Can a three year old sit through a panto?

[Liverbird77]

Aibu to ask if an about-to-turn-three year old would be able to sit and enjoy a two hour panto?

Me and my mum would love to take him, but we aren't sure if it is feasible.
There's no SEN or other special considerations to think about.

I am interested to hear from parents of older children. What age did you start to take them?

I'm involved with our local amateur panto as is DD and there are often 3yo and younger kids at the matinee. Parents sometimes have to take them out (or to the loo!) but it's fine.

It's a panto - lots of noise! - not the RSC.

OP does he sit through a film OK? Will be fine imo if so. Mine went to live theatre from much younger (shows aimed at kids, but still)

Yes. Panto's are for kids, so the audience is always a bit babbly for pantos.

I would take them for the experience, but I wouldn't take them on the expectation that they should sit still and be quiet for 2 hours.

The buttons shows are ace. Enjoy

That's short for a panto so maybe. My dd could have but would have probably fallen asleep. Not sure she could have followed a story for 2 hours but she would have enjoyed it and been happy.

As others say, it just depends on the child. They need experience of attending appropriate events. Pantos are a family show so some of the humour will go over a toddler's head.

*Butlins

My children have either been in or watched pantos since before they were born. When they turned 2, they were perfectly capable of sitting and watching.
In fact I have a photograph of my then 18month old in his sling with his big brother (2.5) and both sat and watched nicely.

Unlikely! You can try but make sure you have an aisle seat in case you need to make a swift exit (and be prepared). Small children can be overwhelmed by the size, number of people, noise, excitement... and it’s long!

Maybe somewhere does a small kid one?

I take 3 year olds to the panto as part of my job in a nursery
They are able to sit through and I’ve only had to take one child out who couldn’t cope
Most pantos have an interval and we take lots of snacks and a drink to keep them occupied
They love it

Depends on the child. My eldest sat through Disney on ice at 18months.

I hadn’t bought tickets as I thought she was too young, then I won some and thought it didn’t matter if we had to leave early as they’d not cost anything. She’s at mesmerised from beginning to end.

Ah yes - the nursery at my old work would take the children to a panto but it would be something like the stickman that was very much for little children.

My daughter did at 3. She got a bit over excited at times but stayed in her seat and enjoyed herself My son never would have managed it at 3 and would have been up and about. A rule of thumb I used was daughter could and would sit on the sofa to watch a Disney film quite happily for the duration if she was interested but my son never could. Depends on the 3 year old.

Mine all did from tiny.

Of course! It's made for children. So what if your little one gets fidgety or whinges or needs a break to walk around the lobby. That's expected and it's what all little ones could do. I took my 2 year old to In The Night Garden and so many kids were walking up the aisle etc.

We went with another family and hired a box, so the children could sit or stand. It didn't cost a huge amount extra. I realise this only works for an old style theatre!

Mine did from three, but were terrified of the wicked witch and hid under the seat each time she appeared in a bang and flash! They enjoyed it though. They also liked children’s shows with audience singing and participation, like the Singing Kettle. I used to take ear plugs and paracetamol- the noise of that many kids having a ball is deafening!

@FrankButchersDickieBow

Yes. Panto's are for kids, so the audience is always a bit babbly for pantos.

I would take them for the experience, but I wouldn't take them on the expectation that they should sit still and be quiet for 2 hours.

The buttons shows are ace. Enjoy

This really, panto audiences are full of kids making a bit of a noise/getting up and down. It’s not like you’re taking him to see King Lear at the National Theatre. I’d just book it.

Last time we went to the panto the biggest pains in the arse were the couple in their 20s sitting in front of us who arrived late, got up to go to the bar, and left early.

Agree that it depends on the child but one thing I would like to add is.....

......if you do go please don't buy him one of those flashing light merchandise toys.
I can handle a fidgeting, restless child at the panto but not one who is waving one of those flashing light things around in front of/to the side of me.

Enjoy yes, sit still no. Though glad you wish to introduce him to the joy of theatre, perhaps in a couple of years time.

Completely dependent on the child. We've never been into pantos, but I think ours might have been scared of the villain at 3yo. They did, however, go to other shows/musicals at the theatre from that age and loved it. They didn't talk or fidget, just stared in wonder, but again, it's completely dependent on the child and obviously you have to choose the right show for them.

The first show our DS went to, just before his 3rd birthday, was the Snowman in the West End. Obviously it's seasonal, but it's perfect for a 3yo to follow, there's hardly any talking, just music and magic

@CompleteBarstool

Agree that it depends on the child but one thing I would like to add is.....

......if you do go please don't buy him one of those flashing light merchandise toys.
I can handle a fidgeting, restless child at the panto but not one who is waving one of those flashing light things around in front of/to the side of me.

I sympathise but as the toys are specifically sold at panto, you are unreasonable.

People expect children at panto, not sure it's fair on anyone else to take a young child to shows, musical, theatre until they have specific children session.

As PP have said, it depends on the child. I would say it also depends on the show and the venue - I work in commercial panto and it is loud - I wear moulded earplugs under my headset to protect my hearing. There can be a lot of pyro (big flashes and loud bangs) as well as flames. A panto I did a few years ago had the baddie introducing the story in the opening scene, and over the run there were a fair number of children who were scared by the baddie in that scene, had to be taken out, and refused to come back in!

So try to find out from the venue how loud it's likely to be - I'd never sit right at the front anyway, but further back and on the end of a row makes it easier to go out of needs be

We did but it was the cheaper, poorer cousin panto with kids from the local theatre group and about £10 a ticket so it didn't matter if we had to leave early. It was also shorter. DD was mesmerized by it all but scared of the rat king

If it's the £50/60 a.ticket ex corrie star show i wouldn't bother in case you have to leave part way through.

No, it’s not fair on everyone else there.

We took my DS for the first time at 2 (nearly 3) and he was fine - got a bit restless towards the end but there’s an interval and we gave him more snacks when he started to get tetchy! He then went the next year at 3 nearly 4 with nursery and they all absolutely loved it.

Debating it for my (will be by then) nearly 3 year old this year but I’m on the fence. I have tickets for frozen for my eldest and we will absolutely not be taking the littlest to that but the panto feels more welcoming of the little ones.

My eldest would have been fine at 3 and sat beautifully watching the snowman when I think she was 21/2. Youngest is a bit more untested because of covid and hasn’t had same practice of sitting in restaurants etc.