First trip to cinema- how old?

[Shadowboy]

Roughly how old were your kids when they went to the cinema for the first time?
Did they sit through a full movie ok?

[CigarsofthePharoahs]

I took my then 4 year old to see Shaun The Sheep as his first cinema trip. He was fine, especially with the big bucket of sweet popcorn!
I had my baby with me in his car seat and he slept the whole way through.
I did insist on a loo stop right before we went in, and no drink during the film.

[2014newme]

4

[GlitteryFluff]

Watching for responses
I have a 2.7 year old who is a telly addict and was debating taking him to a kids showing of something at the weekend to see how he is. Tickets are really cheap for a kids showing so thought worst case we just leave.
After reading aged 4 maybe not. However a few friends have taken their under 3 yo and all has apparently been well.

[MrTumblesbitch]

I took ds to the kids showing from about 18 months old I am a single parent and it was the only break I got, so I was desperate!

I took snacks and would whip them out at strategic points!

Ds is 4 now, and has been going comfortably (no need for emergency snacks or "I need a wee" nonesense) since he was early 3's.

I love it, I put my arm around him so I feel if he moves and have a blissful snooze

[ChocolateButton15]

Since 2.5, she's always been fine! She's 4 now and we go cinema often. Best ones to start with are the special kids showings they usually do for £2 on weekends. If your one is noisey it doesn't matter as much as it's usually full of loud kids or if you need to leave you haven't wasted much money

[TinyTear]

just under 3 i think - Arthur Christmas on a free showing so if we had to leave it would be ok

[Rainshowers]

I took DD to a kids screening of Finding Dory. She loved finding Nemo and the tickets were cheap so thought I'd give it a go. She did really well and only got bored in the last ten mins or so (as did I!). Haven't taken her since because there's not been anything I'd think she would like.

[teenagetantrums]

Many years ago l took my 3 year old to see jungle book. He was fine loved it. My DD l think was younger as my Ds wanted to see a dreadful Pokemon movie. She was bribed with sweets to sit still and be quite. I sat near the exit as l knew she would need toilet. We used to go to early morning showings when they were younger loads of kids and no one cares,about noise

[NotCitrus]

Took ds age 3.5 to the Muppets because he really really wanted to see it. So we went with week-old dd.

Unfortunately it really hyped up the depressing bits which took up half the movie and ds got upset and wanted to leave (by which time dd was feeding to sleep and I didn't want to move). Finally it got into the sort of Muppet pre-showtime chaos and fun we'd expected and ds loved it, but didn't want to see anything for a while. We've been pretty selective since - Angry Birds was the first film he requested in two years and happily watched (and gave half his sweets to dd to stop her complaining as the jokes mostly went over her 3.6yo head).

Other kids have mostly managed earlier but he really really can't cope with 'mild peril' (had to leave Shaun the Sheep, no way would he manage Finding Dory or Paddington).

Agree with the £2 tickets for weekend films.

[Brollsdolls]

Dd 1 went when she was about 3 and didn't last long. Dc2 and 3 have always been, as accompanied older sibling since each being babies.
4 is probably ideal age.

[Porpoiselife]

My older ones were 9,8 and 7 when they first went to a cinema I havent taken my 3 year old yet, but I am going to take him when something I think he will like comes up as a movies for juniors on a saturday morning. Just so that if he gets too bored I havent wasted too much money! I think those screenings are only about £1.50.

[Brollsdolls]

Oh and I do care about the noise - just have to put up with it until the parents eventually take the noisy child out!

[EsmeeMerlin]

3.

He was very good at films at home and we took him to the mini morning at vue. He was very good and has been loads of times since. We do tend to stick to mini mornings unless we know he will absolutely love the film just in case. Mostly he is great, the only one he had to be taken out for was Ice Age 5 but I don't blame him, it was rubbish!

[Horispondle]

I took mine at 2. It was a kids screening which is cheaper, so I don't mind so much if we have to leave. It was OK because there were two adults so he walked in between us and swapped whose lap he was on but didn't make a noise. I think having his 6yo sister there made him want to copy her and behave.

[Iwasjustabouttosaythat]

1. It was a kids screening and a very gentle show, nothing to be upset about. He had a good time though I wonder if he found it slightly overwhelming. He didn't move an inch for the whole film so no issues with concentrating.
   

I took him to a 3D non fiction film last week. The ticket woman said it was fine for 3.5 years olds but it scared the crap out of him. We had to leave in the middle.

Stating the obvious but I guess it's the film that's the real issue. I'm shocked at the stuff people let their young kids watch!

[ChocolateButton15]

Iwasjustabouttosaythat my one did get freaked out the first time she watched trolls but likes it now. Not sure how that is a U when the whole basis of the films is trolls being killed and eaten haha

[WyfOfBathe]

DD1 went to a children's showing for her 2nd birthday, but she got bored and started wriggling and moaning.

We went again in the summer holidays to see Finding Dory. DD was 4 - almost 5 - and loved it.

[MiddleClassProblem]

We are going to take DD (2.3) in a couple of weeks as there is a free Disney thing at various odeons, just an hour and includes sing and dance along for ages 2-7. It's a new Mickey Mouse show I think. You have to book in advance but as it specifies the age we thought we'd give it a go.

Also we have cinemas with baby or toddler showings too

[WatchingFromTheWings]

Youngest was about 12 weeks old. Slept in his car seat for most of it. 9 months old the second time.....sat glued to a muppets film and scoffed a shed load of popcorn! He's always been brill with the cinema.

[Shopkinsdoll]

Mines were around 3 and 5. The 3 year old sat fine but my 5 year old got bored at the end. Then they both started to annoy each other so I left at that point. I would say. I would try and go when the film actually starts as mines got bored as there was so many adverts before film.

[LobsterQuadrille]

Three. I did so much prepping her beforehand that she hissed "shh" at anyone who came in talking.

[Choccywoccyhooha]

My older two first went at 4y3m and 3y4m, they weren't ready before that, we tried but they were scared. My youngest however has just recently started going at 2y7m. She loves it, sits on my lap and watches the film happily. It depends on the child, but I would recommend going to the cheaper Kids Club movies at first, then if you have to leave earlier you haven't wasted too much money.

[WidowTwonky]

Eldest I took from about 5 and he was fine. Youngest I tried at 4 and then 5 and now at 6 he still struggles. Gets bored and fidgety

[Giraffesaretootall]

Just under 3 and he went to the toilet 5 times! I was heavily pregnant and thought it would be a great treat, it was a nightmare!

[AuldHeathen]

DS3 was a month old! He was great. I b/fed him throughout and put my finger on his upper ear when music got too loud. His big brother was 4 1/2 and watched the film avidly. There were toddlers dancing in the aisles throughout so my conclusion is they were too young.Film was 101 Dalmatians.