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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that under 5's should be banned from cinemas?

82 replies

frustratedmumof3 · 22/10/2008 19:58

Just taken DD (age 11) to cinema to see High School Musical 3. Could not believe the amount of toddlers in there! I mean this a movie about a High School (quite shocking really as there was snogging and knicker flashing, pretty tame to what goes on in real high schools )so what relevance to a tiddler??

A couple of the little darlings were running round the cinema obviously bored because they could not follow the film(and I do mean right round the cinema not just in the aisles) while their parents just sat there and did not do anything), so along with the rest of them crying, wailing and screaming, it was difficult to hear at some points.

IMO from the age of 5, kids can sit quietly and watch a film and under that age, they should be denied entry!!

OP posts:
NBheebieGeebies · 22/10/2008 20:00

Well you are in a way.
Theres loads of girls in my dd's class (reception) that absolutely love HSM.
I have no idea why they like it so much (my dd hates it) but theres obviously something appealing to them.

NBheebieGeebies · 22/10/2008 20:00

Well you are in a way.
Theres loads of girls in my dd's class (reception) that absolutely love HSM.
I have no idea why they like it so much (my dd hates it) but theres obviously something appealing to them.

bozza · 22/10/2008 20:04

I see your point but I do think it varies on the child. Neither of mine have ever misbehaved at all in the cinema. DS has been going every few months since he was 3. DD has been once. While it was not a success, she spent the entire length of Horton Hears A Who (plus all the trailers and adverts) sat quietly on my knee facing away from the screen eating pick n mix. So not really a disturbance.

Reallytired · 22/10/2008 20:05

I think a lot depends on the child. I took my son to the cinema for the first time when he was just over three years old. He behaved beautifully and loved the experience. Admitally the film was Shek.

Prehaps the answer is to pick a later performance when all the little kiddies have gone to bed.

Twelvelegs · 22/10/2008 20:07

Children of any age should not be taken to a film they can neither sit through or behave at. My dss have always been good at the few cinema trips they've been on but it's always been to age appropriate films and they've been enthralled.

doublehelp · 22/10/2008 20:09

my two dd's aged 4 and 3 are seeing it tomorrow night, they have been to the cinema a few times and are fine

Hodgins · 22/10/2008 20:10

YAB a bit U although I see how annoying that would have been, especailly at a film that is, agreed, not really captivating to a toddler.

Sounds a bit precious but my DS who is 3.5 loves the cinema and always sits nicely. I would take him out if he started playing up.

Last time we went there was an obnoxious child of about 8 who talked and whined all the way through and chucked popcorn at the people in front, so it's not always toddlers.

It does all depend on the child but more importantly the parents. I don;t understand how they aren't embarrassed!

pagwatch · 22/10/2008 20:10

and there are plenty of children over the age of five who have no fucking clue how to behave and have the parents sittingthere doing nothing as they run around and shout etc etc.

Frankly cinemas should just have ejector seats and i should have the controls.

That would sort the problem out.

Bride1 · 22/10/2008 20:11

I had this when I took my 9-year old to Mamma Mia: a toddler stamping up and down, up and down. It was extremely annoying.

If they start getting restless, take them OUT.

CountTo10 · 22/10/2008 20:11

I know where you're coming from but it does depend on the child. We take ds1 who is just 4 to the cinema to junior sessions where there are mostly younger children to get him used to that environment. He knows that he has to sit and watch nicely (albeit with the obligatory questions!!!) or we will take him home. We will be taking him to HMS3 as he loves it and watches the other films all the time but we're waiting until after half term and will hopefully get a performance when most kids are at school so it'll be a bit quieter. I wouldn't take him to a busy one as if he did decide to play up I wouldn't want him to upset other peoples viewing.

trumpetgirl · 22/10/2008 20:14

I think it depends on the child. The first time I took DD to the cinema she was 3, and I told her that if she was noisy, we'd have to leave. I've never had a problem with her at all!
As for HSM, DD is 5 and will be going to see it (peer pressure - other kids are watching it, I couldn't let her miss out. But there's no bloody way she's watching Mama Mia!)
I think HSM is a bit old for her, but I s'pose she looks at it from a different perspective to me.

