Is 2 yrs old too young to go to a pantomime?

[Thankyouandgoodnight]

I'm wondering if it will scare DD or not?!

[Lilymaid]

Unless she has exceptional powers of concentration for a 2 year old she will find it far too long.
Sorry, but had too many occasions where entertainments for older children were wrecked by toddlers.

[murphyslaw]

totally agreed - started to take mine when they were 5 - its too long to expect them to sit still!

[mosschops30]

I think it is. I have been dying to take ds for ages, finally taking him this year, he will be 4

[Tanee58]

She might find it very hard to sit still and I know when we first took DD aged 4, she found the screaming of other kids 'HE'S BEHIND YOOOOOOU' etc, traumatic. It gets very loud! She actually hates panto as a consequence.

[onceinalifetime]

Yes, it will be a nightmare for all concerned. Save it for age 5+

[notsoteenagemum]

Depend on the child DD was 21 months at first panto, she loved it and has been every year since. DS found it hard to sit down in general so would never have taken him so young he went to his first last year aged 3 1/2.

[AbbeyA]

I think it is too young. I took my DS when he was 3 and he was frightened; he sat on my knee throughout. Half way through Puss in Boots he said to me 'you know that cat isn't real'!! If you look at it from his point of view an adult sized, talking cat is pretty scary!

[Thankyouandgoodnight]

I didn't think about the sitting still thing!!

I remember going for the first time and being absolutely mesmerised with the whole thing. It was such an experience and totally magical - I want DDs first time to be like that too rather than something I do too early and then ruin it!

[Grumpalina]

Took DS2 for first time at three and he loved it. My main issue would be the sitting bit. There are sometimes quite long bits based on word plays and puns that young children won't get and that's when they will start to fidget.

[Blu]

2 yo s in pantos can usually be divided as follows:

Those who scream in terror the monute the house lights go down and have to be taken out.
Those who scream in terror as soon as the giant / cow / dame appears, and have to be taken out
Those who wet themselves when the first pyrotenic effect goes off and have to be taken out
Those who are fidgetting and trying to run up and down the row and tip up other pelpe's seats and kick the back of the chiar in front incessantly until the person in front insists they be taken out
Those who sleepthrough the whole thing, thus taking the most expensive nap in history - with tickets at £15 and counting...
Those who eat two tubs of ice cream and a bag of malteasers and have to be takn out...green
Those who emerged fom the womb shouting 'he's behind you' and love it. Not sure they run to the plural 'those', in an average sized theate..

Look up yourlocal arts centre and see if they have any v gentle shows for under 3's. these will be carefully thought out, short, and cheap!

[fin42]

I took my son to his first pantomime at 2yrs (his b'day is christmas eve and we went that christmas) he loved it and joined in although did get a bit restless. His cousin, however who is 6 mths older had to be taken out because he was screaming and scared. So iguess as the previous posters have said it depends on the child

[AbbeyA]

I think they are all different-unfortunately you don't know what you have got until you try it. My DS wasn't restless, he sat stock still with eyes like saucers! He flinched in the sword fight.
I loved Blu's list!

[SilkCutMama]

yes

[Podrick]

Depends on the kid. It was too early for my dd although she loves the theatre now

[hana]

yes too young
I have a 2 year old and would be such a hassle - least of all her being scared

[1dilemma]

thread about this last year
general agreement was it is too young
reason partly was need to think about others who have paid for their seats which is fair enough

[QuintessenceOfFrankenShadow]

I took my two sons last Christmas. The oldest was 5 1/2 and my youngest was 2 1/2. Jack and the Beanstalk at the Barbican. They loved it. We were concerned about the youngest, but he was totally engrossed. Also, the audience was quite "with it", and that helped his attention span.

[seeker]

I took my ds at two. He has refused to go to the theatre to see anything since - he's nearly 8!

He wouldn't go into the church for a friend's wedding when he was 4 because the door reminded him of the theatre!

But he is a notorious wimp who while loves Dr Who will only watch if dp, his sister, me, and his two bed time animals are between him and the screen!

[nappyaddict]

I took my DS at 2 years 5 months. He was fine. I also took my godson at 2 years 2 months.

However I would try them at out a kids club at the cinema first. They are usually weekend and school holiday mornings and cost about £2.50. A much cheaper way to find out if they will actually sit through a long show before booking panto tickets.