Parents: what age did you take your kid to their first movie [Archive] - The Orange Mane

PDA

View Full Version : Parents: what age did you take your kid to their first movie

Taco John

07-02-2008, 05:30 PM

2KBack

07-02-2008, 05:31 PM

22 years old

Hotrod

07-02-2008, 05:33 PM

I think around 3 or so.

Dempsey Dog

07-02-2008, 05:34 PM

I took my son to Shreck and Ratatouilli when he was about to turn 3. We made it only half way of each one before he wanted to leave. He was not having a fit or anything, he just wanted to go. It was for him, so we left. We had fun.

DomCasual

07-02-2008, 05:45 PM

We took our daughter (19 months) to see King Panda a few weeks ago - an absolute disaster. We had taken her to a few things prior to that, and she was okay. For this one, she was like an angry troll - whacking the bald guy in front of us on the head; trying to deprive my son of his popcorn; wanting to punish the aisle lights, etc. We got a babysitter when we took our son to see Wall-E.

My only advice is to go to a matinée, so that you don't regret dropping $9.50 for ten minutes of moviedom.

Arkansas Bronco

07-02-2008, 06:06 PM

My older son is 3 and I dont think he is ready yet. He asks questions constantly.

Hotrod

07-02-2008, 06:08 PM

sounds like your a little early there TJ. I say go for it taking screaming kids into public is your God given American right :)

Ratboy

07-02-2008, 06:10 PM

Take him! It's pretty much one of the best movies of the year. It's a movie all will enjoy.

Just take him when there isn't many people around. I went to see Wall-E on Saturday Night (10pm) and the theater had 10-15 people.

edit: I don't have kids, but it's such a great movie.

Bob's your Information Minister

07-02-2008, 06:17 PM

I wouldn't take a kid to a movie until his brain was developed enough to understand it on some meaningful level.

Taking a toddler to a movie is just asking for trouble. Don't. Unless he's incredibly well behaved.

Donk

07-02-2008, 06:23 PM

Orange_Beard

07-02-2008, 06:36 PM

I can't remember the exact age but it was around 2.5 years old. We have seen every kids movie since(he is now 5). He loves going to the movies. We go every Friday night as a family outing.
Wally-E was pretty good. He was fastenated.

DBroncos4life

07-02-2008, 06:41 PM

Three. The first movie he didn't stay to finish it but he did the second one. I think it helps to hype it up so he wants to watch it before you go.

55CrushEm

07-02-2008, 06:43 PM

Bronco_Beerslug

07-02-2008, 06:56 PM

5 and I don't appreciate parents that bring babies to the theaters though I can understand why they might have to or want to.

Orange_Beard

07-02-2008, 06:58 PM

Yeah, at 21 months.....it will be hard to hold his interest (if at all) for an entire film.

Also, the theaters can be pretty loud with the movie volume.....can be bothersome, to say the least, for such a little guy.....

Good point about the noise.

If you can skip the previews...do it. They are twice as loud. Go into the movie 15 to 20 minutes late.

broncosteven

07-02-2008, 07:22 PM

broncosteven

07-02-2008, 07:23 PM

Be prepared for them to get board 1/2 way through it.

BroncoBuff

07-02-2008, 07:40 PM

El Minion

07-02-2008, 07:50 PM

I'm not a parent, but the first movie I was taken to was Cheyenne Social Club with Jimmy Stewart. It was about a house of ill-repute, and there was a scene with a nearly topless woman.

I was traumatized.

You aren't the only one

------------------------------------------------------

<div class="entryContent">
<h2 class="title"><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/01/right-wing-hates-wall-e/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to 'Right-Wing Apoplectic Over Pixar’s WALL-E: ‘Malthusian Fear Mongering,’ ‘Fascistic Elements’'">Right-Wing Apoplectic Over Pixar’s WALL-E: ‘Malthusian Fear Mongering,’ ‘Fascistic Elements’</a><a class="storyexpander" id="exlink1-19090">»</a></h2>

<img src='http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/wall-e.jpg' class=imgright alt='wall-e.jpg' />

