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 think it is odd that going to the cinema is a popular pastime for people still; it is so expensive and films are on tv/Netflix/amazon v quickly after release, it hardly seems worth it.
Mine haven't been to the cinema, I do take mine to the theatre regularly though.

Pre-Internet might have seemed odd, but most people I know stream films and rarely go to the cinema, it's expensive once travel/parking, snacks and tickets are factored in...It can also be noisy and awkward with small children.

Not sure, my DD has been a number of times since the age of 3 to the kids screenings where the normal cinema 'etiquette' is relaxed.
They are real treat days when we go

Well we're definitely strange, 9 yr old hates watching films even on TV at home and determinedly refuses cinema. Little sister was briefly obsessed with Frozen at the age of 4-5 but otherwise little interest. Not that they're after doing healthy outdoor stuff, both would rather play Minecraft.

They both love Harry potter so I thought at least that would tempt them in, DD has watched the first 2 films with utmost caution and DS didn't even get through the first one. Strange kids. OTOH at least I don't have to sit through hours of crappy kids' films.

Odd

but the vetoing is odder. my response would be sorry he can't come over then as that is what we are doing

You don't get to veto if your child is going out with another family

I don't think its strange although my son who just turned 2 has been about 6 times. He sat through 2 hours of Black Panther with dad and I🤣. If we don't have a baby sitter which we rarely ask and its something he can watch we just take him and he sits throughout

Wow! Perfect parents! You take your 2 year old to the cinema! What can I say?? 👏👏👏

Here ..have a shiny... 🏅🏆

@clairedelalune I will always love going to the cinema, streaming devices will never replace that! Firstly their films are shit (mostly) and you have to wait ages for anything decent, secondly, the cinema was a big treat when I was a kid, we had to travel over an hour to get to a multiplex. The smell, atmosphere, walking into the huge foyer, getting pic n mix, all that takes me back to being a kid. Plus we have one of those luxury cinemas by us now with the huge reclining seats which we (kids especially) love. I'm surprised so many 5 year olds struggle, I thought my youngest in particular had a bad attention span but he's absolutely fine in a cinema, I guess it's just as we've been from such a young age. I couldn't wait to start taking them!!

My almost four year old could not sit still that long. He’d ask loud questions about everything and he has a younger brother , I wouldn’t ruin the enjoyment of others. He’ll have plenty of chance when older.

I don’t think mine went til they were older. Partly because cheaper at home, more because I didn’t want to sit through kids films. Too tedious.

Not strange at all. Who would I spend £30+ taking 2 kids to the cinema when we have sky movies for about £6 a month with a Disney movie channel? Cinema is ridiculously over priced. It’s £12 for an adult here which I would rather spend on a day out!

My youngest is three and will quite happily sit through a film. But I take her when most people are at school or work if she did ever get fussy. I'm taking my oldest two to the cinema next week and it only cost me £17.22 to book three tickets.

@Tealtights I agree! I love the cinema experience! Though I understand it is expensive and some people might prefer other activities for their money. I live next to an Everyman which has nice sofas and is really cool inside! My DS is 11 weeks old but I so hoping he likes the cinema when he is older!

@le42 yeah! I tend to get vouchers and use the meerkat 241, and sneak sweets in lol.

I'm surprised anyone would take children younger than five to a cinema.

At that age mine were tearing round the garden, constructing Lego and filling their time with role play, craft, cookery.

But then, they didn't really watch TV either. I can see how a child weaned on screens would be more ready.

To be honest,I find it strange to take children that young. its expensive, loud and they can’t see a lot as they are too short to see anything if somebody is in front of them

@MollyHuaCha precisely as you insinuate my children can only manage the cinema due to the hours of hard core television training I make them endure. I allow no independent play, toys that require any amount of imagination or movement of their bodies are banned, they must do a daily requirement of 6 hours screen time a day to be allowed dinner and I find all of this constrains them enough to manage a 90 minute film. I don't know how I'd do it otherwise.

@Yura they can see the screen just fine, they have booster seats but my average sized children have never required them, cinemas tend to be arranged in a way visibility isn't an issue, at least the ones I go to.

I have a really strong memory of going to see jumanji at the cinema when I was 5, it was such a special day out with my mum and sister we were so excited - it was a treat as we didn't usually have sweets too. At the end of the film everyone clapped and I absolutely loved it.

Going to the cinema as a kid doesn't mean you don't enjoy playing out and crafting! I did all of those things every day but the cinema was a rare treat.

I still get excited going now. Everyone is different!

Depends on the child surely? I think DS was three but it was a Thomas film and he was obsessed with Thomas. He sat through it very happily. I guess he goes a couple of times a year?

I have three, the oldest is almost 6, they've never been and have shock horror actually survived But then we just download movies and make a family night of it at home.

My youngest is 5 and has been going to the cinema for around 3 years now. We started with the kids club movies as they were cheaper in case we had to leave but now go frequently to see films. He has a large variety of toys and clubs he is involved in and I am pretty confident a movie at the cinema every month or so won’t corrupt him to much

Whoa! No offence intended to all the pre-school cinema lovers who clearly make a great success of it.

I was just stating fact - my three DCs did not go to the cinema until maybe age 8 or 9.

At younger ages they preferred more physically demanding activities.

And it is just obvious that children who are accustomed to lengthy periods of TV/iPad will be more cinema-ready than those who have rarely watched screens before.

No offence intended.

And it is just obvious that children who are accustomed to lengthy periods of TV/iPad will be more cinema-ready than those who have rarely watched screens before.

It's honestly not true in DS' case - he watched no TV at all, literally zero. I always assumed that was why he liked the cinema as it was such a novelty. He sits without a peep though plays as well (and through stories and so on), I think it's just his personality.

@MollyHuaCha that's an incredibly ignorant assumption to make, and came across as hilariously pious. But no of course, please do assume your children's attention span was a direct reflection of your awesome parenting. Perhaps children who don't have a lot of screen time would enjoy the cinema as the experience is a rare one, mesmerising them? I'm assuming my professional qualifications in this area are the same as yours (ie none) meaning my assertion has the same weight though I won't be so ignorant to declare it obvious.

The reverse snobbery on this thread is hilarious.

I think it's a shame, DN is three and loves the cinema most cinemas do child friendly screenings and have beanbag chairs etc. I think making watching a film an outing rather than just plonking in front of the TV regularly is a good thing.

I took my daughter for the first time yesterday to watch Peppa Pig- about an hour long. She turned 5 on Sunday. I'm amazed she sat though it to be honest. It's a lot of money to spend out if they get bored half way through.