Taking a 2 year old to the cinema?

[tiredmama23]

DP wants to take our 2 year old to the cinema (obviously to watch a children's cartoon). I think she's way too young for this (she's barely 2 and a half) and will just be a nightmare the entire time trying to get down off the seats etc. I can't imagine this will be a relaxing experience for us! He thinks it's not too early for her to learn how to behave in a cinema. Is 2 years old too young for a cinema?? AIBU?

My youngest went from being a baby as she had an older sister. She was very chilled though so if I had a child that found it hard to sit still not sure I’d choose to do it .

He thinks it's not too early for her to learn how to behave in a cinema.

Not many 2 year olds would want to sit still for 2 hours. There are so many other things he could do with her, it’s a bit selfish to push the cinema when it’s not really for her benefit.

It depends. If you put a film on at home will she sit on the sofa, watch the entire thing and not move? Because that’s your answer. My eldest would have been fine, youngest wouldn’t dream of it.

Thanks for the reply. She is generally a well behaved toddler, we are going through a difficult defiant stage currently where there's a lot of "no!" and "my do it!!" when we try to help / direct her etc. She can sit at home for 20 mins or so watching something / colouring in, but that's about the limit of her attention span. I can't imagine she would sit for over an hour at a film that she likely won't understand.

Some cinemas have special screenings for young families. See if any if your local ones do.

Also wtf is your partner on about with ‘learning how to behave in a cinema’? It’s not an essential life skill like swimming and no learning experience warrants disturbing others who’ve paid money to watch peace.

Yes that's what he's talking about, a Saturday morning viewing that's just for kids.

I think it's fine, most cinemas do a relaxed screening, my local cineworld does "movies for juniors" that's cheap and a relaxed atmosphere, full of kids and no one gets bothered as it's about £2.50 a ticket

Your DP is an idiot and I suspect he doesn't do a lot of the day to day care for DD. If he takes her it seems unlikely he will remove her if she's being disruptive as he thinks she needs to learn how to sit still. So not only is he being a twat by forcing your daughter to do something she doesn't want and won't enjoy. He also doesn't care that he's ruining the film for the rest of those in the cinema. It's not a cheap activity and he's going to piss off a lot of people.

In that case it will be fine, lots of the other little ones will be running around and not paying attention,

It REALLY depends on the child

Was speaking to a friend about this exact thing

Attempted it with adults outnumbering 1 DC (2 of us) with child who sits fine for restaurant meals etc, get comments on how well behaved tc .. tried cinema film they loved (think safe bet big Disney movie U Rated).

Fuck me what a mess

Up and down about 10 times for loo, even taking turns was nightmare as loos were miles away

Jumping until being told to sit still, it lasted about 2 min until next ants in pants

Get to the first trailer and then kept saying every 5 mins "home now??" Loudly

Then throwing a tantrum because popcorn ran out, never seen anything like it

We never leave cinemas early but we seriously were about to just cut our losses before DC calmed down halfway through because it wasn't fair on other families, some were very loud but ours was unacceptable

Then movie got to a dark bit and DC started shouting "scared" and refused to look at the screen for a few minutes

And so on

No one enjoyed it, awful expensive day out and I was so naive, thought it would be fine!

Tried the same thing 18 months later, was great. Much more patient, understanding and only 2 loo trips, what a difference a year and a bit made

Friend reported similar with her younger DC at that age, while her older DC has always been fine/patient and didn't get scared of the dark etc so often went with 1 parent

If it’s a special screening for families/joint children that’s fine. Otherwise, no. She’s too wee!

I mean that does change things. It wasn't clear that's what you meant from your original post. Getting up, moving around and climbing on seats is pretty normal for those screenings. So i'm not sure why he thinks it will teach her how to behave in a cinema, as the rules are completely different.

@CleptoCleoCookoo

God that sounds horrendous! How old was your little one if you don't me asking? Ours only just turned 2 in April so she's still learning a lot of things obviously and her behaviour isn't great at the min as she's really pushing boundaries etc (which I assume is age appropriate, but I really don't want to try to manage it in a cinema!).

My argument is we have a lot of years to take her when she can really enjoy it, sort of age 3 upwards I imagine. DP thinks she's not too young and will be captivated by the "giant TV" and all the lights etc. I think she possibly will for all of 20 mins and when the novelty wears off she'll probably start to play up!

I took dd1 age 2.5 for the first time. This was 22 years ago. It's one of my most favourite memories of her.

She was fidgeting standing between the seats as commercial were on. Then the start of tigers big movie came.on. she went "ohhhhh" sat down and starred at the screen mesmerised for the entire film.

She was an average toddler in form of needing to move etc. However I think Tiggers big movie began her still alive obsession with Disney (she is 25)

Your dd may surprise you. If it is a showing for children then it won't matter if she stands up for a while either.

Also if its a fail then you found out that she is not ready. That's ok too..

Yep sounds like a movies for juniors showing. It will be fine, she may surprise you, just make sure you go right on time so there's no waiting around before the movie starts. If you don't fancy it then just let him take her.

I recently brought my 3 children, aged 5, 2 and 3 months to the cinema, on my own. I enjoyed it to be honest. I had my baby on a chest strap, my 5 year old son sat and watched the movie and my 2 year old did too until about 20mins towards the end she started to get a bit fidgety but was still fine, and she is a very very ..very active 2 year old. She just stood in front of me watching the movie or swap a seat, but it was thoroughly enjoyable all the same. I chose a time that I new wouldn't be husy and sat at the very back row so she could walk along if she wanted. Another couple in front of me also had a baby and a 2 year old, he had no interest at all and they left about 30mins in and I don't see anything wrong with that either.
If he wants to bring her, I say go and what's the worst that could happen. Just leave if its too much 🙂Enjoy 🤗

Busy* not husy

I also think it's worthwhile seeing it from your child's POV. We took our 6 and 3 years old gc to the cinema - their first visit - to see a cartoon, and had to leave, as they found the experience too intense. Which, with hindsight, I can see - being in a dark room with loud sound and full-on images. I agree with the poster who suggested a child-friendly viewing, if you have to.

My LO is 4 and been going to the cinema since he was a baby - one of our local cinemas did baby screenings of new movies and then when he was a bit older we started doing the kids morning ones with the gruffolo/bing etc, these ones are no longer than an hour and have a little interactive bit in the middle (at Vue anyway) . I used to book the seats at the bottom so he could run around if he wanted too, take a packed lunch to keep him settled and he was fine. In the kids ones they'll be full of similar aged children with similar behaviours so it's fine IMO.

He can take her on his own if he thinks it's such a great idea.

It depends on the child, but there's really no harm in trying (as long as you/he won't be cross with her if she doesn't just sit and watch it).

Why not just let him take her? If it works out, great. They have a nice morning together and you get a couple of hours to yourself. If it doesn't then he can bring her out after 20 minutes or whatever and it's no great loss (tickets are usually fairly cheap at the Saturday kids club). I don't think it's something that's needs to be debated/argued about. Just try and see.

The Saturday morning kids session will be fine, it’s a great introduction to cinema for little ones. When I used to take mine there were lots of kids running up and down the aisle etc and it was fine, most people were in the same boat. If she really isn’t enjoying it it’s perfectly fine to take her out.

I took my youngest at 18months as my eldest who was three wanted to see the Toy story 4 movie, he was fine, as long as it’s a children’s screening and you think the film will be engaging enough why not let him take her? He can always walk out if it’s not going too well.

I think it’s fine if the cartoon is age appropriate cuz then they’ll likely be other two year olds there etc.

To distract her I’d just take lots of snacks and things too.