At What Age Did You Take Your Child to the Theatre

my kids were 7 and 6, we just went when Yogi bear came out in 3D. Personally sooooo many movies look like junk, or don't seem appropriate for kids under 8. I wanted their first time to be special--hope that doesn't sound dumb. I wouldn't have picked Yogi bear and would have held out for something really epic but,,, hubby overrides me sometimes. My kids had fun and enjoyed it and were much better about the whole thing than i expected, but they are still talking about scenes from the movie 3 months later.
i say don't rush, it's not like you can't do movie night at home and rent the short more educational Nick jr type movies and make it special with popcorn etc. probably more on the level of a three year old anyhow.

My daughter was 3. We saw Tangled. She sat quietly glued to the screen (except for grabbing popcorn and juice). 3 weeks later repeated the behavior with her grandparents).

I just took my son to his first movie yesterday! (he's 3.5 years old) We saw "Gnomeo and Juliet." He loved the whole experience! It was the perfect length- 1 hr. 24 minutes, so not too long to sit and be quiet. Good luck and have fun!
Lynsey

We are always thinking about what is best (not what is okay, or what everyone else seems to be doing) for our children. They have been 5 before seeing a movie - and then it was Kit Kitteridge - really a great G rated movie. Since hip hop, farting, burping, and flashing our cleavage isn't done at home, it's not something we bring our kids to. Even the newly remade Charlotte's Web 5 years ago was so lame - the parents were idiots, esp. the Dad, the little girl was holding hands with Avery at age 9 or 10, and there was lots of the farting/burping stupidness.

So, we are lucky - we save a lot of money on not going to the movies! Enjoy the park, playing Chutes and Ladders as a family, and listening to Pandora, where you can hear new music, but what you want him to hear!

Here's a cheer for striving for excellence, not settling for mediocrity.

If you don't know how they are going to react wait for summer and do the Regal Summer Movie Camps. They are totally free and full of kids and parents so no one will get upset if your little one doesn't enjoy it, and you won't loose out if you need to leave early because it was free.
My husband and I took our daughter last summer to see Ice Age 2 at the free movie. She was only 15 months, and really didn't watch TV and had never seen a movie, but she LOVED it! We took her to a couple of other movies over the summer and the only one we left early for was Alvin and the Chipmunks, I think becuase it was mostly live action she wasn't a big fan.
The only movie we have ever paid for her to see (well us, she was still free of course) was Tangled. We went on opening day to the earliest showing and she LOVED it, sat glued to the screen the entire time. A couple of weeks later we took her to Disney World for the first time, and all she wanted to do was "hug Punzel" now that Christmas and her 2nd birthday have passed our house is full of Rapunzel items.

My suggestions would be to bring snacks and drinks, though that big tub of popcorn will surely keep the little ones interested a little longer. Our theatre also has a handicap row that we like to sit in with our daughter (of couse we would move quickly if someone in a wheelchair needed it) but we like it because there is space between the groups of seats and the row in front so if she does need to move around a little she won't be bothering anyone else.
Most theatres will refund if the movie is less than half over, and if it is more than half over they will usually give you a ticket to see the movie again at a later time.
Hope that helps.

My husband took our son at a little over 3 to see How to Train Your Dragon. It was a special treat for the two of them, we knew he might not do well and they might have to leave, and we were just prepared for that. He loved it and has not seen another movie in the theater since (that was just over a year ago I think), but we don't get out to see movies much ourselves. I would not bother myself unless it is a kid movie because I wouldn't want to added cost and risk of not staying for the whole thing. We are fortunate enough to have a lot of theaters in our area, including a "dollar theater," so we can try to see cheap family movies that way. I would recommend a matinee for the first one just because it will be cheaper and less crowded, but don't bother unless it is something you think he'll really enjoy. I don't think it is beneficial to go for the "environment." If you are looking for that kind of exposure, you could try a family-friendly live theater or go to a church or high school play. It would be more engaging and help him learn to sit and watch and listen better than a movie theater would. :)

I took my daughter to see "Cars" in the movie theater when she was 3.5. She actually wanted to leave about half way through. Of course, when she got older, she was able to sit through the DVD of it multiple times in a row! My boys first movie was when they were 3 and they loved it. Best movies would be Disney, Pixar. Definitely a rated G movie.

I don't know where you live but in White plains, they have movies for toddlers. I took my kids once or twice. They showed Wonder Pets on the big screen. You should look into that...

