Cinema trips

[sazzerbear]

Taking 3yo ds to see Toy Story 3 at weekend with his friend (plus his mum), it's his first trip to cinema so any tips/advice? TIA

3D or regular?

I started offering ds (now just 5) trips to the cinema when he was 3, he always refused until recently, saying it would be too loud for him. I fully expected him to want to leave after a few minutes when we first went to see How to Train Your Dragon (absolutely fabulous film, btw) but he was as quiet as a lamb, didn't even need a wee, offered me popcorn, not even fazed we were late and had to find seats when it was dark.

Is he used to watching films? (i.e. has seen Toy Story 1 and 2 on DVD).

I would definitely make sure you get in with time to spare, so when it's still light. Explain about trailers (if you're seeing 3D the trailers will be too) and let him know it's okay if he needs to go out / finds it too noisy etc.

Are you sure it's a good idea?! dh took dc 1 and 2, but not our 3 yr old. He said it was 40 mins of adverts first, but a great movie.

Maybe too late for you, but I found it far easier to take the dc to a Saturday morning pictures where it was £1 so no pressure if they couldn't sit through it (which they couldn't til they were 5).

ds (3 1/2)has been to see how to train your dragon, shrek in 3D and Toy Story 3 in 3D and has been fine. We take our own sweets (pick and mix too expensive) and last time he had a small popcorn too and a drink. He has always sat fine - as long as he is fed and watered he doesnt care!! We normally get aisle seats so it is easy to get out for the toilet.

we took DS1 last week, (3.5) and he loved it, it was he first cinema visit and he sat enthralled and perfectly still from start to finish,

he loved the trailers and adverts,
the bonus was he actually thinks he went to see Shrek as well because there was a trailer for it

but he is the type of child who has been able to concentrate and sit through a whole film (DVD) from a very early age

I would go with the intention of just leaving if he doesn't behave and not to expect to be able to be able to follow the story yourself as you maybe to busy concentrating on him.

and if he is potty trained I would limit drink unless you want to spend the whole film dashing out to the toilets

My ds is 2 and a wild child so I was dreading takign him, but his sister has had to seriously cut back on the cinema since he was born as we have noone to look after him. We saw Toy story in 2D and he was enchanted. I was so pleased. my only tip would be to go to an early showing well before or after nap time, and go in about 20 minutes after the advertised start time to skip most of the adverts. A tray of popcorn is v good at making them sit still with it on their lap

Thanks for the advice everyone!