Taking Toddlers To Movies-Are you NUTS?

by Catherine Ipcizade | More from this Blogger

03 Jul 2006 01:15 PM

Have you tried taking your toddler to a movie lately? I did. I haven't done it since. I remember I took my first child to a movie for the first time when he was three. He did beautifully. Then again, he was a sitter. He didn't even like to play on his tummy when he was a baby, rather, he liked to lay on his back and kick his feet into the air.

My daughter, on the other hand, was on the go as soon as possible. Racing here and there and everywhere-exhausting her mommy. So, why did I choose to take her to a movie at the age of two? Momentary lapse of judgment, parental insanity, denial of the obvious? Probably all three.

It was a nice day and my kids had wanted to see the new Curious George movie. Finally, I gave in. My son is five, so taking him was no problem. He got his popcorn kids meal and sat happily in his seat. My daughter, the two-year-old, started out great as well. Her little pigtails bobbed up and down as she giggled to the antics on the screen. But then it happened. The popcorn was gone. The movie began to bore her, and she started fidgeting in her seat. I knew I was doomed but tried to postpone the obvious. I tried to sit her on my lap. No such luck. She wasn't having any of THAT. Then, without warning, she promptly rose from her seat and took off. And let me tell you, two-year-olds can run!

I was lucky to have my husband with me that day, and I admittedly let him do the running. We specifically had chosen a movie time where there were only two other families in the theatre, so we didn't face the usual problems of keeping the kids quiet amidst a crowd. Instead, we moved to the back row, where she could walk up and down the seats at her leisure. And it worked...for awhile. Until the stairs looked more appealing, until she thought it was funny to scream.

Needless to say, my husband took her out of the theatre and I finished the movie with our son. No, I haven't taken her to another movie since. And if I'm smart and don't wind up with parental amnesia again, I likely won't take her for another year or so. Best to leave the movie-going to those old enough to watch without squirming with ants in their pants. So until she's three or so, I think we'll stick to popcorn and videos at home, under cozy blankets in the living room.

How about you? Have you had any movie experiences with your kids?

Learn more about Catherine Ipcizade

Cathy Ipcizade is 30 years old and currently resides in Southern California. Prior to coming to California she grew up in Arizona.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 03 Jul 2006 07:37 PM

I took my three kids, age 5, 3 and 1 to go see A Shark Tale. I foolishly thought the cool music would keep them in their seats and interested in the movie. While it went fine with my older two, my 1yo was all over the place! What I was thinking, I'll never know.

Catherine Ipcizade (5617) 03 Jul 2006 07:48 PM

heheheheh...glad to know I'm not the only one, Valorie! :-)

Libby Pelham (12880) 04 Jul 2006 06:06 AM

We just bit the bullet and took Will (2 yr old) a few weeks ago to see Cars. I had been scared he too would be all over the place, squirming and crying. He cried when we first took him in (it was dark and the previews had already started), so we went back out and let him calm down. Took him in again and slowly walked in. He was a little apprehensive, but started watching the screen. I sat with him on my lap the whole movie and he was great. Didn't try to get up or anything. He saw the commercial for Cars and went nuts, so we took him again. Same results! I was so happy. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that it lasts - LOL!

Catherine Ipcizade (5617) 05 Jul 2006 07:40 PM

Woohoo, Libby! That's great! I hope it lasts! Sure wish my daughter wasn't such a squirm-bug. I wonder how she'd do now though? She's going to be 2 1/2 next month and has started being very interested in movies all of the sudden...hmmmm.....not sure I'll brave it for awhile though. :-)

Jaime Egan (2178) 06 Jul 2006 11:50 AM

My hubby and I went to see "Finding Nemo" when it came out with our friends who had a five-year-old and a three-year-old. The five-year-old did fine, but his younger sister got scared for some reason. So the mother stayed with the son while the father took the daughter into the lobby until the movie was over. I haven't yet decided when I want to take our daughter...