is 3 too early for a child to sit and watch a movie at the cinema?

[lewislewis]

What do you think?

yes, ime

we took dd to watch winnie pooh hefferalump for her third birthday and she sat all the way through it

yes, you won't get to the end of it, so if you don't mind wasting your ticket money then go for it, we used to do it all the time during the London winter - this is giving me horrible flash backs to bloody Brother Bear

Depends on the child and how 'three' they are. We have taken dd to the cinema since she was 3 and a half and it's fine, though a lot goes over her head and at the end she is a bit squirmy. Four would be better I reckon, especially if you have a very active 3 year old.

Very much depends on the child. dd watched toy story 2, totaly entranced by the whole thing. If we had tried that with ds we would have had a riot on our hands

Depends on the film and child but ds was fine before he was 2, saw Tigger movie first.

We took DS at 2.5ish - heffalump. He was mesmerised by the whole thing, not fidgety at all, but has been a little bit in other films we've taken him to since, so not sure if it was just the novelty of it or if he enjoyed heffalump more than madagascar....
He isn't the most 'sitty' of kids either iykwim - not usually happy to sit for an hour, but think the herd mentality thing works!
We all enjoyed it though, which was the main thing - I guess just be prepared to have to leave half way through!

would they sit though a film at home without running around? does you local cimema have a kids club?

my local has one - its £1 per person (so if you leave early, you dont feel like you have wasted any money) and the lights arent dimmed completly in all areas of the room, in case kids dont like sitting in dark. nobody cares if kids play at front if they get bored, as long as they dont play in the aisles!

I took ds, age 3.4 to the movies (Racing Stripes)and he was a nightmare. Running up the aisles, hiding under the seats etc and I got very worked up about it. 3 months later decided to have another bash and we went to the Children's club that the cinema run over the summer holiday. This time it was Robots, and he was great. Needed about 5 trips to the toilet, but cinema very quiet so going in and out not a problem. Also, it was only £2 each child ( dd came too) and parents got in for free- total cost £4 plus popcorn. If it had been a disaster not wasted much as opposed to about 15 for a normal trip. Been back since (it runs on Sat/Sun throughout the year) and almost enjoyable!

Is there anything like this near you to try?

depends on your child...my dd went at 2 and a half (bit fidgetty towards the end but stayed in seat/whispered and was fine)
Lol!...her brother was 5...
i think you just have a gut feeling about how they will be and it's usually right.

My 3 yr old has been twice and theatre twice and amazingly was as good as gold. Sat on my lap transfixed.

Depends on the film IMO.

thankyou.