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SN children

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Original poster

Children with SN and the cinema

15 replies

sc13 · 28/05/2009 11:54

What is your experience of taking your children with SN to the cinema, theatre, dance or concerts? What would be the right age? Any useful tips - should one 'warn' the staff? My DS (dx of ASD) is just 3. Since he was born I have been fantasizing about taking him to the movies or a concert because I really love going - we even named him after a character in a favourite movie...

OP posts:

bubblagirl · 28/05/2009 11:57

i was told about cinema card you can buy if you get DLA gets the carer in free

i would find out at time when not many people go and then go if its too much then it wont disrupt too many people and you can quietly leave

here

bunnyrabbit · 28/05/2009 12:05

Hi SC13,
First took DS1 (5.8 ASD) when he was just about 2.5. Only trouble we have with him is putting his hands over his ears as it's a bit loud for him sometimes. He does however have the most amazing concentration and bladder control so I think this helps. He can watch Guys and Dolls on DVD without seeming to move from start to finish so I suppose I'd ask you how your DS is at watching DVDs/films? Does he understnad that you can't pause it at the cinema when he goes to the loo?

I think all kids have a problem with the whole talking quietly/shouting thing.

We have also taken DS1 to shows (We both do Amateur Operatics) and have only once had a problem when I was on stage in Hello Dolly and a waiter on a passing trolley poured some wine into my glass. DS1 though he was taking mummy's wine away and was completely hysterical. DH had to take him out. Took him 5 mins to work out what the problem was, explain to DS1 that it was pretend and mummy still had her wine and then all was OK.

At least he has his priorities right!!

I'd say just go for it!!

bunnyrabbit · 28/05/2009 12:19

Oh and get an aisle seat, and (if he is toilet trained) show him where the loos are before you go in so he knows where they are and understands where you're going and why.

bubblagirl · 28/05/2009 12:39

lol bunny now we know what you have your hand all the time lol

magso · 28/05/2009 12:40

There are childrens film sessions on a Saturday morning at our local cinema with lots of families and no filmbuffs demanding silence. This works well for ds and many other sn (and little) children. We took him to his first film at 4 but he was not able to sit very long (needing lots of little wanders outside). The surprise was taking him (at age 7) to an opera (not in english but of little consequence to ds) at coventgarden! (He may have recognised the odd song! I used snatches of a variety of songs to communicate allsorts!)It was a childrens special (with activities and the story explained beforehand -but ds enjoyed the opera itself and sat rivetted!

Original poster

sc13 · 28/05/2009 13:45

Thanks guys, that's encouraging and helpful, and I'm impressed by the opera fans!
I hadn't even thought of the toilet side of things... Toileting DS=the war in that old Fawlty Towers episode with the German guests...

OP posts:

busybeingmum · 28/05/2009 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

sc13 · 28/05/2009 13:58

Busybeingmum - that sounds great - whereabout is 'round here', if I may ask?

OP posts:

brokenspacebar · 28/05/2009 14:01

my ds (aged 5) was at the cinema recently - he hasn't got a dx,but asd traits. We left early,thewall of sound was too much for him, I found it very loud too(old fart emoticon?) - it
was
monsters v's aliens we went to see.

busybeingmum · 28/05/2009 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

bunnyrabbit · 28/05/2009 15:09

our local Odean doesn't do the Saturday morning kid club

Widemouthfrog · 28/05/2009 16:49

We've had mixed experience - first time my DS1 loved it - he was 4.5. Second visit he loved it but got completely overloaded and I had to remove him after 40 minutes. The noise was just too much. I have seen ASD sessions advertised, but not in our area.
panto was a no-no. I thought he would love the slapstick, but the whole thing was over amplified and he hid under the chair.
You just have to give it a go and find out.

sphil · 28/05/2009 23:00

We haven't done the cinema yet with Ds2 (6) though our local does do ASD friendly screenings from time to time. We took him to the panto (local amateur and very, very bad) at Christmas and he loved it - but was EXTREMELY loud. Lots of whoops and shrieks - which is what puts me off taking him to something more 'serious' or where people might actually want to hear what was going on .

magso · 29/05/2009 11:52

Ds was overwhelmed by panto when sat near the front (age 6), but enjoyed the quieter seats in the gods on our next attempt(age7). Easier to escape too. He enjoyed a musical (Joseph) - also from the back.

bunnyrabbit · 29/05/2009 14:20

DS1 also got a bit 'involved' when we went to panto, but I usually find, as with some films, he's ok if he has something to protect him.

In you DCs case this may be a favourite bear or blanket, in DS1's case it's usually a sonic screwdriver (he's not allowed to take his swords and guns out of the house for obvious reasons).

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