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Original poster

Cinema for 3yo?

16 replies

Mummmof2x · 04/02/2025 21:24

When did you take your kids to the cinema first! Got a 3yo and 1.5 yo

my 3yo is into Spidey and his amazing friends so thought he may like the sonic film out? But unsure if the cinema is too old for him it’s a long time to be in the room and to sit and also loud etv

just asking for tips ! X

OP posts:
TwentyTwentyFive · 04/02/2025 21:27

It's almost two hours long. I really wouldn't if I were you I would think it a waste of money.

If you want him to experience the cinema take him to a specific kids showing for little ones. They often show the Julia Donaldson ones which are much shorter and likely to hold his attention.

PercyFone · 04/02/2025 21:38

Does he sit still for a full film at home? DD is 5 and still gets bored after 30 mins. So there's no way I'm paying £££ to have her get bored in the cinema!

She loved kids cinema though, where they showed things like the gruffalo for a couple of quid on a Saturday morning.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 04/02/2025 21:51

My three year old has been to the "kid friendly" showings if stuff along with my 5 yr old. They've been fine because they are about an hour to 1.5 max, the volume is reduced and lights are up a bit so it's not total darkness.
I do not recommend a "normal" viewing because the volume is much louder and the lights are much darker. My 3yr old spent the film on the hall with me whilst our 5yr old watched it. I think that was paddington2.

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quirkyquerty · 04/02/2025 21:51

I took my children at that age and they enjoyed it, but a different film to sonic! Sonic was a bit scary for my seven and five year old a few weeks ago

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 04/02/2025 21:53

Oh and definitely not sonic. I took my 5yr old and we enjoyed it but deffo not for a three year old. He woulbt even understand it

Moonlightstars · 04/02/2025 21:53

When my were little they used to do Saturday morning club where it was a quid a ticket for some old film. Wass good for getting them used to it, imagine it's a bit more expensive now as that was over ten years ago!

strawberryShorty · 04/02/2025 21:55

Depends on the kids. At 3 mine would happily sit and watch a film in the cinema

ThePuppyHasZoomiesAgain · 05/02/2025 00:56

Depends. If you're taking 2 children are there also going to be 2 adults?

If 2 adults then fine, but if only you then no. I can guarantee you one of them will get bored/need the loo/want to run around like a lunatic. If 2 adults then no problem as one of the adults can take the child to the loo or outside for a break but if there's only one adult then all 3 of you will have to traipse to the loo and the one that doesn't want to go will be very vocal and let you and the other people in the screen know about it!

PMAmostofthetime · 05/02/2025 00:58

DD is 19 months sat through Moana 2 with one toilet break won't sit through a film in the house.

She was amazed by the experience.

cravingmilkshake · 05/02/2025 01:01

My three year old son loves the sonic movie. Watched the whole thing with my husband on their own.

As a family the first movie they saw was wild robot last year and moana 2.

My twins are 3 years and 4 months old. We are so happy this a new thing to do on a wet Sunday.

Go for it. Worth a try!

Timetoheal4good · 05/02/2025 01:08

My 3 year old DD loves the cinema. The first time I took her she was 2 and she sat through the full film. But close family members have taken their 4/5/6 year olds and had a completely different experience! I think you know your little one and you'll know whether it's likely. Have a couple of small snacks to give them and let them know the cinema is a place they have to be quiet. The excitement of the new experience might be enough to keep their attention. I made it clear from the outset that we sat in our seats ... I see people all the time who let their DC roam the aisles and it mildly irritates me 🙈

MakeYourOwnMusicStartYourOwnDance · 05/02/2025 01:41

I didn't take mine to the cinema until they were 5.
There's no way they'd have sat nicely for 2 hours watching a film there younger than that.
It's not fair on the other cinema goers in my opinion to have a potentially fidgety/want to be up for a wee/asking questions/crying (depending on age) toddler/baby/child here.
Agree with the poster who said how much would a 3 year old and under even understand anyway of the films? Context and plot would go way over their heads. Hence the fidgeting and whining because a cool Superman costume or whatevs would only keep their interest for so long...

Bellaphant · 05/02/2025 12:41

I first took mine at just over 2 and just over 4. It was a small, independent cinema though. It's always gone better than I've expected, they are 3.5 and 5.5 now.

PMAmostofthetime · 08/02/2025 07:23

MakeYourOwnMusicStartYourOwnDance · 05/02/2025 01:41

I didn't take mine to the cinema until they were 5.
There's no way they'd have sat nicely for 2 hours watching a film there younger than that.
It's not fair on the other cinema goers in my opinion to have a potentially fidgety/want to be up for a wee/asking questions/crying (depending on age) toddler/baby/child here.
Agree with the poster who said how much would a 3 year old and under even understand anyway of the films? Context and plot would go way over their heads. Hence the fidgeting and whining because a cool Superman costume or whatevs would only keep their interest for so long...

We always went with the intention to leave if DD was disruptive she wasn't she was amazed and loved the experience she's 19 months and asks to see the Big Moana again.

Girasoli · 08/02/2025 07:27

When we went to see Sonic my then 4 year old was the youngest there. 8 year old DS1 loved it, and all the teens/grown men seemed to enjoy it too (I was very bored).

For a 3 year old I would see if they have a mid week kids club at an independent cinema near you....they'll show things that are around 30mins long.

InTheRainOnATrain · 08/02/2025 07:34

Very much depends on their personality! My eldest was fine at 3. My youngest is just 4 and I haven’t taken him yet. Does your 3YO consistently sit through a full film at home? I wouldn’t consider it unless they do every single time. I agree with PP talking about understanding context and plot too- DD watched Frozen about 1001 times as a toddler but got really upset watching when she 5 because she realised the parents died, before that it had totally gone over her head.

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