show, then he isn't going to sit through a movie. Some kids are just like that. You'd be better off waiting for the DVD or if you have a "dollar theater" where you live so it's not a loss if he doesn't sit. I'd try a DVD at home. Lights off, snacks and sit with him to watch it. When he's done watching but the movie isn't over, try again later picking up where you left off so he can watch the whole movie and then talk about it with him. What he liked or didn't like, what you liked and didn't like. Tell him if he doesn't understand something he can ask you a question...just pause the movie.

Does he sit doing other activities? If not then you should start getting him to sit for longer periods doing crafts, or workbooks....not too long before he'll be going to school....the years fly right by.

Answer 3

I have a very "spirited" 3 year old son who absolutely LOVES anything to do with cars, so the movie Cars was right up his ally. I just talked to him before we went (on opening day) about the rules of the theater and we bought popcorn to help keep him doing something with his hands. I had my husband sit on one side of him and myself on the other. He did really well (no worse than 3/4 the other kids in the theater!) During some of the slower paced parts of the movie I just asked him if he wanted some more popcorn and he was pretty content to munch it while he watched. You can always wait until it comes out in a second-run theater and try that for his first time when there are less people. Good Luck!

Answer 4

You should just wait for the DVD and try the movie theater when he's 6 or 7 years old. Toddlers have short attention spans, and the excitement of being in some place new will certainly make him more prone to want to explore and talk. Besides, if your son is like my son, he'd want to keep repeating a favorite part of a video or movie, so having the DVD will solve this.

Answer 5

AWW! Come on people! If you take your child to a "children's" movie, people shouldn't expect them to sit still and not talk! Give him the fun expierience and if it doesn't work out wait awhile for the next time. I'm sorry but I do not expect to go to a kids movie and not see kids! HELLO???
We took my older son to see his first movie Brother Bear when he was a little less than 2 1/2. He loved it. He was mezmorized by the screen, not even wanting popcorn. He wasn't one to sit through a whole Blue's Clues episode.
My younger son we took to see Chicken Little. He was about the same age. He was fine for most of it and then started to get bored the last 30 minutes or so. He wanted to run up and down the steps ect. I took him out to the candy counter bought a sucker and he was good with that the rest of the time.
Like I said before, give it a chance! Cars was great! We took them both to it and made sure we had enough snacks! :)

Answer 6

ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY????Children have to experience life. My son is little older than 2 and 1/2, we had no idea how he would act in a movie theater but I took him to see CarsThe Movie anyway. We went to a matinee, and because he is soooo active, I figured we would be leaving within in the first 5 minutes. My then 2 and 1/2 year old, sat through the ENTIRE movie, ate a entire small bag of popcorn and enjoyed himself. Even more shocking, I got up to use the bathroom (he is very attached to me) he didn't ask to go with me, he just wanted me to hurry and get from in front of the screen so he could continue watching the movie.

Answer 7

I disagree completely with the first response. I have 4, but that really doesn't matter because it's about childhood development. Try to teach them to ride a bike at 15, more difficult than 5. If you take him the first time and he wants to get up and walk around after even 2 minutes, walk out to the lobby with him and explain that the movie requires sitting for longer than at home during his shows. Also let him know about other people and their experience with the movie, i.e. laughing, listening, etc. I think the more you do that (total repetition) it works with almost every child. Patience on the adults side is what is important. I know for me it worked to have a big meal right before the movie and no sugary snacks during. Popcorn was a plus. And I said we could stop afterwards and get popsicles or something to that affect.

Answer 8

You are really a wise mother. You hve correctly diagnoised that your kid will be restless in the movie theatre. The attention span of children is very limited.In a way they are perhaps thinking what fools we parents are to sit watchng the same things for hours when the world is full of so many novelties.Even the same thing seen by them from different angles looks novel to them. Do not try to straightjacket them into this regime. They themselves would ask for it when they are ready to see this thing the seniors were so interested in. When I asked my kids whetherthey would like to come with me to see a picture their first query was what all snacks I would get them at the theatre and were normally lost in enjoying it and watching the picture only occasionally. I also find that the violence in today's picture adversely affect their sensibilities. When they would see the boxing or the wrestling events they would constantly draw my attention to the fact that somebody was beating somebody and we elders were not only sitting doing nothing but were also enjoying the manhandling. This goes directly against the lessons of being kind to your fellow being constantly being dinned into their ears.This must be engendering a suspicious in their tender minds that all that talk was a sham. So keep up your concern for your kids and be circukspect when and what to show them.

Answer 9

You can always try the movie theater again if you don't mind wasting your money should you have to leave. The movie may enthrall him...but if you are not sure he will sit through it...sit in the back, on the aisle and if he acts up...take him out...give him another chance and if he acts up again-leave. You may want to attend on a week night when there aren't as many people. Then again...that may just tempt him to run up and down the rows...LOL

Don't 'punish' him if he can't make it through the movie...he just isn't ready. You don't want to turn movie theaters into a negative experience.

If it were me...I'd save my money and wait for it to come out on video. But kids can surprise you!!!!

Have fun.

Answer 10

Toddlers do NOT belong in movie theatres, for exactly the reasons that you have mentioned.

Rent DVDs and watch them at home until the child is old enough to remain seated quietly for about 2 hours.

I do not want to spend movie theatre prices to be annoyed by very young children, although it is doubtful that young children and I share the same taste in films.

Maybe try movies aimed at very young children, as practice. There should be a lot of other parents with kids there, who may be more tolerant.

I do not want to sound unfriendly, but it is not fair to the child, or to the other patrons.

Answer 11

I took my twins at 3 and a 1/2 and they were more excited about the bathroom. I would suggest taking him to a early show if you can like an 11:00 there is usually not hardly anyone at the first show of the day. I take my 3 and the one I watch to that time. It is perfect.