what age to see the Nutcracker live?

[SweetPotato]

My dd just turned 3, and I'm absolutely itching to take her to see the Nutcracker. She LOVES ballerinas and music and Christmas, and we're not travelling to visit family, so I'm really interested in starting some special traditions with just the three of us here at home. Dh is worried that she's just not ready yet-- she just went to her first movie at the theater last night and did great-- but it's true that she can be uncomfortable around large groups of people, and that it might be too hard to sit still for such a long time, especially with no talking, etc. What do you think? I know that each kid is different, but at what age do you think most kids are ready for such an experience? (an alternative is that the children's dance theatre is doing the Polar Express this weekend-- which is obviously more geared to kids- but dh says he's nervous about that, too-- and we're so NOT into pushing the whole "you must believe in Santa" thing that that story kind of irks me a little, though I think she'd love it)

[ABand3]

My dd went to see a full production of the nutcracker last year at age 2.5. She was a little squirmmy toward the end, but sat through the whole thing on her seat or my lap, and was pretty quiet. When she wasn't quiet she was saying appropriate things like "bee-utiful!" so no one seemed bothered. She was/is very into ballerinas, and definitely paid attention and remembered it.

[Phoenix~Mama]

She would likely love it.


Though, she likely won't remember going at such an early age later in life...

My Mom took me when I was about 4-5, and I honestly don't remember it all. I remember the subway ride there, but not the actual production.


I am leaning on waiting to take my kids til they are 5-6, as it seems most childhood memories stick better at that age.


There are shows that DSD's Mom took her to last year that she already does not remember going to... so really your call, if you want it to be a lasting memory, or just a fun thing for that day in the present time.

[lindberg99]

My 8 and 10 yo are in The Nutcracker this year and I'm not taking my 4.5 yo. I don't think he'd sit through it and I don't want to spend the $$ for a ticket for him and end up standing out in the lobby. I'm just going to take him to a dress rehearsal so he can see his older brother and sister.

I took my 10 yo DD when she was 4.5 and she was okay but got kind of restless by the end. Then I took my 8 yo DS when he was 4.5 and we spent a lot of time either standing out in the lobby or standing right by the exit. So it really is kid dependent.

Maybe try The Polar Express first and see how that goes before deciding about The Nutcracker. Why is your DH nervous about The Polar Express, because he thinks she won't sit for it or because he doesn't like the believe in Santa theme?

[plantmama]

I remember going to see the nutcracker when I was 3. I was totally enchanted.
I think if she's interested she would probably do fine. Sometimes they have early shows and lots of kids are there. Sometimes they even do abbreviated versions I think.
I don't think my 5 y/o ds would sit through it but he isn't too interested yet.

[meemee]

depends on how much she likes it. i took my dd to her first play and the ballet when she was 2 years old. towards the end she actually fell asleep but for both of them she was absolutely enchanted and glued to the screen.

but the only thing i had to work with was the lights going out. that scared her. and she defintely wanted to snack during the break and for streching legs and a change of scenery.

but seh loved it. and it was so much fun to watch her so riveted to the stage. that was teh first time i had seen her focused for so long.

but before i went i knew she could sit through for long periods if she was interested.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

I think some 3 YOs would do fine. I would recommend looking for a student production though, not a full-fledged symphony orchestra professional ballet company extraveganza. Two advantages -- the first is that the ticket price is much lower and thus if it doesn't work you won't feel so bad. The second is that the student productions tend to cut out a few of the "optional" dances and make the production shorter. We found a children's civic company production here that the tickets were only $10-20 (as opposed to $50-100 for professionals) and the whole thing was less than 2 hours long -- it was perfect for younger children. They still got to get all dressed up, go to a real theater, etc. The other thing I really liked about this sort of production is that the dancers were more diverse (both racial and body type) and they danced more slowly so DD could actually see what their feet where doing.

Just be prepared for the inevitable "I want ballet lessons" at the end of the day!

[Drummer's Wife]

my daughter has been going to see the nutcracker for a few years now, gosh I'd say she must have been 3.5 the first time. She does really well, loves to get dressed up and feel like a grown-up. It's also been her special thing to do with grandma and my mom's best friend and her grand-daughter so they look forward to seeing each other every year. I don't know that my boys would sit thru it, most likely not at all actually.

We probably aren't going home for christmas this year and my mom and DD have already voiced their dissapointment in missing this special tradition

[Bleu]

I think Bleuet was 2 or 3. Lots of good advice here already. Depends on the individual, obviously. We are VERY into The Nutcracker.

