To wish people would just respect age restrictions

As I said, different children grow and develop at different rates. My friend childminded a 2.5 year old who looked, and sometimes sounded, about 4 or 5.

I don’t think her age is relevant but the ushers shouldn’t have allowed the disruption. I wouldn’t assume she was 3/4 because you can’t always guess age- I have 1 nephew who was so tall he always mistaken for being years older, and then judged for normal toddler behaviour because everyone thought he was 5/6, and another nephew who was always really teeny tiny and would be given kids menus in restaurants up until about age 15! Also the behaviour doesn’t sound totally a-typical even for a 5YO because a long ballet will be boring for a lot of kids whether they’re 3,4,5 or even 6. Being honest, I think the Nutcracker is pretty boring 😬 although I know better than to fidget! Then my friend’s DD who was 6, so well above any minimum age, behaved as you described at Frozen the musical and an usher threatened them with eviction!

I think the age guidance is guidance because some kids will sit through shows they love even if they wouldn't sit through everything.

I took my 9 year old to see Hamilton in the theatre even though the age guidance was ten. She behaved incredibly and had a huge grin on her face the whole time.

I don't think I'd take an under 5 to see anything long though, kids that age don't want to sit for that long and I don't think it's in anyway pleasant to try to make them.

Under 5s at the Taylor Swift Eras concert? That's mental. How many under 5s are going to sit happily through a 3 hour plus concert. I have to admit I did consider trying to sneak my 13 year old into the over 14 standing area when we had the chance at a couple of tickets, I get the safety aspect but she's taller than me and I imagine the security for Taylor Swift would be shit hot at preventing any issues. Anyway, I decided not to bother in the end in case they were checking ID and she got turned away so we stayed at home and watched it on Disney + in the end.

Poor kid bet she was bored. Ridiculous and not fair on others.

I was in facebook groups for the Eras Tour and so many parents were posting asking how to get their children either into the venue (underage) or into the standing area (underage). Anyone pointing out that the rules were there for a reason i.e. safety was told that the children's desperation to see Taylor should trump all other concerns and that mums know best about what's in their best interests. When I went to my show I saw so many kids who looked way younger than 5, so it seems that lots got their wish.

In short: because many people think that only they and their family matter, and that rules apply to others and not them.

Sorry that your day out was spoiled.

I agree; a performance of the Nutcracker was not enhanced by a toddler who only wanted to be on the floor in the tiny space and investigate my handbag

Yes, people should respect the restrictions, however the child may well have been 5 (some 5 year old children will look younger than others).