Toddler and Cinema - was I out of order?

[Eve4Walle]

Today I decided to take DD (6) and DS (2.8) to the kids club at the cinema. Costs a fiver for all three of us, DH at work and little else to do, so although DS is young, I thought what the hell, if it only costs that, then if we have to leave early, then so be it. I also mistakenly felt that people would probably be more tolerant as well.

DS sat still for the first 40 minutes or so, but started getting fidgety after that, and when that happens, I know a tantrum isn't far behind, so I let him slip off his seat for a bit and he pottered about in front of me for about 5 minutes. We were right at the front with 4 empty aisles in front and then the screen. Behind me was a woman with three 6-9 year olds I'd say.

Anyway, DS was being quiet but he was walking about, just being curious, when lady behind me taps me on the shoulder and says 'Aren't you going to make him sit down?' I was a bit surprised and said 'he's 2, and is he disturbing you?' and she replied 'no, but he is being distracting'.

I knew straight away that we'd have to leave as DS wouldn't get any better and would be liable to start making actual noise, so I told DD to get her bag and prepare to leave. She wanted to know why we had to go and I gave her some line, and the woman behind tapped me again and said 'oh don't make her go'. I was shocked again and said we had to as it was obv an issue to her and got up and left. But I did tell her I hope she was pleased with herself on the way past.

Got outside, rang DH and had a blub as felt sorry for both my kids.

So, if you're still with me, was I in the wrong? Would my DS have bothered you by walking about and being quiet? Or should I have expected this?

with or without you .. you are absolutely right

when the child is sitting next to you with her bloody ankle bracelets I assure you that you can hear them very clearly

it was like she was playing the marraccas (sp?)tbh

I personally wouldn't be bothered by a small child walking around at the front.

I took my 3 year old a few weeks ago to see Shrek and he became a bit restless and wouldn't stop talking. I took him out to the corridor and explained to him that if he had to stay quiet and watch the film nicely like he does at home.
When he carried on, I took him back outside and told him if he didn't quieten down, we'd have to go home.
He carried on talking and laughing, so we left.

I don't think you're being unreasonable. These things take practice, you won't know when he's ready unless you continue to give him the chances of behaving in an acceptable manner.
I'll probably try to take my ds1 again in a few months.

This thread reminds me of the wedding threads.

It starts of quite normally.
I have a child and they just toddled around, and ends up being:'So what if my child whined/ran around/threw popcorn/spat tomato sauce on the brides dress/wandered around the cinema/screeched in everyone's face.

And then you have:
But they're just two.

Sure they're just two, and not appropriate for the situation, and keep them away from me. I can't stand two year olds. Bleergh.

I poke them with big sticks

in the dark environment of a cinema where the screen is the only lit area a child or adult moving around at the front can be very distracting because it's the movement in otherwise stillness

They are appropriate for the situation because it's 'Kids' Club' - the clue is in the title.

yep you're right - it's not "toddler club" it's "kids" ie kids like her eldest who can sit and enjoy a film

no reason not to take the toddler just be prepared to take out of the screen or bribe with food to sit quietly

it was furry revenge fgs! Who needs to concentrate on that? I would have been glad of the distraction.

As an adult at a kids showing your job is to sleep with your eyes open or plan what to have for tea later.

Some of you have asked why I flounced and left - my answer is that she made it very hard for me to stay after her comments, and DD absoloutely wouldn't have sat there on her own while I took DS off out for a run about.

I would have felt tres uncomfy and spent the rest of the film worrying about who else we might piss off.

Sad really that DS' first experience of the cinema was spoilt, we'll stick to DVDs on the super-wide flat screen at home in the future. In fact, I needn't have taken him to the cinema at all.

And yes, I do have a touch of PMT, and another day, I may have reacted differently, but hell, I am a WOMAN!

I didn't want to mention PMT but as you did...

I used to get really cross with people who let their children wander about in cinemas and cafes and so on because mine would instantly want to know why they couldn't too. And before you klnow it, the whole place is full of not-sitting-down-nicely children!

I would have left the 6 year old to finish watching the film and taken the little one out into the foyer for a run about.

I would stick with the super wide flat screen for a good while yet.
Turn off the lights, buy some popcorn and you have the cinema, plus your son can run around as much as he likes without annoying the likes of my DD who is also a kid, and would like to enjoy the film.

I mean no harm when I say that, but it's true that my DD would be bothered, and as she is doing what the cinema dictates, to me, she, and others sitting, enjoying the film, have preference.

Imagine if EVERY toddler in there was walking around - that would be distracting.

I never took mine together until youngest was fourish and could sit through a whole film.

She asked you not to leave! If your child can't sit and watch a film, they shouldn't be in a cinema, doesn't matter if they are 2 or 32.

LOL, when I said a practice I meant so that children can practise where there is less pressure. LOL.

where we are the film is already in the DVD bargain box before being shown!

DD is a fidgit, but mostly stays shtum.

That said, I have been to plenty of films where people evidently did not get enough practise as children!! People giggling all the way through (not just at funny bits), sticking their feet on the seat behind me and moving my seat constantly, nattering, etc etc. All more acceptable from a 2 yrold, and not the above 10s! I have wanted to ask people to just SHUT UP before now!

perhaps that is why I see a wandering toddler in a Kids film as the least of my irritations

The kids club at a cinema is so that families can go and watch films cheaply. It is not for wondering around. Yes I would be disturbed if a young child was walking around when others are trying to watch a film
2 years old is too young for the cinema

I paid £12 the other day for a cinema trip and there was a 2/3 year old hurtling around and being noisy; that pissed me off although I didn't say anything.

On the Kids Club showings, I don't mind - it's only £1 each and I expect little kids to make noise (although do get slightly annoyed at the adults talking with loud voices just because it's a cheap day out - they could still whisper!)

you gave it a go, it didn't work out, you left - no biggie. its not worth getting worried about, a bit of tolerance is a wonderful thing

Good god! People are acting as though op's ds was doing shadow puppets on the screen! For those complaining about him 'wandering around in front of the screen' just how tall do you think her ds is??? A two year olds head wouldn't come above the back of the seats fgs.

I agree u should remove your child if they are noisy or jumping around, but that wasn't the case here. Don't use op's experience to just rant at how shit other people are.

Our local parent council (for parents of children with disabilities) took over a cinema recently so we could all go. It was crazy! Kids all over the place, like monkeys at the zoo

We had a great time, and for the first time, I could relax with my 2 toddlers and the 6 Yo with asd without worrying about Judgy Pants mothers with their 'perfect' children tutting whilst mine did their thing!

Despite all the disruption, I managed to hold onto the thread of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks-the Squeeqel' quite well

If you have PMT of course you are going to be tearful .. sending you hugs and chocolate

FFS just cause it's called kids club doesn't mean it should be filled with kids running riot chucking food everywhere. Not to be funny but the parents who let there kids do this are there own worst enemys as it's your kids with no disapline and awareness of how they should behave in certain situations who will end up with asbo's and problems with rules when they get older. kids club or not surely older kids deserve to watch in peace and quite without distractions as it's them that kids club is designed for not a 2 yo who proberbly doesn't even understand what the film is about. i dgas if i upset anyone at the end of the day regardless of if he wasn't being noisy the op said herself she knew a tantrum wasn't far off coming so why the hell she got shirty with the woman behind her is stupid as she knew she would have to leave anyway. there are things i would love to do with my eldest kids but as i have a 1 and a half year old we dont do them. Simples.

a toddler was a 'kid' last time I checked.