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AIBU?

To think a 3 1/2 yr old should be able to sit through a short film at the cinema?

29 replies

YoJesse · 29/09/2016 11:47

Mine, he's mine and I thought toddler cinema would be a treat as we're out of the sticks for the day but it's a fucking nightmare! All the other kids look about the same age and are sitting angelically enjoying the film. He can't sit still for more than about 30seconds ever (why did I think this was a good idea) and is running up and down the isle or just fidgeting, standing next to me. I know that's the point of toddler cinema that they can act up a bit but really I'm starting to think it's not normal.
He's had various speech and other therapy and no one is worried about ASD so what's wrong with him?

And yep, I'm the shit mum who's now mnetting instead of trying to get him to sit down! Grin

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Soubriquet · 29/09/2016 11:51

Short attention span maybe?

Dd is 3 and 1/2

She will sit for so long then gets bored and wanders off. She will look back at the tv every now and then but she prefers to play then to sit for an hour and half staring at a screen

She isn't the least bit hyperactive either

3 is a bit young for the cinemas I think

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Jackiebrambles · 29/09/2016 11:53

I took my son to see Finding Dory not so long ago. He's 4 in February.

He managed it through most of the film, but then wanted to leave half an hour before the end! Mind you, there were 30 minutes of bloody trailers at the beginning!

I still think he's a bit young for an 1.5 hour film. Maybe next year!

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OdinsLoveChild · 29/09/2016 12:01

My 9 year old will not sit through an entire film. He gets bored apparently. He says films are too long. He fidgets like goodness knows what.
I got very cross after being nagged to death for weeks to see minions2 only for him to stand up and declare about 45 minutes in that he's 'going to leave because its too samey as minions 1'. He wont even sit at home to watch anything for more than 45 minutes or so.
I'm not very helpful sorry Sad

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PikachuBoo · 29/09/2016 12:02

Mine couldn't!

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Blue4ever · 29/09/2016 12:03

Some kids are just not into films, and love the moving seats, the empty space at the front, the darkness and just take off. I have one of each, there is nothing wrong with either of them but one will sit through a long movie and the other one will be rolling on the floor within 15 minutes.

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Imnotaslimjim · 29/09/2016 12:03

My DS was 8 or 9 before he managed to sit more than 10 minutes through an entire film. DD managed it as a toddler but DS just couldn't do it. Even now, at nearly 11, he struggles to sit without tapping or swinging a foot or something. He's never still.

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LittleLionMansMummy · 29/09/2016 12:04

Give it a few months and try again - ds was around about this age when we first took him and was fine for most of the film and only began to fidget towards the end. But if we'd tried a month or two earlier we'd have had no hope.

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Flanderspigeonmurderer · 29/09/2016 12:06

I didn't take mine until he was four and a half, and even then he was fidgety in the last half hour. I would wait until he's older.

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LittleLionMansMummy · 29/09/2016 12:07

Oh and also don't assume something is wrong. We used to worry all the time about ds's comparatively short attention span. He's, ahem, high energy. But at nearly 6 is now settling down to focus on school work very well and no problems at all with attention. He still needs regular and copious amounts of exercise though and the winter can feel like a long time stuck indoors...

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CuddlesAndCupcakes · 29/09/2016 12:08

When my son was that age, he was able to sit through a whole film.

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VimFuego101 · 29/09/2016 12:08

DS probably wouldn't have managed it at 3 1/2; by the time he turned 4 he could sit still and reasonable quietly though. I wouldn't worry just yet.

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YoJesse · 29/09/2016 12:09

Ah bollocking double thread!
He's not much of a TV boy so wishful thinking I guess.

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BeacauseImAnElf · 29/09/2016 12:10

Ds is nearly 9 and can't sit through a film. He needs to move. Dd is 3 and is exactly the same. If something grabs her attention she might sit still for 20 minutes

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LittleLionMansMummy · 29/09/2016 12:11

Have you tried tiring him out beforehand op? We resorted to this when going out for family meals. We had to take him on long walks in fresh air and then we'd stand a chance of him sitting still... although we'd still have to move literally everything on the table away from his fiddling little hands and still do

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Linpinfinwin · 29/09/2016 12:23

Yeah try him after a long swimming session, with popcorn.

My DD has had film parties and it's not as straightforward as you'd think to get a bunch of children to sit through a whole film, even age 8 or so.

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chezbot · 29/09/2016 12:24

If its any consolation, I work in a cinema and we expect little ones to be lively. Its only the parents who take toddlers to see Batman vs Superman that make us staff wearily sigh

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Catsize · 29/09/2016 12:25

You using your phone in the cinema is probably more annoying for others than a restless 3yr old.

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YoJesse · 29/09/2016 12:27

That's a relief chezbot I expected him to be a bit lively. What I didn't expect was for all the others to be so still and into the film. That's what made me think something was wrong with mine.
Tiring him out could work.

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YoJesse · 29/09/2016 12:28

Yeah, probably right catsize Blush

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thecatsclinkers · 29/09/2016 12:29

Mine is a little younger at just 3 but she would never ever sit through a whole film....and she's a very well behaved, quiet child...she just doesn't want to sit for a long period. You are not alone!

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CalmYaTits · 29/09/2016 12:33

I'm an adult and can barely sit through a film at the cinemaGrin

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ICanHazCakeNow · 29/09/2016 12:43

DC2 was 3 when we first went to the cinema and sat staring in rapture the entire time. Youngest DC is 4 and cant last more than 10 minutes without getting bored, Kids showings are good as they're cheap, so if you do have to leave early it's not such a big deal.

Oh, and all the other kids were prepped with Gin and Haribo so their parents could enjoy the peace and quiet. (I'd never do this. Again. This month)

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trafalgargal · 29/09/2016 12:53

If they can't sit through an entire movie at home it's probably unreasonable to expect them to sit through one at the cinema. Different kids have different styles.

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bumsexatthebingo · 29/09/2016 12:59

I told mine we were leaving if they wouldn't sit for the film and that kept them sitting. They know I would have followed through and we would have left if they were running around - not fair on other people trying to enjoy the film.

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redskytonight · 29/09/2016 13:02

I have one DC that would have and one that wouldn't.
the parents of DCs that won't sit still probably don't even attempt bringing them to the cinema, so your survey size is skewed :)

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