We have free movie tuesdays, so we've been going since jr was 2 or 2 1/2. Most of the time we went for kids movies, I was amazed that he sat through Avatar and didn't make a peep. He is 3 now and it's one of his favorite movies (Thankful that the DVD we got comes with a kid friendly version with no swearing now that he is in the age of repeating everything). Usually we go for the stuff like Shrek or anything Disney though.
What I've noticed is he is actually better in the theater about talking and sitting still than at home. At home he is encouraged to ask questions if he really doesn't understand but in the theater he is very quiet because he understands that other people want to hear the movie.
Anyway, even without free movie days (that was beneficial because we were all free) sometimes they don't make us pay for tickets at our local theater for him even at 3.
Oh also, try to avoid 3-D movies for a while. We found out the hard way that the glasses don't stay on his face very easily and we end up having to hold them for him. Gotta love those tiny little noses =)

Well, one benefit, if your child is old enough to appreciate it, is doing something "special" as a family. A family treat, so to speak.

2 and a half or 3. (I remember the house we lived in, but not exactly how old he was).

We always brought drummer's earplugs with us (mutes the sound without muffling it... literally like turning the volume down... the clarity is still there, but it's just quieter).

We ALSO always were ready to hop up and go home on a moment's notice (only needed to twice in 6 years). If you need to leave a theatre with a child at LESS than halfway through most theatres will comp your tickets (give you passes to come again at a later time), and many will comp at past halfway (but not during the last bit).

Check, too, if your theatres have "Summer Matinees". Ours does 2 free showings of "old" movies (Annie, ET, MonstersInc, Nemo, etc.) a week at 10am in the summer (they make their money on concessions). The added benefit (aside from the obvious of it being free and full of children) is that as parents we've typically SEEN all the movies they're showing... so one isn't going in blind to find a movie with unexpected dark parts.

<laughing> Mine WAS / is one of those kids who could happily sit through a 3 hour movie as a toddler... but we didn't know it until we started taking him. I was guessing we'd be leaving after half an hour since AT MOST since even at home while watching movies he was super active. The hush and awe of the big screen just created it's own magic for him

My kids are nearly 6, 4, and 2. We haven't taken them to a movie theater yet. We may this summer when Cars II comes out. We watch movies at home about once a month. We watch some PBS shows a few times a week, and will rent a DVD from the library every few weeks.

People are constantly telling us "what do you mean they haven't seen XXX movie yet?" We just don't watch much TV or movies compared to many of our friends. I have one friend who took her 3 and 6 year olds to see Tangled 3 times at the theater...

My kids I KNOW would be a little freaked out by the sound levels. Movie theaters are loud, and my kids apparently have sensitive ears. I also know people who took their kids to movies who didn't even make it through the preview - talk about a waste of money.

We HAVE taken them to a number of children's productions at our local Children's Theatre and they loved it.

J.

I was hesitant about trying to take my 3.5 year old but the ticket seller told me to come back and get a pass IF he didn't handle the movie experience very well.

His first movie was "Yogi Bear" the week before Christmas. We now go almost every weekend to the two dollar kids movies. I know he doesn't understand everything that's going on but he's quiet and laughs at funny parts.

My son is too young to be diagnoised with ADHD but I suspect he will be when he's old enought but he'll hyper focus at the movies. He LOOOVED "Tangled" and sat in the little booster seat like a king the entire time. Oddly enough he even told me when he needed a potty break. Something I was SURE he wouldn't do but he's proven me WRONG! :)

I wanted to see "Rango"but hear it's horrible so we're waiting to see what comes out next. He's currently waiting VERY PATIENTLY for "Cars 2" that comes out June 24th. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT!

I pack snacks, bring a blanket (mostly for me) and pack his sippy cup to save money and they never question me. Gotta save money somewhere!

I took my daughter to see her first movie at 3.5 yrs. old. She did very well. The movie was "Tangled", and before I took her I asked several ppl if there might be anything about the movie that would scare her or make her nervous. I got a bunch of reviews from friends and the internet and ultimately made the decision based on those reviews and my daughters personality. It went very well and it was a good first movie for her.

I do recommend looking up the theaters in your area, some of them offer family matinees that are around $3.00, and they are all "G" rated movies for preschoolers that are shorter in length. Most of them are based on storybooks, like "The Little Engine that Could". Good luck!! :-)

S.

I still remember my first movie in the theater being The Little Mermaid, I looked it up and saw that it came out in 1989 so I was 5. I did fine, and don't remember getting antsy. In fact, I just remember coming out with a sore neck because my mom and I chose the front row!

