Page 6 | For my 6 and 11 year old to watch a film at the cinema without me

Littlebittiredoflife · 2025-02-20T08:30:41+00:00

They want to watch dogman and I don't think I can face it. If it was just the 11 year old, I'm thinking this would absolutely be ok. But with the six year old I'm unsure as he might get a bit scared and there's the worry that popcorn is quite a chokeable snack. Both of them just likely to sit and watch the film though. And I'd be next door watching something that doesn't want to make me gouge my eyes out.

moose62 · 20/02/2025 09:17

My DH and I actually argued about who would have to watch Pokemon the Movie. He lost.....

ThatsNotMyTeen · 20/02/2025 09:15

6 is too young. Welcome to parenting sometimes you have to sit through shit films:

Midnightlove · 20/02/2025 09:14

femfemlicious · 20/02/2025 08:35

You can sit at the back and watch something else on your phone😁

Dh did this when we endured godzilla Kong 🤣

Katiesaidthat · 20/02/2025 09:13

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 09:07

I would never use something with lights on in the cinema. Drove me mad when we went to see a film and small child/toddler who wouldn't sit still had lights on their shoes

I hadn´t thought of this. I just got a pair for my daughter and will bear this in mind, thank you.

Xmasbaby11 · 20/02/2025 09:12

I took my 11 and 13 year old to see Dogman. No it’s not particularly entertaining - and I’ve enjoyed a lot of kids films! But I didn’t consider leaving them alone. They like having me there and it’s hardly the worst part of parenting - I just relaxed with my coffee.

Disasterclass · 20/02/2025 09:11

I've been in the cinema recently where there were a couple of kids watching without parents, probably similar age. The kids lost interest halfway through, started talking and standing up and it turned into a bit of a bun fight, culminating in an adult man standing up and shouting at them to shut the fuck up. Not saying your kids would behave like this, but everyone in the cinema was cursing the fact that they were there unsupervised

JeremiahBullfrog · 20/02/2025 09:09

I've always been of the opinion that if it's not a good film for adults, it's not really a good film for children.

Children will sit through a lot of rubbish, but as a kid I was very much aware that some stuff was a lot better than others.

CurlyWurly1991 · 20/02/2025 09:09

I watched a film alone at the cinema aged about 6, my mum popped to work! She told the staff, mind. I’m not even 40!

Katiesaidthat · 20/02/2025 09:09

Moonshine5 · 20/02/2025 08:40

Plus you never know who is in the cinema with them.

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This exactly. A perve sat next to me when I went to my friends to the cinema. Into the film he tried to stroke my leg and hip. I was 16 and told him to get lost. He stopped. You would leave your kids at the mercy of one of these? I have a 6 year old. No way.

Adventureee · 20/02/2025 09:09

I’ve seen it, wasn’t looking forward to it because I don’t love the books personally, but I do love that they exist and encourage reading etc etc.

But I thought the film was pretty good! Quite sweet. A better story than it needed to be, if you know what I mean.

However, I know someone who takes seats at the back with no one else around her, and brings headphones and watches her own movie on her phone when she takes the kids to watch stuff she’s not interested in.

Moonnstars · 20/02/2025 09:07

Your other option is to wait for the film to become available to rent/buy and then watch at home.... obviously this means the kids don't get to see the film when others might all be talking about it, but a lot of films do seem to be released a lot quicker onto other platforms these days.

Original poster

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 09:07

I would never use something with lights on in the cinema. Drove me mad when we went to see a film and small child/toddler who wouldn't sit still had lights on their shoes

OP posts:

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 20/02/2025 09:06

I slept through all 8 Harry Potter movies with DC beside me.

IfYouLook · 20/02/2025 09:05

femfemlicious · 20/02/2025 08:35

You can sit at the back and watch something else on your phone😁

Please don’t do this. People on their phones in cinemas is deeply obnoxious regardless of whether it’s a crap kids film or if you’re at the back.

