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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Best age and film to start going to cinema?

9 replies

TryingVeryHard · 07/03/2011 09:49

My DS is 2.6yo and DP keeps suggesting we take him to the cinema, to see a kiddies film.
I'm not sure DS is ready to sit through a film, he does not cope well with change and new things, I'm worried he will be terified by the cinema and we'll waste time and money and get him scared of the whole thing!
Any advice / your experience on when you started taking your kids to the cinema, what was the first film and how you went about it would be much appreciated!

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ShatnersBassoon · 07/03/2011 09:52

I think about 3. Take them to a specific children's screening so if they don't like it, you haven't wasted lots of money if you need to leave after 5 minutes, and you won't be so worried about getting them to sit still and quietly because all of the children will be nattering and having a wander in the less interesting parts.

Any Pixar film would be a good starter.

chimchar · 07/03/2011 09:54

most cinemas do a kids club film on a saturday/sunday morning. at odeon, it costs £2.50 per child and an adult goes free with each paying child. the films are kids recent releases, but out of the top films of the moment iykwim?

they are great...people haven't paid a fortune to go, and there are loads of kids there, so the pressure is slightly less about kids talking, russtling wrappers etc.

i always take my own drinks and sweets. i take things that are not too messy, and take a long time to chew.

you can always try and leave if you need to.

i would say that settling down for a dvd at home would be a good test as to whether he will sit and watch a film in the cinema. your ds is still pretty young imo.

there is a new pooh bear film coming out soon if your ds is a fan?

ShatnersBassoon · 07/03/2011 09:54

Should have said, children's screenings usually cost £1 a ticket, or buy a child's ticket and the adult goes free. They tend to show films that were released a few months ago and are out on DVD, eg they'll be showing Despicable Me and perhaps Toy Story 3 at the moment.

meditrina · 07/03/2011 09:56

Is he reliable about the loo for a couple of hours?

If you think he'll find the new surroundings overwhelming, I'd leave it for a while TBH: the noise and whole experience is much more intense than watching a DVD at home. I think mine were pushing 5 before I took them.

Original poster

TryingVeryHard · 07/03/2011 11:12

Thanks everyone
Shatners, I had a look at the kids screenings for Vue and Odeon, you're right they tend to be latest releases which are not really for very young kids are they - I mean, what would a 3 year old take out from "Despicable me"?...
The new Winnie the Pooh sounds more like it, think I'll try that one, thanks a lot

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eileenslightlytotheleft · 07/03/2011 11:30

I took my four-year-old and her older sister last week, and it was great. Last year the LO was wriggly and a bit chatty, so it felt like hard work for me. I would save it for a while longer, if I were you, especially if you think your ds might be overwhelmed.

Our first film was Princess and the Frog - which was awful thanks to a really nasty voodoo theme. We also went to Fantastic Mr Fox (too old) and last week to Tangled (great!)

If you do go, definitely take him to a Saturday morning cinema - much cheaper and much more easy-going.

walesblackbird · 07/03/2011 11:34

I've been taking mine since they were around 2 but always pick the film carefully, ie no longer than 1.30 mins, arrive as late as possible to avoid hanging around and take a decent supply of treats with me. Just don't buy them there as they cost a fortune. Go to the loo before you leave home and again when you get to the cinema.

Tiggles · 07/03/2011 11:50

DS2 is 4 1/2 and I will take him to see Cars 2 when it comes out in the summer, as his first movie trip. Not sure yet if I will take DS3 yet, he will be 2 1/2, but happy to sit and watch a film at home. They are both big Cars fans so seems a good one to start with. DS2 certainly wasn't ready at 2 1/2 as he couldn't sit through a film at home.

tassisssss · 07/03/2011 11:55

My first went to the cinema for the first time at 3.5 and we had to take him out as he was terrified poor lamb!

2nd child went for the first time with her baby sister when she 2 years and 7 months and it was OK as it was a Baby Cinema viewing so lots of scope to potter!

3rd born obviously went as the above baby sister but thereafter started going on a much more regular basis at 2.5 and is absolutely fine. We take her a lot of snacks though (lollies are good as they take her about 20 mins of intense concentration so these appear towards the end!!). One of us adults can now take all 3 (7, 4 and 2) on our own which feels like an enormous deal!!

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