panto's, whats the youngest you would take your child?

[Tyson86]

Hi, I really want to take ds, he will be 2 and a half, is that too young? My mum says yes and im sure she is poss right but wondering what other people thought :)

FIL bought DS a ticket last year - he would of been 2.3 months.

Was pure hell!

he was ok during the big song/dance numbers but had to be bribed with continual sweets & biscuits during the rest of it. Spent the whole performance wrestling him into his seat or letting him run up & down the corridor outside. We were fortunate that we were near an exit, and were at the end of a row.

I was more worried about disturbing others than anything else.

but my DS is "lively" and rarely keeps still,
Even now a year later the only thing he will sit still for is Disney's Cars, and even then he is up every 10 mins or so.

Have never done cinema for that reason.

Two of my local theatres are doing Christmas shows for pre-schoolers, I am thinking about taking DS to one of those rather than a "proper" pantomine.

Cheers, your ds sounds similar to mine. I have done cinema and he gets bored but thought panto would be more occupying for him, i will see if my theatre has anything for pre schoolers too, thanks :)

We took DS1 the year before last when he was 3 and he was fine. Last year we took him and 10 month old DS2 and they both loved it. However, on both occassions we cunningly booked a box. No more expensive for 4 of us tahn regular seats and it meant everyone could fidget to their hearts' content. And you get an exciting view into the wings!

Thank, ive just looked on my local theatres site and they have a narnia thing on for under fives, its worded as interactive, has anybody ever been to something similar? Imagining it to be amazing but think i may be expecting too much :)

DD has been going to panto (and enjoying) since she was 4. DS will prob go next year when he will be 3.5.

I wouldn't take a 2yo, but I am a wuss about these things

i wouldn't take mine until they were at least 5 i don't think

Cheers everyone, I do hate it when my mum is right though

Eldest DD was 3.5yrs and behaved impeccably, but she'd been to a few children's theatre-type things (Gruffalo etc.) before so the theatre wasn't an entirely new concept to her. Youngest is going this year for the first time and she'll be 2yrs 9m - again, she's been to the theatre twice already (plus a few times as a babe in arms) so hopefully she'll be ok...

I guess my answer then is 2yrs 9m....

My youngest started coming to panto with us at 18 months. Never been a problem. He loves a cuddle on my lap and couldn't believe his luck at getting that long. There are however plenty of 2 and a half year olds I would NOT take!!!!

I think DD1 was 6 0r 7 when I took her with a group from the PTA. I wouldn't take children younger than that.

I'm taking DD2 for the first time this year - she'll be 4.

ds is 2.3 and i would never take him to a panto, oh gods it would be a nightmare lol.but then, thats just my thoughts on my little terror