Original poster

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 09:04

Runnersandtoms · 20/02/2025 09:01

I don't think anyone has said not letting your children see films they like in the cinema is harmful. Loads of kids never go to the cinema and just see films on telly/streaming/dvd etc. It's not compulsory to take them to the cinema. However, if you take them, it is compulsory to go with them. Whether you watch the film, snooze, listen to a podcast or watch something else at the back on your phone and headphones is up to you. If you don't want to do that just don't take them.

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A few pp did say taking them and putting up with the film was part of being a parent and to stop being a selfish parent. However, the only resolution to them going by themselves isn't for me to go with them, it's for none of us to go at all. Which I don't believe would be a big deal, I don't have to make me going part of being a parent to resolve me not wanting to see the film.

OP posts:

Runnersandtoms · 20/02/2025 09:01

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 08:53

Darn it, I really thought I'd found a solution there. I've definitely heard parents sending their 11 years olds in with friends before. I agree adding the six year old to the mix changes the risk level.

I do really disagree with pp that this is a part of parenting and I need to suck it up. I don't think my children would be harmed if I only ever took them to see kids films that I had some interest in seeing as well. In fact I don't think there'd be any detriment to them not going to the cinema at all until they were old enough to go by themselves.

I also think there's a bit of pearl clutching here. It was a fleeting thought of mine where I briefly thought would that be an option and then thought it was worth asking a wider audience to see what others thought. Some people are acting like I've already done it. Unfortunately there's no recliners there.

I don't think anyone has said not letting your children see films they like in the cinema is harmful. Loads of kids never go to the cinema and just see films on telly/streaming/dvd etc. It's not compulsory to take them to the cinema. However, if you take them, it is compulsory to go with them. Whether you watch the film, snooze, listen to a podcast or watch something else at the back on your phone and headphones is up to you. If you don't want to do that just don't take them.

WhereAreWeNow · 20/02/2025 09:00

I disagree with those saying watch something on your phone or tablet. Even if you're in the back row it will be really annoying and distracting to the people on the same row. Distracting for your kids too. Just enjoy closing your eyes for a couple of hours if the film is truly unwatchable!

Smartiepants79 · 20/02/2025 09:00

Leaving your 6 year old unattended is basically making all the other adults anywhere near him responsible for him. At 11, fine. But he is just too little and unpredictable.

TickingAlongNicely · 20/02/2025 09:00

You can't use a phone or tablet... the lights are distracting for other people.

Original poster

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 08:59

Out of interest what age would they need to be for pp to leave them home alone together? I haven't actually left the 11 year old alone at home yet or but they've walked to school by themselves. I do feel being in public is safer in some aspects and it is a really small cinema. It sounds from pp it might be doable in a years time if I sat in the cafe- I can see the all the doors of the cinema from some of the cafe seats. But the popcorn risk would remain an issue.

OP posts:

WhereAreWeNow · 20/02/2025 08:57

Just see it as a comfy chair in a warm dark room with snacks. Doze off if you can.

Libertysparkle · 20/02/2025 08:57

My sister watched it with her kids, and her exact words were not as good as Wicked but quite fun!

Moonnstars · 20/02/2025 08:56

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 08:53

Darn it, I really thought I'd found a solution there. I've definitely heard parents sending their 11 years olds in with friends before. I agree adding the six year old to the mix changes the risk level.

I do really disagree with pp that this is a part of parenting and I need to suck it up. I don't think my children would be harmed if I only ever took them to see kids films that I had some interest in seeing as well. In fact I don't think there'd be any detriment to them not going to the cinema at all until they were old enough to go by themselves.

I also think there's a bit of pearl clutching here. It was a fleeting thought of mine where I briefly thought would that be an option and then thought it was worth asking a wider audience to see what others thought. Some people are acting like I've already done it. Unfortunately there's no recliners there.

I think if it was two 11 year olds then it would be different and there were definitely children if this age in the cinema yesterday without an adult. But they would be year 6/7 and I would hope more independent.

TheAmusedQuail · 20/02/2025 08:55

Sit at the back with them, with your phone and headphones. Or even better, take your tablet. Watch a movie of your own. You can't leave the 6 year old.

Doggymummar · 20/02/2025 08:55

I always fall asleep in the cinema, go have a nap