We took our oldest (5 next week) to his first movie at about 2.5. He had become quite interested at that point in watching full-length DVDs of children's films, so we thought he might be ready for it. We went to a very early matinee (many theaters have early Saturday shows where there will be many children and no one freaks out if someone yells out or asks a question during the movie). We also went in with the mindset that we may have to leave long before it was over. It went very well though! He ate his popcorn and thoroughly enjoyed "Madagascar 2." The only issue we've ever had, and he's been to numerous movies at this point, was last fall with "The Legendary Guardians -Owls of G'houle" (sp). We knew it was dark -which is usually okay with him -but we didn't know how dark it was and it scared him, so we left. We haven't taken our youngest yet, but he's now 2.5 and is just starting to sit through entire DVDs -so it won't be long! My first movie was at 3 -"Young Frankenstein" (and it's still a favorite). I have the briefest memory of sharing popcorn with my mom's best friend's son, who had stitches I thought were gross, and seeing Gene Wilder's frizzy hair up on the screen.

For me/us and my Daughter, a 3 year old will not sit through an entire movie. Much less stay still or stay quiet.

Just go by your son.
Not when others may take their kids to a movie.

My daughter, probably until age 7... did not want to go to a movie theater. Mainly because, she said it is just TOO loud for her ears.
She hated it.
And for me as an adult, I think it is too loud too. I have sensitive ears.

If your child does not ask to go to a movie, then you don't have to.
It is entertainment... etc.
There is no rush or mandatory thing to it.

My youngest child is 4, my son.
He has never wanted to go to the movie theater... he said he rather watch movies at home, We have Netflix. And knowing him, he will not stay still at the movie theater nor by quiet. He is a very talkative and active boy.

we took our dd to see Ghost Rider when she was a couple of weeks old. Slept through the whole thing. :-)

Her first "real" movie was Toy Story 3, when she was almost 4, and she loved it. She loves to go to the movies and have popcorn. We saw Toy Story 3 twice and Tangled once. It's a nice treat, but we don't do it very often.

We started at about 18 months. Our theater does short cartoon films like Elmo on saturday mornings for $3.00, he loed it, so now we take him to full length movies. We love to go, so we wanted to take him :)

my youngest went to her first movie at 3 weeks! (Fame! - because I had made plans to take her sister before she was born but she came a month early!) She's gone ever since. My oldest went to just a couple as a baby but I started taking her to kid movies by 18 months. We've never had to leave a movie. We may go walk around the back for a little bit but with a tippy and cheerios/goldfish/teddy grahams and an occasional nap we have always made it! We are lucky to have some very good friends that love to go to movies and often treat us!

I suggest waiting on the movie theater and instead taking him to an age-appropriate performance at a childrens' theatre. My son is 4 and hasn't been to a movie theater but has seen 3 childrens' plays and 2 kids symphony performances, and he LOVES them!

I took my daughter with me when I saw "The Doors." She was about 9 months old, and slept through it.
I took her with me to see a stage production of "The Crucible" when she was three. I outlined the plot for her before the show, since I was afraid that some of the dialog would go over her head. She barely blinked the whole time. After it was over she turned to me and said, "Mama, they did those women WRONG!"
I also took her to poetry readings, art galleries, dance performances, and movies (not just kids' movies) when she was a toddler. I wanted to give her as much exposure to the arts as possible.

I found that taking them to the disney movies that were geared for that age seemed to work out ok. There was a winnie the pooh and tigger movie a few years ago I took the grandkids to. they were 3, 5 and 7. the 5 and 7 were fine the 3 got fidgety but he did make it thru. I would not expect him to sit thru anything longer than an hour at that age.

I went to the movies for the first time when I was 5. The only movie my son has ever sat through at home was 'despicable me', so I probably wouldnt take him to the theathers until he was at least 4 or 5.

We took our kids (3.5 and just turned 2) to see Tangled over Christmas Break. That was their first theater experience. DD (3.5) sat through the entire thing great -- DS (2) wanted to leave about 3/4 of the way through. Know your child and his or her attention span.

I think my daughter was almost 4 years old, we went to Toy Story 3. It had its scary moments with toys almost getting burned to death and so on but we just told her she could crawl on our laps and bury her face into us till the scary parts were over. Also the sound levels were a bit much for my daughter, she was covering her ears a lot, of course I was about to cover my ears too.

