To wish people would just respect age restrictions

I’m not so sure it should be about an age limit tbh. Anyone who is fidgeting or chatting through a theatre performance should be asked to leave.

I’ve been confused by age limits for standing gigs recently. Some are 12, some 14, some 16. Same with whether an adult is required at various ages. There’s no consistency so I assume it’s down to local council safety advisory groups more than a legal requirement. It affects me because DD likes watching live music and I have to double check every time (although she’s never actually been id’d anyway).

Who cares how old she is?

Either way she's obviously not mature enough for this type of thing.

@IndiaSS A bit annoying, but IMO the only people to blame are the employees at the theatre who let these toddlers in!

Complain, you may get your money back.

Me and DH went to the cinema 6 months or so back to see a certain film, and some teenagers came in 20 minutes before the end, and were pissing about, giggling and being arses, and it ruined the end of the film. No idea how they sneaked past the usher, but they did.

We complained and got our £20 back.

.

If a performance is being disrupted and spoiling the enjoyment of others, then the parent or carer should take the child out, or the ushers should send them out.

It almost doesn't matter how old she is or whether she's a small 5 or tall 2 because she couldn't sit still and pay attention so shouldn't have been there anyway

Older children and even parents can be a pest at ballet performances when absolute silence is required. I sat in front of a mother and about a seven year old. It was Giselle. The Mum was giving a running commentary on what was happening not loudly but totally infuriating. I turned and glared at them. It stopped. So inconsiderate and selfish.

A friends daughter wears age 2-3 clothes and is nearly 5.5. She was prem plus the whole family are on the small side anyway. People constantly think shes a toddler when shes a yr1 primary kid!! Dont assume.

It doesn’t matter if child in question was 3, 4 or 5. They weren’t behaving and the parents should have taken them out for a bit.

we went to the cinema the other evening to watch wicked, there was a family with two small children who chatted throughout. The film was at 7pm and is very long; it wasn’t suitable for those kids to be out disturbing everyone else in the cinema. Really annoying.

I agree completely with you OP. I was really pissed off when I went to see frozen with my eldest and a 2/3 year old had been let in and was being incredibly disruptive. I’d left my own 3 year old at home as I wasn’t sure she’d manage so it was especially annoying.

I expect some whispering and fidgeting noise from young children. I don’t expect screeching; seat kicking, talking noisily, climbing. Loads of people complained at half time and we were moved to better seats elsewhere. I think they should have evicted the whole family from the theatre though. It’s not really a great solution to just move 20 odd people.

I think it’s less about age and more about behaviour and how the parent deals with it.

I’m happy to sit next to a 4yo who has been told how to behave and given clear consequences if they don’t, taken to the loo beforehand, not given noisy sweets and is taken out if they get restless. I’m not happy to sit next to a 15yo who is constantly on their phone.

Having had two very petite girls, she may well have been 5. My dd started school in age 2-3 clothes.

YANBU. But my 5.5 yr old is wearing age 3 trousers today that aren't too short for her so she may have been over the age. But regardless of age they should have considered whether she'd sit through it appropriately & actually enjoy it.

I think your making assumptions. My 2 kids are 4 and 6. The look and talk like much older children. They are both tall and tower over kids in their year groups. The are wearing clothes for 2 yeara older. My 6 year old reads fluently, she has a better vocabulary than my 11 year old nibbling. You can't look at a child and decide their age.

I meant shows generally. I think it's totally fair to run specific viewings for younger kids though, in fact that's a good idea.

Most shows I've seen only exclude the very young kids, but ask that U16s are with an adult.

They have made that decision. Under 3s are not allowed mostly, but over that it's guidance only. As it should be I think.

I'm pretty sure I saw a TikTok of a woman stood with an infant at her feet at the eras tour...

Well theatres / shows need to make a decision. They can specify an age and check ID or they can give advice and guidance and you take the risk as a punter / complain to the family / speak to the ushers. Unfortunately people think they know best and that guidance isn't for them. Some will be right, some won't.

People should be thoughtful about what's suitable for the child, regardless of age restrictions. A child's size doesn't tell you whether they are 3 or 4 or 5, but then I know some 3 year olds who would sit through something better than some 5 year olds!

I would imagine there's plenty 5+ year olds who can't sit still or stay quiet for an entire performance either.
Children are clearly allowed so I would have expected that personally.

The daughter looked about 3, maybe a very small 4.

Or a very small 5.

My niece was premature and was always tiny.

I have seem really disruptive behaviour from young children at the theatre, but actually what you describe is within the limits of acceptability for The Nutcracker imo. It's traditionally for children so I'd have expected it to be more relaxed than most shows, whispering and shuffling around is par for the course. I wouldn't go into it expecting kids to sit still & quietly through the whole thing.

Actually I think for things like that it also depends on the child. I wouldn’t have taken either of mine at 5 as I know they wouldn’t have been able to sit still and quiet for long enough. Even now I consider if a show will keep my youngest entertained (he’s 13 and knows how to behave just gets bored easily)

Yep. I know, I know, you can't be conclusive about age because on MN every 2 year old is 6ft tall etc. but I used to teach young children so I'm pretty good at estimating age. I saw plenty of children who I'd bet my salary were no more than 4.