Why don't parents, these days, teach or keep their br@ts quiet at the movies?

Question

for that matter, I have observed that kids are taught less manners and more on how to be a little "Princesses" BARF!
OR if they are boys, little wise-a*ses. Kids make going anywhere a hassle IF you chose not to have one.
What happened to real parenting?
And respect for others?

Answer 1

My husband took 6 of our 7 kids to the movies last night and everyone around him commented on how well behaved they were.
We get comments all the time about how they behave. I have taught my kids how to be polite. My youngest sons(15 months) first three words were mom, dad and thank you!
I do agree with you that more kids these days are more disrespectful. Parents refuse to discipline. They are afraid they will be turned in to social services(which does happen) Or they just dont care what their "little angels" do.
I have gone to events and had them ruined because some parent couldnt or wouldnt take their screaming, crying kid out of the auditorium. Or the kid who continually kicks the chair while the parent sits there and does nothing!
Every kid...even the best behaved ones are going to have a bad day...and as a parent you learn to deal. But there should be no reason your kids meltdown ruins everyone elses day.

Answer 2

Oh, don't get me started! I could write a book on how I feel about the lack of manners, the lack of parental control, and the lack of interest some parents take in teaching their kids anything. Actually, the parents are mostly absent, if you want to know the truth about why kids aren't quiet at the movies. They send their kids to the movies so that they don't have to deal with them for about an hour and a half. It's a cheap babysitter, the same way that the toy section at Wally World becomes a play area, where the kids tear open the boxes and play with the toys till they break them, then stick them back in the boxes. The parents don't care, because they're in the grocery section, buying those sugary cereals so that they're kids keep all charged up for the next round. Then you got the screamers, who want mom to buy them everything they want, then scream throughout the whole store until your eardrums are ready to pop. You want to shove a sock in their mouths. Then, your eyes meet with the mom's eyes and she just shrugs her shoulders. Most parents don't do "no's" anymore. They just give in or shrug. Then, there's the kids at the restaurant, running between the chairs, clinking their silverware, or screaming 'cause they can't eat only chocolate chip cookies for supper. Again, you want to shove a bowl full of mashed potatoes in their mouth, to stiffle the noise. Then, your eyes meet with the parents, and they apologise, or shrug. They make a half hearted attempt at quieting them down, but it doesn't work. Why? Because they're not consistent with their discipline. When they get home, they don't reinforce their training, and let the kids do whatever they want, with no structure to their day. I taught my kids manners, and now they're teaching their kids, passing it on to the next generation. Yeah, it was hard work, but I can now see where it has paid off. My four year old grandson can eat in a restaurant, go to a toy store, and sit at the movies, and everyone around him gets to enjoy it. I've seen people come up to my daughter-in-law and comment on how well mannered her son is, and how they wished they could get their kids to sit like that. The thing is, you've got to start from when they're born, and literally ride them like a broom. While that sounds weird, if you don't stay on top of it, and relax, they'll take advantage of your lapse and it will take that that much more effort to get them going in the right direction again. While it's true that even the best of parenting doesn't guarantee that a kid will always toe the line, the lack of parenting guarantees that the kid will almost always be out of line. You don't have to beat the snot out of a kid to get them to mind either. It takes repetition and being firm. It takes love and a concern for their future. Respect starts at home. If you don't teach it to your kids, no one will. I think every parent needs to watch those nanny shows, like Nanny 911 or Supernanny. Those ladies know their stuff. Okay, okay, I'll get off the soapbox now. Have a good night, and a better tomorrow. <*)))><

Answer 3

The last time I went to the movies. I saw this one mom with 3 kid's. And the mom was chatting on the cell phone. LOUDLY. and the kid's were the great one's being very respectful. So I'm wondering why wasn't the mom being respectful to other's. So its not just kid's that are respectful. And sometimes to answer your question, The apple doesn't fall to far from the tree. ITs because they are disrespectful themself and the parents don't know how to be respectful themself.

