What age for the cinema?

[Dillie]

My DD has been bugging me to see this Princess and the Frog, and tbh its right up her street!

The only problem she is 4 1/2 and doesnt cope very well with loud noises! Plus she is scared of the dark.

Last summer (only just 4) we took her to see a live show on holiday, and the poor child freaked out at the noise. It was noisy, typical holiday camp type show with LOTS of screaming kids, but I think she got overwhelmed.

I would love to take her and have a mummy/daughter day out, but at the same time I dont want to put her off going to the cinemas.

What do you think?

take her but sit on an aisle seat near the exit so if it is too much you can leave quickly. also talk her through what will happen like the lights going off. dd's fine after a couple of quick escapes! she's 3.7 and happily sat through Up. dh is taking her to see princess and the frog.

Our cinema does lovely mother and baby screenings, with toys out at the front and some bean bags to sit on and nobody minds if you come and go to the loo or to change nappies etc. Maybe start her off with one of those???

I think you should try it or she'll never get used to going. Our DS's have been going to the cinema from the age of 2.6 and the first time is a bit strange for them, but seeing cartoons on the big screen makes up for it. I think sitting quietly takes a bit of getting used to for them!

Perhaps you could prepare her for the experience describing what you'll be doing. e.g. we'll stand in a queue and pay for tickets, then we'll get some popcorn (or whatever).

If she doesn't like it you can leave at any point.

Go and have some fun!

Odeon cinemas (and others, I'm sure) have Kids Club showings, which are about £2.50 a ticket with the accompanying adult going free. The films are ones that've been out a few months already but it is way cheaper than usual showings so if you did have to leave quickly you would feel so out of pocket.

Having said that, it will be ages before the Princess and the Frog gets shown so I think you should risk it. There won't be screaming children there, for one thing, so the experience will be quite different than that of the show you went to.

Odeon Kids

Our local cinema does kids club screenings for £1 a person (adults need to take a child with them ).

It shows up to date films (or maybe a couple of weeks later). They did Alvin and The Chipmunks recently and it was still on in the main part of the cinema.

DD has been going to the cinema since she was about 2.5 I think. DS was nearly 2 years older, but I just hadn't really thought of taking him before.

I would take her and let her sit on your lap if she wants. She will still be small enough I suspect.

I took DS2 when he was 3.9 ish and when he was anxious he climbed onto my lap and had a cuddle. He was fine then. (We went to see Charlotte's Web). I think sitting in his own isolated seat made him feel like I was too far away.

Plus, as it isn't a live show there won't be loads of screaming kids at the cinema. Most of the time people will be quiet and hopefully, if they aren't it will be because they are laughing and so will your DD.

Give it a go.