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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

Started out all excited about our 1st trip to the cinema...ABSOLUTE disaster

24 replies

Donbean · 12/12/2006 19:19

I am heartily fed up and sick to the back teeth of bad behaviour and of not bieng able to go out for a "normal" nice trip any where.
When will this get better?
he is 3.6

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

foxinsocks · 12/12/2006 19:20

we are going to take ds on his first cinema visit in the next week - he is just 5. I wouldn't have dared take him before that.

Perhaps you're expecting a bit much at 3? Not all kids can sit still for that long at that age tbh.

Ceolas · 12/12/2006 19:21

My DS will sit through, aged 3. But he is the youngest of 3. Don't think his sisters went til they were 4 or 5 tbh.

Original poster

Donbean · 12/12/2006 19:21

I absolutely agree, he is too young. Its just that this past few weeks he has been showing an interest in TV and films.
Thought it would be nice thats all.

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 12/12/2006 19:22

I feel your pain Donbean, really I do! He'll get there......

HuwEdwards · 12/12/2006 19:23

Donbeam - we took our DD who was 3 at the time to see Tweenies on her birthday - unmitigated disaster - threw a wobbly the like of, I'd not seen before.

Very disheartening it was.

HuwEdwards · 12/12/2006 19:23

Donbean - sorry

Original poster

Donbean · 12/12/2006 19:28

Its not as if im a bad parent, its not as if i neglect him.

Why does he have to be so awful, naughty and downright hard bloody work.
I dont know any one elses kid at his age as bad as him.
Dont know what ive done wrong.

OP posts:

belgo · 12/12/2006 19:31

Sitting through a fim at the cinema is a lot to expect from a three year old.

belgo · 12/12/2006 19:31

film not fim

foxinsocks · 12/12/2006 19:32

What does he do?

If it is any consolation, my ds's behaviour was so bad at that age that I had to have a 'should we get him assessed' conversation with dh.

choosyfloosy · 12/12/2006 19:33

sympathy

can you just take it that he knows he is completely safe to unload absolutely all his frustrations and bad behaviour on you because you are a good, consistent and reliable parent?

hope you can because i'm sure that's why

handlemecarefully · 12/12/2006 19:33

Why not try him at children's theatre first? It seems to be more engaging.

My 2.9 year old sat through the Fimbles and Dora the Explorer without too many problems. The singing and audience participation helped.

wickedwinterwitch · 12/12/2006 19:33

3.6 is v young for cinema, don't worry! Ds didn't see a film until he was 4/5 ish, can't remember exactly but no way would he have sat still before that.

Tell us what he does that is frustrating you, maybe we can help. 3 is hard work ime.

handlemecarefully · 12/12/2006 19:34

I don't think he would sit through a film though.

Dd would (4.5) but probably only in the last few months

FairyTaleOfNewYork · 12/12/2006 19:36

what did he do?

i have taken my dd's to the cinema since they were babes-in-arms, i'd prefer to take them to the cheaper saturday kids clubs films atm, as its me and 3 dd's, nightmare if i have to take one to the loo, they all ahve to come lol. also as its full of young families it doesnt matter that much if they talk a bit louder than you'd like, or suddenly shout out 'MUMMY I NEEEEEED A WEEE WEEE'

Original poster

Donbean · 12/12/2006 19:37

I have moaned about this before on here so dont want to seem all whiney but really, it gets me down so much at times.
I know that he doesnt have attention deficit or any thing like that because he is ok at play school etc.
Its just that on two occasions in the past 18 months i have stopped going out altogether with him because it is so stressful and upsetting.
I venture out eventually but then his behaviour just gets too much again and im afraid that we are back at the not going out for a month or two again.

OP posts:

ParanoidSurreyHousewife · 13/12/2006 18:34

Fraid that I'm with the "it's too much for most 3.6 boys to sit through a film in the cinema". Ds1 just about got it a bit before he was 4 - ds2 is 3.6 and nowhere near 9unless we include tours of the lobby at 20 minute intervals as part of the entertainment. Also agree that children's theatre is easier - a) the show is often 1 - 1.5 hours in totoal and b) they tend to have an interval. And of course there is more participation.

What other outings have you tried? Is it every outing (eg park, soft play area) or just certain ones that he plays up at?

Peridot30 · 13/12/2006 19:24

We went on our first visit with children last Sunday it was ds 5th birthday and dd is 3.2. Went to see happy feet and both kids got really fed up after 15/20mins. They did sit through the full film but fidgeted throughout film thankfully cinema was not busy but definately not go for at least another year.

evamum · 13/12/2006 20:22

Have you got an Odeon near you, they do parent and baby screenings on some weekday mornings where the film is quieter and the lights aren't totally dimmed. Am going with some mum friends to one next week so we can pretend we have lives....

JustBonnie · 13/12/2006 20:46

Donbean, so sorry to hear about your trip I've had a pretty bad day as well for different reasons. (started a thread on this topic earlier). Being a mum is bloody hard sometimes isn't it? Hope to meet up soon, will email u x

cruisemum1 · 14/12/2006 11:08

donbeam - is he attention seeking? Ignore it - distract him - do something funny - tell him he's a good boy as often as you can - give him unsolicited hugs - etc.etc. i am sure you have tried all these but keep doing them. Be consistent. Don't get shrill (hard I know). chin up . tell him santa is watching hth

kslatts · 14/12/2006 11:40

Hi, when dd1 was 2.5 we took her to see Monsters inc as a treat before I went into hospital to have dd2, she loved it and sat still through the whole film. dd2 is now 4 and still gets bored and starts messing about half way through the film, so I think it really depends on the child. dd2 is also quite badly behaved at home and with people she knows really well, so I was really surprised when her teacher told me she was so well behaved and polite at school.

sunnysideup · 14/12/2006 12:02

3.6 - too young!

My ds five next year, he still hasn't been to the cinema!

Bugsy2 · 14/12/2006 12:59

My DS was fine from 3 at the cinema but DD is still Miss Wrigglepants age 4.5.
I usually find at matinee showings that children all run around anyway.
Things will get better Donbean - stick with stuff he does enjoy for now. Probably endless trips to the park etc. He probably is a living ball of energy & needs wearing out. Mine no longer insist on daily trips to the park (7 & 4.5) which is just as well, because it used to make me feel almost suicidal!!!!

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