If those kid's were like that during my movie. I would have gone to get a staff member to complain. Appearently they don't read the sign's before hand to stay quiet during the movie.

Answer 4

I have noticed that a good number of parents let their kids act up in public. Not all, and not even most of them do this---just enough to notice.

If you want to get to the root of WHY the kids are acting up, look at the parents. Most of the time, the parents are rude, obnoxious, and inconsiderate of others, too. So...with that in mind, what can we expect from the kids? If they don't have anything better to copy from, they're going to have a hard time being any better.

Also, a lot of people refuse to use proper discipline in their kids. A lot of them never spank their children, instead relying on "time-outs" and other forms of powder-puff discipline. Granted, time-outs and lecturing and other non-spanking forms of punishment do work sometimes, there are other times when nothing will be as effective as a few good, sharp whacks on the keaster.

Answer 5

Please don't refer to children as "brats." Children (until they reach a certain age) are supposed to talk/chatter/be inquisitive about most things. It's really a lack of common sense on the parent's part to take a child to the movies. (Unless, of course, you went to a cartoon/kids' movie. In that case, you're SOL because it's going to be filled with laughing/talking kids.)

I have two sons--one just turned three and one just about to turn 2, and I would NEVER consider taking them to the movies until they're several years older (unless it was an animated movie an a matinee).

I'm already teaching my children manners. My 3 year old knows to call people sir or ma'am, and he says please and thank you for everything he asks for. May not seem like much, but he's only 3 and I plan to continue this until the day I die!

This being said, not ALL parents and children are like the ones you've encountered at the movies/out shopping/at restaurants. I know neither I, nor my children, fit into this category, so please don't stereotype us!

Answer 6

I have two girls, 4 and 7...if they caused a ruckus believe they would not be going out to the movies etc...I have taken them everywhere since the younger one turned four...the theater, the ballet, concerts etc and they have a great time and behave...I would be embarrassed if my kids were taking away pleasure from others by making noise...I KNOW what you mean tho...we were at a play and kids were talking and carrying on...could not believe the parents did not take them out...also at church where we have a nursery , parents still bring their yelling obnoxious kids in...one kid was even started running up and down the aisle during a hymn once...unbelievable!!!
I teach preschool and it is appalling how many of the kids just say things like give me juice...I don't hear them unless they say please and thank you..I believe 100% in good manners!

Answer 7

I'm about to have a baby, and I know that I personally, will be teaching her manners. If it's a little kid's movie, then I have no problem really with the kids talking occasionally.

If more parents would actually teach their children how to behave and not to be little brats, it would help so much. That way their children don't treat other children like crap.

Answer 8

The parents are not quiet themselves and some are rather rude. It is a shame parents have not taught their off springs to behave better. I think it comes from when parents decided to be their kids' friend instead of their parent. Another thing is most parents don't raise their children. Their children are in day care, school, or latchkey kids. The all might buck is more important to some than to raise their children.

Answer 9

I think it's because parents fear taking their babies out so they are not tough what the expectations of them are. My kids have went everywhere with me the movies,shopping,eating out. I have five kids ranging from 10-2 and have a adhd kid and all my kids are well behaved in public. They sit through a movie and are perfect eating out many people ask how I do it. Easy threaten to take their life lol actually when they are going somewhere they need to be quite I tell them ahead of time and remind them in a cheerful way what is to be expected of them( We even have a cheer but what ever works)

Answer 10

I think it is a mentality that the paretns have that they paid "good money" and they can let their children act like kids if they want - i agree with you totally. I am the mother of two - and i strongly feel that my kids should be on their best behavior out in public - movies, restaurants - whatever - when they were little - if they roamed,cried, yelled whatever and refused to listen to me - we went walking - i would take the child and walk and walk and walk to let everyone else enjoy their time out. now that my kids are teenagers and the few times that my hubby and i do go out - i can't stand rude kids and their oblivious parents - ugh.