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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For my 6 and 11 year old to watch a film at the cinema without me

194 replies

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 08:30

They want to watch dogman and I don't think I can face it. If it was just the 11 year old, I'm thinking this would absolutely be ok. But with the six year old I'm unsure as he might get a bit scared and there's the worry that popcorn is quite a chokeable snack. Both of them just likely to sit and watch the film though. And I'd be next door watching something that doesn't want to make me gouge my eyes out.

OP posts:
Grammarnut · 20/02/2025 10:13

I did this with a twelve year old and a fifteen year old. Fifteen year old did not want to sit through 'Little Women' with me and his sister, so went to film on other screen (sci-fi, I think). But I would not do it with a six year old and an eleven year old. If they want to see it then you go in too. It won't be that bad and you might enjoy watching a film with your kids.

femfemlicious · 20/02/2025 10:14

MyDeftDuck · 20/02/2025 10:01

Look at this from a different angle.......if you had gone to the cinema and found yourself sitting close to someone else's kids aged 11yrs and 6yrs who might potentially be fidgeting, misbehaving and generally annoying you would be a tad pissed off wouldn't you?
Be the parent and look after your kids.

Apparently it's the worst thing in the world to do this😐

Grammarnut · 20/02/2025 10:15

That it's a small cinema out of town doesn't make it any safer. What if 11 year old wants to go to the loo and leaves the 6 year old?

Tiredalwaystired · 20/02/2025 10:19

Utterly selfish. Stick some earplugs in and have a nap but go with them.

Or find a kinder adult that will.

lovelydayIhave · 20/02/2025 10:20

We saw it last Thursday it wasn't that bad.
Obviously it's a kids movie, but it'll make them happy, so what.;)

SleepingStandingUp · 20/02/2025 10:20

Littlebittiredoflife · 20/02/2025 08:37

I was really hoping someone would say the film was actually ok to watch.

I actually enjoyed it, it's an expansion on the books, and I loved seeing my son's joy at seeing it on the big screen.

If you refuse to go in, I think you have to sit somewhere outside and wait. If you go into another screen and the kids come out cos they need you they'll either not find you or disturb another audience coming in looking for you.

ememem84 · 20/02/2025 10:27

currently sat at soft play with coffee and book. The dc are playing. My life changed dramatically when they announced one day they didn’t need me to play anymore.

im cross that our local cinema (the only one on the island) isn’t showing kids films this half term.

MrsSunshine2b · 20/02/2025 10:27

Responses are predictably batshit. They'll be absolutely fine.

zingally · 20/02/2025 10:27

Sorry, but no. 6 is too little to be under the supervision of an 11yo. What if the worst did happen and the little one choked. Would the 11yo know what to do? Would they shout for help? Would they even notice something was wrong if they were looking the other way, engrossed in a film?

I could just about get on board if you were just sat out in the lobby, so the kids could just walk out if there was a problem. But how are they meant to find you if you're in a completely different screen? Mine are in the middle of your 2 ages, but I don't think they'd have the confidence to walk into the middle of another screening, presumably dark and blaring noise, to try and track me down. What are they supposed to do? Stand at the front and shout "MUM!"?

Tubs11 · 20/02/2025 10:29

I didn't think it was that bad, some of the humour is aimed at adults but admittedly I wasn't 100% engrossed. Kids loved it, lots of laughter from them and others during the movie.

FarmGirl78 · 20/02/2025 10:29

As is often the case, first reply has it nailed.

Tubs11 · 20/02/2025 10:30

Oh and yeah, 6 year old would need adult supervision.

Gonewiththesun · 20/02/2025 10:30

Too young, part of being a parent is enduring these films; it comes with the territory! I actually went to see it with my dcs, one of them is 5, and didn't find it scary in the least, you do know it is a U right? Just get some nice snacks and stop being selfish op; they aren't little for long, enjoy it while it lasts!! Disclaimer: I disliked the film, but seeing my dcs like it was enough! 😍

SpotlessLeopard · 20/02/2025 10:37

I’m taking my 5 year old and 9 year old to see it today. I must admit I don’t particularly fancy it but it’s 1hr and 29 minutes long. It’s nothing really, I want my kids to enjoy a movie in half term, we aren’t going for my benefit.

