5 year old never been to cinema?

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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.

DC3 was 6 and has only been 3 times now. DC2 was 4, but had a much better attention span.

Those of you who say its expensive, while I agree with you for normal tickets, but do your cinemas not do kids clubs? The Odeon, Vue and Empire near me do them and Im sure other chains probably do. Sat, Sun and school holiday mornings £1 a ticket. Take your own food and drink. £5 for a trip for parent and child. Cheaper than swimming (for us anyway)

I don't think it's at all unusual for a 5 YO to have never been to the cinema, I hated it as a child. I think I was about 7 the first time I went and only went a few times in childhood, probably due to all the reasons already mentioned - cost, DCs not sitting still or paying attention - I am the eldest of 4 so there were always babies or toddlers in the family until I was a teenager.

I went a few times while I was a student, when I could get student discount, but I think I've been once or twice in the last 20-25 years and I might not ever go again, especially now I don't expect to stay awake through the film and everyone probably spends the entire film pissing about with their phones.

No it's not weird. I didn't take DD until she was nearly 6 because I honestly didn't think she would shut up and didn't want her to disturb everyone around us! She was OK when I took her, but I think I couldn't have done it much earlier than I did without it being an issue.

My five year old has seen Peppa pig and paw patrol at the cinema, I don’t think he would sit through a whole film, we don’t really watch films at hone though. I don’t find it strange.

It’s a bit unusual looking at my peers. DS went first when he’d just turned three and has been loads in the last 18 months. We pay £3 a ticket (just the two of us), he takes his own snacks and I buy a coffee. We love it!

He’s been to the theatre a lot too, it’s just something I enjoy and he seems to as well. We saw wind in the willows 3 times at the theatre as he liked it so much.

Can confirm he does also go outside.

Didn’t take mine until they were 10 and 12.

My 6 & 4 year old have only been once - I don’t massively like the cinema so don’t see it as a great day out. Eldest doesn’t like films - too long apparentlyty - and I don’t disagree!!

Not odd for me either. DD was about 5 or 6. I brought DS nearly 4 to the kids club in the cinema, it was less than an hour and we had to leave after 30 mins.

Wow I'm with you OP quite surprised by the responses!

My 6 month old has been every couple of weeks since she was 2 weeks old to the baby screenings. They are much cheaper than a baby class and she seems to enjoy the lights and things!

I first started going to cinema when I was 3ish and I'd envisage starting to take her to see kids films from around that age. Lots of mums with older kids bring their toddlers to baby cinema too when it's a U/PG film showing e.g. Lego Movie recently and it's fine.

Where I am the cinema is cheaper than the hellhole that is soft play if you book online so I wouldn't say it's some special treat.

My son was 3 when we first took him. Ensured he had been to the loo and chose a suitable film. No issues. Never got up nor made noise and he hasn't ever since. Took him to theatre just before he was 3 and again no issues. I hate these new cinemas where children are encouraged to run around.

My 6 year old DD hasn't been yet. We're going for the first time to see the Aladdin film when it comes out. I don't think its particularly weird!
I wouldn't take my DS yet and he's nearly 4- he just doesn't have the concentration for a film yet, he needs at least another year probably more!

My 11 year old has never been to cinema and has never wanted to. He prefers to watch films at home and is quite happy to wait until they are on amazon or netflix.

I'm surprised at an 11 year old who wouldn't even be curious to see what the cinema's like.

I think nowadays it probably is a little unusual for a child not to have experienced the cinema by age 5. There are so many films now for young children, there's almost always something suitable on.

I'm mid thirties and I think my visits are still only single figures.

I think I was about 6 when I first went, my cousin took me and my brother and her children to see a film and I was bored and chatted all the way through it.

Our cinema is utterly miles away right on the outskirts of the neighbouring town - getting to it is a nightmare if you don't drive so no, I don't necessarily think that it's weird the child hasn't been yet. Especially given how loud they are, more so if the room isn't fully packed out.

I think it’s pretty strange if they haven’t been by the age of 5.

My daughters 7 and has been going for ages. She’s probably been at least 20 times.

The cinema is pretty cheap now a days so I don’t really see it as a proper treat. We mostly buy sweets from the shops and take them in too which makes it even cheaper.

Never given it much thought funnily enough we took dgd who is just three, to see peppa pig was only about an hour long & she really enjoyed herself, don’t think she would have sat & concentrated for much longer than that though, it was a new Vue cinema & tickets were five pounds, which was good value I thought.

There are so many films now for young children, there's almost always something suitable on.

You could easily turn this on its head and say it's unusual for a 5 year old to have been to the cinema. As there are so many ways to watch movies at home, there's always something suitable, it's cheaper, you can pause it to go to the toilet, have the lights on, a pic a mix for 90% less than cinema prices and so on.

When you think about it, it's crazy people even take their children to the cinema.

Not at all unusual. Many 5 year olds can't concentrate that long. Or find the content of films (even the mildest of "mild peril" or emotional upset) too much for them. At that age, among DS's cohort, I'd say it was about 50-50.

The first two or three times I took DS to the cinema (a bit younger than this, I think, but not massively) we had to leave part way through when it all got too much for him.

Oh and I forgot the most important thing, no one else bothering you. No rustling packets, chatting, kicking your chair, blocking your view, going to the toilet, on their phone.

The cinema really is rubbish when you think about it.

He doesn't like loud noises so not interested in trying cinema at all. He wouldn't go to a football match for the same reason but did go to his first natch this seadon so maybe he'll get to cinema at some point.

Match this season!

No I hate the cinema it'll be a long time before my 4 and 2 year olds go. I find films too long and boring so I won't be taking them. I much prefer a 30min program at home then we can do something interesting. My husband and I have been twice but he hates going with me. Plus it's very expensive and miles away. We have to drive for 30-45mins just to get to one. Much nicer to stay home and have a cup of tea.

It's not weird that he's never been before but it is weird she's vetoed it.

DS 6 yo hasn't been. He doesn't particularly like films so I'm not wasting money if he is desperate to leave.

I've suggested it a few times and he is nit keen.

I would not want someone else to take him for the first time in case he hated it and ruined other people's day out.