Moms, when did your kids first go to the movie theaters? How did they behave?

Question

My friend invited my son and I to the movie Charlottes Web with her and her 3 year old son tomorrow night. My son is only one and a half, and I'm weary of bringing him to his first movie, I'm really not sure what to expect! Since it's a weeknight I don't think there will be many people there, and being a kids movie I'm sure there will be other little ones running around. What were your experiences?

He's usually pretty well behaved, but in case he is crabby I would take him out of the theater to stretch his legs for a minute.

Answer 1

I got to take 3 grand daughters to their first movie. Age 3, 2, 2. To say the least it was interesting. We arrived just in time for the movie to start, so there was no long waiting - waiting is boring and young ones have a short attention span. When the movie started, they were actually pretty easy to control for the first 30 minutes. Then things started to drift. We left the theater to get snacks and returned about 20 minutes later. Naturally, they never realized they missed anything. We made it to the end, with a lot of snacking and talking. No problem with the noise, every other little kid in the place was chatting by then.

Naturally, they don't really remember the first trip, but I do. Wonderful memory. No where near perfect outing except in my memory.

Answer 2

Well, it depends on the movie itself. If the kids are interested, they will probably see it until the end. Or, on the other hand, at the very first 10 minutes or so, they will become bored and begin to do other things, or get sleepy. I had different experiences with my children. I have 3. The first movie my older child went was about when he was 1 year old. The movie was for adults, and the room was not completely dark. So he got so bored, that he began to play. When we went to see another movie, the room was really dark, and he slept for the whole movie. On the other hand, I went to see Madagascar with my three children (11, 5 and 2), the older ones where very interested in the movie, while my younger one was interested in my pop corn.

I think that it really depends on your child. You can go to the movie, but with an open mind and with a lot of patience. Maybe the kids will see the movie until the end, but if the kids do get bored, don't go out of the room. Try to interact with them telling "hey, look what he's doing", so they can get interested in the movie. And expect the unexpected. And, most of all, enjoy the first time he go to a movie!

Answer 3

WE 1st took my son at age 2 1/2. HE LOVED IT!! He sat and stared at the screen with amazment! LOL I mean come on a big huge V playing cartoons and all the popcorn I he could eat--my son was in heaven! LOL

See if you local theatre offers to let children that young in for free before a certian time (my son gets in free before 6pm) That way you're not out another $7

Be prepared to leave and cut your losses. DON'T Stick around with a badly behaved child and ruin it for everyone else.

In my experience, I've never been to a movie (evena kids movie) where people let their children run around and at a certian point a yelling or crying child needs to leave also.

I think people understand there will be more talking, and more getting the back of your chair kicked but keep your son under controlor take him out. If he can't handle it try again in a few months!

Good luck!

Answer 4

1 1/2 might be a little young. My triplets are 3 and they just went to their first movie at the theater.. they behaved well, but I guess you could try and see how he is. Will you be going, just in case he is being really loud, someone could take him out of the movie, and still have your friend with her son.

Answer 5

I took my son when he was 2 weeks old and he slept the whole time. But the last time I took him he was about two years old and it wasn't so bad. Just make sure he has snacks and it will probably be fine. But I don't really want to do that again in a while. When I go to the movies it is to get away from my son! Hope that helps!

Answer 6

We took our 18 month old son to see the santa claus 3 in the movie theater, the day it opened... He behaved well, but he is very calm and very easy going.... Good luck and enjoy the movie! Happy Holidays!

Answer 7

My son was 2 when we took him to see Cars, he loved it, but if you are worried about bothering people in the theater - some theaters do a moms and tots movie day during the week, maybe you could check that out!!

Answer 8

hahaha..i remember this....i used to take my first born to the movies whenever a new a horror flick came out....he didn't mind sometimes even slept through them...first time was when he was 1 1/2-2 years old....but then i tried that with my daughter a she cried the whole 10 minutes we were in there...so then we went to see Cars in the next room.....it was ok if she got loud there cuz so where the other kids...

Answer 9

If your son can sit and watch a movie or TV show at home of the same length as Charlotte's Web, you should be OK. If not, don't go.

Answer 10

Little kids don't run around in cinemas anymore. Parents are more disciplined. Step one is to ensure your child has his siesta to begin with. You don't want him sleeping throughout the movie. Second, buy some of his favorite snacks. Do remember that milk bottle too! A couple of non-noisy toys would keep him busy in case he's to young to notice what's going on in the movie. Whenever he makes his first cry, carry him out of the cinema. You don't want other kids to follow suit and start crying.