It really depends on if your child can handle sitting for that length of time. For us our daughter BARELY was able to sit in the row (even with climbing on our laps on and again) for the hour and 40 mins. She has been asking to go see another moive because she enjoys it, we plan to go in the next month or so or whenever an age apporiate movie comes out. Personally I stick with G and PG, I also check out the reviews on what other moms/parents say about the movie because even a PG movie may not the best to see in a theatre.

I've been taking my kids since they were babies to the movies. If they started to cry too much or loudly, I took them to the waiting area so not to bother the other people.

My kids are 10 and 4 and can sit and watch a move no problem even if it isn't a kids movie but a PG 13 or such.

S.

My oldest saw Aladdin when it came out, he was 3 then the Lion King, at maybe 4 or 5.
The girls were 6 and 3, MOnsters, Inc. I actually had to look these up.
My youngest saw Desperaux when it came out a couple years ago, he's now 10, so maybe 7?
We don't go to movies that often.
The boys, 22 and 10, have been watching Star Wars and Star Trek on VHS since they were born. The girls won't watch them, they're "annoying boy movies"

I took mine for the first time when he was almost 3, but we went with some older school age cousins. I think that it helped for him to see his cousins modeling the correct way to behave in the movies. He , now 3 1/2, does not ask to go to movies either. But, he asks for and watchs a whole movie on DVD at home. Usually I take him to the movies because I want to see the movie, I know he will enjoy it, and to have some one on one time with him. I have only taken him to animated films! I think his favorite part is the popcorn. We just go for fun, not educational value.

Start with feature length films on DVD and see if he enjoys it or if it's too long. also depends on his tolerance for loud speakers My son had enjoyed Toy Story 1 and 2 at home so I took him to see Toy Story 3 My son was five. He was very sensitive to loud noises and movies can be very loud, so I waited. Our AMC had 1$ movies Tues mornings in the summer.

whenever they can sit through a home movie relatively well it's worth giving it a shot. just so long as you're willing to forfeit the ticket cost and take 'em out if they start to melt down.
khairete
S.

My DD is 3 (turned 3 in Oct). She has been to the theatre three times. We saw Shrek 4 and Tangled twice (she really liked that one).

I would wait until elementary school at the minimum. Here no theaters do mom days where the sound is lowered so it is too loud and overwhelming for my child. She hates the movies. We did learn we could ask for a refund if in the first 20 minutes.

Just took my daughters to the movies (we have a little local movie theater that is quite small can cozy) and they are 4 and 2.. I was really surprised when the 2 year old actually sat in her chair and watched the movie.. she's a really active girl but she had a lot of fun at the movies watching it on the big screen.. took a couple of juice boxes in and little snacks and kept them busy (we get to bring in our own food because they don't really offer anything there to buy).. It was fun. I usually like them watching only things that are educational, but once and awhile some pure entertainment is fun.. We got a little poster of the movie and hung it up on their wall and she gets excited to see it everyday. My oldest was probably about 2½ the first time we brought her to the movie, but she was always such a calm child so I knew she would do well.. so I guess I would say about 2-2½ seems to work for us as a sometimes kinda treat.

One of the theaters here has free family movies during the summer. I started taking my kids to go see those movies (eg., Bees, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Ice Age) when they were 3. Since the movies are shown every Tues. and Wed., at 10 a.m., during the dead heat of summer, and it's free(!), there are a lot of moms with their children there, so I knew that if my children were to act up or get bored, they wouldn't be the only one. I really haven't had a problem with my children sitting through movies and being quiet. We didn't start actually them to regular movie showings (where we had to pay) until they were about 5 or 6.

We took our daughter to see Nemo at the very old age of 3. She LOVED it! The benefit I can think of is the popcorn, of course :)

I took my daughter at age 2 1/2, but at that age, even the kids movies made her scared. I would wait until at least 3. If you are home during the day, you should take advantage of the ClearviewCinemas and AMC kid's summer series - both chains offer free ($1 for AMC) movies every week during the summer.

My daughter (5) has been to 2 movies, ever. The first was on her 4th birthday (Princess and the Frog), the 2nd on her 5th b-day (Tangled) She did great both times, obviously better when she was 5. She has just barely started watching feature films at home, but yeah, I now declare her officially ready to go to the movies. We'd take her more often if it was easier, and/or if there was something we reeeally wanted to go see with her. (We also have a 21/2 yr old who is SOO not ready to sit still in a theater!!) She had such a good time, the lights going down, the snacks, the whole experience of the theater was so fun for her, and so fun for us (Her dad & I) to watch her get so 'into' the movie.
She has also been to 'Nutcracker' ballet twice...it also has turned into a tradition. She looooves the music and the dancing so much!