Tillow4ever · 20/02/2025 10:40

Kittygolightlyy · 20/02/2025 09:17

😂🤷‍♀️ This reminds of when some parents leave their young children to sit together on a plane, when the parents sit elsewhere (sometimes in a different class). Not shocking parenting these days, but definitely not good parenting.

I've seen that film... didn't end well for the burglars though!

Taysonic · 20/02/2025 10:42

I sat through Dogman with my DS last week. The film is exactly how you imagine it's going to be, BUT, sitting and listening to my son giggling away and having the time of his life made it all worth it. It meant a lot to him. And I am sure, you will get more pleasure out of seeing your kids enjoying themselves than from the film itself. It'll be worth it. Promise.

Endofyear · 20/02/2025 10:42

I've sat through many many films that I didn't want to see - it's called being a parent! 6 is too young to be unaccompanied by an adult.

TheignT · 20/02/2025 10:43

StopStartStop · 20/02/2025 08:37

Neither an eleven year old nor a six year old, and not two of them together, should be in a cinema without adult supervision.

I am sixty-seven years old. Even in my childhood, we did not go to the cinema without parents because cinemas were hangouts for 'bad men'.

I'm 71 and we definitely went to the cinema without adults at 11. At 5 we would go to the Saturday morning kids session but I suppose that was safer as no adults in the cinema other than staff. Sometimes the older kids were a bit intimidating but I wouldn't have missed it.

LavenderBlue19 · 20/02/2025 10:44

Oh come on, kids films aren't that bad. Have a nap if you really can't stand it.

Six is too young to be looked after by an 11 year old in public. I'd probably say 15 with a 6 year old. Two 11 year olds on their own with you nearby - yes fine. They're old enough to have some independence. I would leave an 11 year old and 6 year old at home by themselves briefly, assuming they were both on screens or otherwise occupied, and both reasonably sensible.

Not mollycoddling, but 6 year olds have absolutely no common sense or idea of safety (I have one). The 11 year old would be in loco parentis and that's too much responsibility.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 20/02/2025 10:44

FrenchandSaunders · 20/02/2025 09:59

I've never heard of a kid chocking to death on popcorn in the cinema.

That's because they usually have an adult with them to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre. 😊

Mama2many73 · 20/02/2025 10:45

We sat through some shite when our son was younger! Pokemon on holiday (1990s) was atrocious. He loved it and talked about it continuously for a week or so.
Yeah you're gonna have to suck it up, have a nap!

Tagyoureit · 20/02/2025 10:46

It's the shittiest film I've ever watched but unfortunately that's part of being a parent!!

My 11 and 5 year old wanted to watch it so I suffered through it on Monday afternoon! Even my 11yo said it was crap!

Redscrunchie · 20/02/2025 10:47

DH took dd at the weekend and had a nice nap - dd was most disgruntled at his snoring 😂 I was so relieved when he said he'd take her - she's the youngest of four and I'm afraid ive seen enough crap kiddy films to last a lifetime.

But yes op, unless you have a dp you can send as a sacrificial lamb you'll have to go.

TheignT · 20/02/2025 10:47

Tagyoureit · 20/02/2025 10:46

It's the shittiest film I've ever watched but unfortunately that's part of being a parent!!

My 11 and 5 year old wanted to watch it so I suffered through it on Monday afternoon! Even my 11yo said it was crap!

I thought the Power Rangers film I sat through 20 odd years ago was the shittiest film ever. I find it hard to imagine anything worse.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 20/02/2025 10:48

Do you know that they would be allowed in on their own, even? Rules about unaccompanied children vary from cinema to cinema and from a quick Google I see that the threshold is 12 at the lowest in most places.

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