To prepare, we:

• listened to the music at home a lot (while dancing to it!)
• read several iterations of the story
• looked at the dancers online
• maybe some video clips on YouTube
• went to a student production
• sat on my lap near the door
• whispered about what was going on
• checked several times to make sure the mouse/soldier fight in particular wasn't too scary.

I was fully prepared to leave, but no, he was entranced. Actually the worst moment was when he ran into the Sugarplum's cavalier afterwards and he wanted to meet him but then freaked and sobbed.

Plan, plan, plan many pee trips and consider going with a man since the lines to the women's room will be ridiculous.

The student version is great for a first Nutcracker for SO many reasons: more child-friendly (in case they're a bit noisy or need to leave), less expensive, and children are frankly more interesting to a toddler than adult dancers anyhow.

I recommend the video with Mikhail Baryshnikov, although I think toddlers are a lot more interested in the live production than a lengthy video. We saw a bit of an animated version one time and it scared the bejesus out of him. And also, you know, sucked.

[limabean]

We took DS last year when he was just over 3. He fell asleep by the end, but he enjoyed the parts he watched. There were tons of toddlers and very young children there, and for the most part they all did great!

[SAHDS]

The first time DD and I went, she was 5. It was us and my cousin and her daughter; full-on performance in Seattle. Thankfully, we had a balcony to ourselves so the girls would dance if they got antsy (it is looooong) and it didn't bug anyone. I wouldn't even attempt to take DH or DS.

[One_Girl]

I think it depends on the interest level. My daughter saw a few plays with her preschool class when she was that age but she was disturbed by the violence and doesn't remember them now. I think that it is great to expose children to lots of activities even if they don't remember them later on in life but if your dh is uncomfortable with the ones you have chosen it may be nice for all of you if you can agree on something else to do together or rent a video you all enjoy and have a little movie night at home.

[4Marmalade]

I'm also wondering about this. I think my 6 year old ds would love it and I would love to put it as an advent calendar surprise. But I also have a 3-1/2 year old dd. I think she would be OK during it and if not would probably just fall asleep. Tickets at our small town theatre aren't that much so it wouldn't be a huge waste of $$. She would not do very well with being left at home .

[peachweenie]

We went to a shorter "children's version" of this and my 4-year old son complained of boredom and eventually fell asleep. I think it's a good idea to "prepare" as a previous poster mentioned - listen to the music and read the story.

[TEAK's Mom]

My dds both saw their first Nutcracker at age three and they both loved it. We did do some talking and listening beforehand so that they would understand what was happening.

This year, my 4 year old is dancing in the local student Nutcracker (a very small part) and we're taking them to see a big city production over the holidays.

[mamajama]

My two crazy rambunctious guys were 3 and 6 and they sat spell-bound through the entire show.

[beanma]

We go every year and have since dd1 was 4 and dd2 was 2. They love it. I think the first year dd2 fell asleep, but dd1 never has. We go to a local youth production and may at some point upgrade to the bigger grown up version, but it's spendy (grown up tix $30-$60) and we're cheap...um...frugal! I think if she's into it you should take her this year. If you wait she may be over ballerinas by next year.

ETA: I think, especially if you go to a matinee, there is always an assumption that kids will be in the audience. If you were going to some other kind of more adult ballet performance then maybe not, but I think everyone knows that kids will be coming!

[mamarabolli]

My 3 yo went last year and loved it. My 1 1/2 yo fell asleep, but when she was awake, she was amazed. We're doing it every year.

[DaughterOfKali]

When I was teaching at a Montessori preschool (ages 3-6), we took the kids to the Nutcracker. They sat still for the whole thing!
Definitely worth it.

[Jessy1019]

I think it really depends on the kid, and I only know what would work for my own.

My daughter would have been able to sit through the Nutcracker at age 3. I didn't take her -- I don't like to watch ballet -- but she was able to sit through any theater movie at that point (even ones geared to adults with complicated plots) and had also been to some stage shows. My son is not three yet, but I am pretty sure he could sit through the Nutcracker as well -- he has a good attention span for movies and a great one for staged shows.

It sounds like you don't have a lot of experiences on which to judge how your daughter might react, so maybe you should pass for now (or go knowing that you may have to leave mid-way through). Use the next year or so to try out more shows -- community theater groups do great plays for reasonable costs, and our local community college hosts so many great children's shows every year -- maybe yours does too? Then you can start the Nutcracker tradition with a bit more confidence?