5 year old never been to cinema?

[ILikePaperHats]

Hi, AIBU to think it's strange that a 5 year old boy has never been to a cinema before? I'm looking after him tomorrow to help him mum out in the holidays, and thought I would take him and my DS (same age) to see Waterpark but the mum has vetoed it saying he's never been before. My DS has been loads of times and loves it.

I have a 4 year old who has never been to the cinema. I think actually he would now sit through a short film but we also have a 1 year old now too who would definitely be disruptive. I’m planning to take him when I get a spare day where I’m not working, he isn’t at nursery or preschool, and when I don’t have the baby too! These days are few and far between... And even then it would have to be a toddler session!

When I was growing up it was quite common for us to go to the cinema fairly often, I think it’s become more of an expensive luxury in the last 10-15 years and people don’t go as often.

I don't think it's strange. I think it is probably unusual. I think most (all maybe?) 5 year old I know have been a fair few times. Mine has only been about 4 times. And I only took her cos our friends wanted to. Otherwise I wouldn't have.

My ds was 2 when he saw the new version of Beauty and the Beast. He was so mesmerised he didn't even eat his popcorn or sweets!
He is 4.5 and has been about a dozen times. Doesn't even pop to the loo but does eat the snacks!

Pretty standard imo. Eldest was prob about 5 when she first went.

@KitKat1985 oh my god that’s so expensive , it’s £7 here for all tickets and £5 on Mondays

I do think it's strange but I can understand why others don't take their kids to the cinema.

My kids were both 2 when I first took them. Mainly to the Saturday morning films that are cheap. We have a Vue cinema by us that's only £5 per ticket so we do take the kids about once a month. If it was more expensive we probably wouldn't bother so much.

I think it's more odd you've offered to take them and their mum has said no.

It’s not strange.

But a lot of people when taking small children do take them to the morning showings at the weekend when it's cheap

YABU.

I would say it's very normal. Cinemas are loud, expensive and young children are often disruptive to others with snacks, chatting and needing the toilet.

This ^

I don’t think it’s strange.
My nearly 4 year old has been twice now (recently). Went to see Dumbo on Sunday and he was a bit scared with parts and was bored towards the end and wanted to go home. Think he enjoyed the pick and mix the best

Over 5 years of age is probably best. Plus it costs a fortune.

Not strange at all. Mine 7&6 have only been twice, and would NEVER suggest it it as a thing they’d like to do. It’s a bit like ‘surely all 5 year olds have been to macdonalds’. Nope, many have not.

My ds was 2 when he saw the new version of Beauty and the Beast.

That's over 2 hours long, i'm in awe at a 2 year old sitting for that long.

My 5yo went for the first time earlier this year. He's quite sensitive and easily scared, so I wasn't going to pay all that money to leave 15 minutes in with a freaked out child.

I took DD today for the first time (Peppa Pig) she's 2.5. Won't be doing it again any time soon, she couldn't sit still for that and it was a good bit shorter than a normal feature. Also forgot how expensive the cinema is! It would have been about £20, but I had some vouchers through work - no way would I have taken her otherwise! Disney Life subscription is significantly better value..

Dc3 couldn't have sat though a film at 5. He was at least 7 before I was confident he wouldn't ruin the experience for all around.

I've been to showings where five year olds have been allowed to rampage round the cinema when they got bored and it's fucking infuriating. Some kids just need to wait a bit.

Mine has been once to see peppa pig when she was 3. She hasn’t been able to watch a whole film at home without getting scared (except the original Mary poppins) and asks incessant questions throughout everything we watch. So no cinema until she’s over that. It’s hugely expensive too and I have a 2yo to occupy. One of the 5yo school friends basically goes every week I think but they are rich, she’s an only child and I think the parents struggle to occupy her. She’s also got her own iPad. My dd is in awe. I tut and pull up my judgey pants

I would have thought most kids would have been by age 5 but I seem to be in the minority. Maybe his mum n dad want to take him on his first cinema visit.

I did take my nephew when he was just turned 3, he actually done really well but I did have a couple of toilet trips for a dribble 😂 I've also taken my just turned 5yr old niece at Xmas. She was an angel, sat all the way through, was glued to it. She asked for the toilet once near the end and she did need it to be fair. She loved it too.

He is the youngest and think he has just become used to sitting with them +a film at home!!
He also watched Jurassic World at the cinema!

My DS is 5.5 and has only been twice, the second time only a few weeks ago. He was almost 5 the first time we took him as didn’t think he would sit through a film before that.

Nope. My 5.5yr old doesn’t like any movie he’s seen yet. He doesn’t enjoy them and will tolerate one at kids club or a friends house but spends the whole time tense and worried that it’s going to become scary at some point. No way would I make him go to the cinema. Not unless it was showing episodes of octonauts or bitz and Bob or blue planet.

Yabu and judgy. Children are sensitive. They find noise, dark, fast moving images even fun things frightening. I think as a society we expect too much from them and then get confused when they have sleepless nights and nightmares!

My five year old ds hasn't been to the cinema yet. I would love to take him but he just doesn't sit still long enough at home watching a movie. I know it's probably different in a cinema but at the moment I'm holding off taking him

Sounds normal.

Why would you pay when you can watch as many movies as you want at home for about £6 a month.

Young children talk a lot, need the toilet, get restless, get bored, cry - why spend a small fortune to experience that?!

Not unusual at all.