Overmydeadbody · 22/10/2008 20:14

I blame the parents.

duckyfuzz · 22/10/2008 20:15

I do understand, but I think it is more the kids' behaviour than their age that is the problem - my DTs are 4.10 and will happily sit quietly through a film, but there are usually others around who won't, and who are considerably older than they are

misdee · 22/10/2008 20:20

dd3 is 3. and has been to the cinema loads since she was a babe-in-arms. she is coming with us to see HSM3 next week. she has seen the first two films and loves them, sings the songs and is really into it as much as a three year old can be.

i have only had to leave one film early as she was misbehaving.

she will probably sit on dh lap for the duration of the film, on the end aisle seat, so he can take her to the loo midway through, as she tends to pee every hour regardless lol.

Ripeberry · 22/10/2008 20:27

Took my DD1 to see City of Ember. As a 6yr old she can sit still OK, but she does like to talk out loud!

pagwatch · 22/10/2008 20:31

Ripe
I took two six year olds to City of Emberon Tues.
I don;'t think they talked but it wouldn't have been louder than my snoring

WallOfSilence · 22/10/2008 20:35

My ds is almost 4 & he loves going to the cinema. DD is coming 7 & they both behave lovely in the cinema.

I remember at one showing it was a group of 10/11 yr olds that were causing a fuss! I think it was the Simpsons movie, or some of those type things.

Last Saturday we took them to see Igor & they loved it. Ds was great, just sat eating his popcorn, though at one stage, when Eva turned her 'bad bone' on he asked to sit on my knee as it was scary....

We've booked to go see HSM3 on Friday evening & dd & ds will both be going, hopefully behaving beautifully as normal.

I really think it depends hugely on both the child and the parent (if accompanied by an adult, the 10/11yr olds I spoke of earlier weren't) & it depends on what rules the children have always gone by. Personally mine is the '3 strikes & we're leaving' rule & touch wood, we've never had to leave the cinema yet... Mass, however, is a totally different story......

Salleroo · 22/10/2008 20:39

I blame the parents, but it's not much better with adults. I've given up on cinemas, what with the guy next to me sending and receiving texts the whole way through (phone constantly lighting up and very distracting). The people around us having conversations and everying else munching, crunching and slurping. £20 squids for the experience - I think I'll pass.

Cinema is just not what it used to be -

mumof2andabit · 22/10/2008 20:41

Dh took ds aged 2 to see walle. He sat enthralled chomping on sweeties and popcorn the whole way through and they had a lovely afternoon. It completly depends on the child not their age if you want my opinion. so YABU.

Libra1975 · 22/10/2008 20:41

YABU, but mostly because it's not an age thing it's an how the parents allow them to act thing. Any child, no matter what their age, should be removed if they can't act appropriately. The only showings that it should be allowed is toddler showings or mother/baby showings, where crying/running around/causing havoc should be expected. And that's just from the mothers.

hatrick · 22/10/2008 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Ripeberry · 22/10/2008 20:43

Pagwatch, did they ever reveal why the insects and animals were so big? And the computer effects towards the end in the "river flume" were quite bad.
Bit of a strange film.

Ohforfoxsake · 22/10/2008 20:44

YABVU. Ban the parents.

MrsWeasley · 22/10/2008 20:49

I remember taking my DCs to watch a film sometime in the last 2 years (cant remember which film) A family came in late with 3 toddlers, then each one had to leave to use the toilet (seperately not all 3 together) once all were seated again, Dad asked in a loud voice what they wanted to eat so then he left the children to fetch meals again 3 trips. they were only half way through noisily eating their meals when the film ended.

(I cant remember the film because I was watching this family who were so much more entertaining )

Eddas · 22/10/2008 20:53

i'm taking dd, aged 4, to see it on sunday. She's been to the cinema loads of times since she was about 3. I don't think under 5's should be banned. But maybe some parents ought to work out if their child is capable of watching a film before taking them to the cinema.