What age do you start taking DC to the movies/play? - Page 3

[almadianna]

I dont know if someone has brought this up already but many theaters (well at least some that I worked at) do not allow kids that young into the theater at all for plays.

I personally would not take my child to the theater at that age. My kiddos started going to cry baby matinees at a few months old but to real movies we didnt start taking Kate until she was almost 3 and we knew she would let us watch and not bother other patrons.

ETA- I just saw that this is for a kiddie show, I still would not do it for a child that young. I think that 2 and a half is the youngest that I would do that for. Possibly even 3.

[ann_of_loxley]

This will depend on every child. As a baby baby - sure! My son would have just slept the whole time! lmao... Now, no. He has a great attention span but isn't really interested in films/etc. So I personally will not bother until he is about 6 and understands that we have to sit there and be quiet, etc.

I just saw a film in 3D - it was FAB! I really want his first film to be a 3D one too! hehe As for a 'play' - well his first will probably be a panto ...but probably not next year (unless he goes without me) because ill have an 8 month old on my hands! hehe

[mamatoablessing]

Originally Posted by Latte Mama

To a children's movie and where they can actually last the entire time?

Or a play?

DH's cousin wants us to get together in April to see a play, her daughter will be 2, my DS will be 19 months then. The tickets are pricey so I want to kind of know that he'll get some enjoyment out of it. I'm thinking of taking him to a movie first to see how he acts.

I figure the movie is cheaper and can be a test run.

I haven't read any responses yet...

We didn't take either of our girls to the movies until they were three and I was confident they would sit relativley still and remain interested through a full length film. At 19 months or even 2 years old, neither of them would've had the attention span for a full show.

As for the play, I took DD #1 to see The Little Mermaid on Broadway last year, at 4.5 yo. I was actually worried that still might be too young (it's a pretty elaborate production) but she did great and loved it! I will take DD #2 to a Broadway show as well when she is older. My guess is she'll be ready more around age 6 as she is a little bit less mature than her sister was at that age.

[momasana]

We started taking DS to children's plays when he was about 18 months (he is now 2.5). We have since taken him to several short plays, ballet and symphony performances.

He has not been to a movie. I do not know that he would be able to sit through a movie. Live performances seem to keep him more engaged.

[kcstar]

Only skimmed the first few entries. Sesame Street Live was in town just after DS' 2nd birthday, and on "Dad's night out", so I took DS to that. We weren't up in front, but it held his attention pretty well. He did enjoy walking during the intermission. About twenty minutes before the end he got restless, and at ten minutes to the real end he was walking to the door.

It's not something I'd ever gotten to see as a child, so I wondered about taking him... but he LOVES Elmo. It was something new, and different. I don't know how much he'll remember, but I hope when we go to plays again he'll remember a little more.

We haven't really taken him to watch a movie himself. He's been pretty sensitive in our home movie nights, so I'd want to preview the movie first.

ETA: DS loves, loves, loves Elmo. For Sesame Street Live, I got home for dinner, asked him if he wanted to see Elmo, and he went for shoes, to the garage, and sat in his car seat with NO complaints WHATSOEVER. At 24 months, that was pretty amazing by itself.

As I said, we were not right up front. If we were right up front, he'd have had an opportunity to dance with one of the characters. I can only imagine how much he'd enjoy that. Back where we were, he saw enough. I'm not sure what he thought about the pre-show, but once Elmo was up there he was pretty engaged. It was a little loud for both of us, but I don't recall any issues the entire first half. And he started the second half okay.