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.

None of mine had been to the cinema at 5yo.
Me and dh rarely go-we tend to wait for the dvd which is usually cheaper than one cinema ticket.

OTOH they'd all been to the theatre a number of times by the time they were 3yo, and all had performed in a theatre by the time they were 5yo. I don't think they feel they missed out

I don’t think I took my eldest till he was at least 6-7. Purely because he wouldn’t sit still at home to watch tv for more than about 10 mins, so why would he sit through a film?

He must have been 10 before he watched a film all the way through without ‘needing the loo’ about 4 times.

Why is it strange? We don't really do films, and they're not fans of sitting still or loud noises

My DD is 6 almost 7 and she first went aged 5 and has only been twice in total. It is very expensive for a family trip so it is a big treat at Christmas or the summer holidays. My son was nearly 4 when he first went but it was a sequel to one of his favourite films. The next film we will all see will be Toy Story 4 as a school holiday treat.

I imagine a lot of it is location dependent.

Our nearest cinema is a 45 minute drive away. Free parking, but once you add up the cost of fuel, tickets, the amount of time you're out of the house, the cost of a snack etc. it's not exactly a cheap activity!

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

I think it's very sensible that the mum vetoed it. If he's never been before then she has no idea if he will find it overwhelming/scary/too long/too hard to behave etc etc

If you've got no idea if your child will enjoy something then it's a sensible to suggest that something else might be better this time.

Mine went at four and have still only been a handful of times.
Give them too much and they don't appreciate it imo!

Threads like this only serve to remind us how everyone has an opinion of what others are doing. Get over yourself OP. So what if your DC has been loads of times 🤷🏻‍♀️ there is no award for it.

surprised by these comments! mine have been lots of times. one even went in year 1 as part of a school trip and one went in year 2! guess what ive even taken my baby to the cinema

Mine hasn't been yet (but loves going to theatre stuff). I think I mainly haven't taken her as her younger sister wouldn't set through it - I do think it's weird to veto it though.

I do find t expensive though as I have 4 children so pay £40 (with the baby being free) dont think I will go when she isnt as dont fancy paying £50 to see a film.

Mines 4.5 and I have no plans to take him soon, he hates sitting still and would be a bit of a pain

@CandyCreeper

I do find t expensive though as I have 4 children so pay £40 (with the baby being free) dont think I will go when she isnt as dont fancy paying £50 to see a film

Most cinemas do kids mornings where tickets are cheaper...about £3 a ticket at our local one.

I think it's completely normal to not have gone to the cinema by the age of 5, every child's different.
I have two, and they both went to the cinema for the first time at approx 5 or 6 years old.
Any younger and they'd have just fidgeted and whinged the entire way through/got bored.
Perfectly normal age to go to the cinema at for the first time, or not be ready to.

I was 5 when I went for the first time (Beauty and the Beast). I'm glad of that because I actually remember the experience an how exciting it was.

Nah, not strange at all to me. I went three times my whole childhood and the first time was with another family.

My kids are 6, 4 and 3 and the 6 year old has been quite a lot for birthdays and random days out just me and her. My 3 year old has never been because he'd never sit and the 4 year old has been once. My 4yo didn't like how loud it was so Ive not been with him again.

My 5 and 4 year old's have never been. Neither can sit through a whole film at home yet.

I think it's very sensible that the mum vetoed it. If he's never been before then she has no idea if he will find it overwhelming/scary/too long/too hard to behave etc etc If you've got no idea if your child will enjoy something then it's a sensible to suggest that something else might be better this time

Good point, completely agree. Can just imagine the AIBU on here - "Took a 5 year old to see a film at the cinema and he fidgeted the entire way through and repeatedly kicked the seat in front making the occupant scowl and drop their popcorn. . AIBU to say to the mum I'm not bothering looking after him again?!"

We didn't take ours until they were about 11 and 9. Maturity does come into it, but equally the cinema is more and more irrelevant. I grew up with 2 channel black and white TV. My children grew up with multi-channel digital TV, DVDs and now streaming. There's a lot more choice at home now, and cinema is horrendously expensive.

Took my daughter to a kids screening of the little mermaid. She was 3.5. She said it was too loud, was scared through a lot if it, kept asking questions about what was happening and asked to leave more than once before I gave up about 40 minutes in. So she has officially been to the cinema, but it was enough to realise she wasn't really ready for it. All kids are different and have been exposed to different things in the preschool years. So yeah in summary not weird if your kid loves the cinema, not weird if they haven't been or don't like it.

I was gutted when my old childminder took DS1 on his first cinema trip without asking me. I totally get why she has said no. Also, my DH took DS1 & 2 to see How To Train Your Dragon a few months ago and I had to go and pick DS2 up after about 30 mins as he really didn't like it. He's 4. I think it was all a bit much for him, it's so loud and in your face.

My kids were 9 when they first went and only been twice more since. (Now coming up for 12).

Mainly as it is expensive and the snacks are expensive and my dd is disruptive due to asd.

I think if a child can sit well by five that is a good age to go for a first film, if it is in your budget.

My son is 5 and not been yet.

I once took my DS to the cinema when he was about 4, never mind what he thought of it, I found sitting through a children’s film utterly tedious & vowed to never do it again .

My DS was very nearly 6 (a week before his birthday iirc) the first time he went to the cinema, and that was to a friend's birthday party so a private screening. I'd have been a lot more reluctant to take him to a general entry film at that age.