This weekend, Pixar’s latest film “WALL-E” <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25440946/">debuted at No. 1</a>, earning $65 million at the box office. The film has been <a href="http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/movies/27wall.html">hailed</a> <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2194322/">by</a> <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/06/pixar-defies-gr.html">critics</a>, scoring a whopping <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/">97 percent “Fresh” rating</a> on RottenTomatoes.
The film portrays a lonely robot’s quest for love, as he is left to clean up a trashed earth. Meanwhile, the over-indulged humans wait it out aboard gigantic spaceships run by a monolithic corporation-turned-government that “<a href="http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/REVIEWS/963071290">resemble spas for the fat and lazy</a>.”
Somehow, this touching love story has <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/another-brick-in-the-wall-e/">outraged the radical right</a>:
<blockquote>
<a href="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODBmN2FmNjIwNmUxMDBkZDc5MjUxYWIwYjBjODExNzQ=">Shannen Coffin</a>: From the first moment of the film, my kids were bombarded with leftist propaganda about the evils of mankind. It’s a shame, too, because the robot had promise. The story was just awful, however.
<a href="http://planetgore.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OTYxNmIxZjNiYzRhZDYyYWVhODI1YzVmMGQ0ODViMGQ="> Greg Pollowitz</a>: It was like a 90-minute lecture on the dangers of over consumption, big corporations, and the destruction of the environment. … Much to Disney’s chagrin, I will do my part to avoid future environmental armageddon by boycotting any and all WALL-E merchandise and I hope others join my crusade.
<a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/11941/">Glenn Beck</a>: I can’t wait to teach my kids how we’ve destroyed the Earth. … Pixar is teaching. I can’t wait. You know if your kid has ever come home and said, “Dad, how come we use so much styrofoam,” oh, this is the movie for you.
<a href="http://dirtyharrysplace.com/?p=2127">Dirty Harry</a>: Have we lost Pixar? Have we lost the wonderful studio who brought us The Incredibles and Ratatouille to Bush Derangement Syndrome? Here you have a winning streak going back ten-years, enormous amounts of public goodwill, equal amounts of credibility as serious storytellers, and they stop things cold, yanking you out of the story with the liberal nonsense. Quite a disappointment. 
<a href="http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=M2E2NjdhYjJiYTI4ZTBlM2IzZDFlMjZkNjg3N2Y3N2Q=">Jonah Goldberg</a>: I agree with the charges of hypocrisy. I agree that the Malthusian fear mongering was annoying</blockquote>
Goldberg posted a lengthy letter from a reader decrying the film’s “fascistic elements,” which apparently include the movie’s discussion of the environment, a character “getting in touch with her emotional, passionate inner self,” and the <a href="http://liberalfascism.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDQ2NTBiMzhhYjM2MjJmYTM4ODA5NTIwYThlMmM1YWQ=">use of the color red</a>. 
Now we can add a critically-acclaimed and universally-beloved cartoon character to Goldberg’s enormous list of evidence of “liberal facism,” which already includes <a href="ttp://www.sadlyno.com/archives/8263.html">vegetarianism</a>, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/72960/?page=1">love of animals</a>, and <a href="http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0802/22/gb.01.html">Captain Planet</a>.
<a href="http://digg.com/politics/Conservatives_on_WALL_E_Fascist_Fear_Mongering_Non sense">Digg It!</a>

Beantown Bronco

07-03-2008, 08:25 AM

We're lucky. We have a drive in about 30 minutes away, so we go there for most of the family flicks during the summer. $17 a carload and they play 2 or 3 movies back to back every Friday-Sunday. It's a lot easier to leave if they're really acting up, plus you're not bothering anyone else.

Indoor theater? I think my daughter was just about 3 when she was taken by my parents to go see Happy Feet. According to them, she was perfect. But on other occasions, if the mood (or movie) doesn't hit her right.....I'm looking at you Water Horse, she can be a handful in a theater. It's hit or miss around that age.

My advice......find a drive in!

chrisp

07-03-2008, 08:33 AM

From age 3 + the attention span is just about starting to develop to an acceptable level but really and truly age 4-5 is the only time they really start to get something from it. My boy has always been quite into films and TV though so he's not as restless as others...

But like the others say, if you don't mind leaving early feel free to give it a go!

rugbythug

07-03-2008, 08:46 AM

Focus on the Family Rated this very high for kids. I was thinking of taking my 28 month old to see his first movie.

Arkansas Bronco

07-03-2008, 09:03 AM

kamakazi_kal

07-03-2008, 10:12 AM

I will say if you must go, go durning the day. Less people.

dbfan21

07-03-2008, 10:31 AM

My older son is 3 and I dont think he is ready yet. He asks questions constantly.

Mine too. My son is three and a half and every 30 seconds it's, "Why?", "Why not?", "What happened, Daddy?". It's enough to drive me absolutely nuts, let alone the people surrounding us in a theatre.

Glad I am not the only Dad out there that has a parrot for a kid!

dbfan21

07-03-2008, 10:36 AM

First movie I can remember is either Empire Strikes Back or Fox and the Hound. Im 32 (just turned on the 20) and didnt look em up but I can remember those movies as my first just cant think of which first.

I'm 32 also and I remember my first moivie being the Empire Strikes Back, too. That Hoth Ice Monster scared the crap outta me! ROFL!

Arkansas Bronco

07-03-2008, 11:31 AM

Mine too. My son is three and a half and every 30 seconds it's, "Why?", "Why not?", "What happened, Daddy?". It's enough to drive me absolutely nuts, let alone the people surrounding us in a theatre.

Glad I am not the only Dad out there that has a parrot for a kid!

You forgot "what are they doing" and "whats that". ;D Drives me nuts as well I try to explain the answer for all, but most of the time in the explenation I get hit with more new questions. I am a walking encyclopedia, well thats what my kids think.

brncs_fan

07-03-2008, 11:44 AM

I was around 5 or so. Movies were watched at home except for a few exceptions until I was around 12 or 13.

Ramathorn

07-03-2008, 11:49 AM

i took my son at 6 months to see a disney film. as long as its family movie, it dont matter

rugbythug

07-03-2008, 01:11 PM

First movie I can remember is either Empire Strikes Back or Fox and the Hound. Im 32 (just turned on the 20) and didnt look em up but I can remember those movies as my first just cant think of which first.

Fox and the Hound for me. I didn't realize how anti hunting that movie was until I watched it again this year.

dbfan21

07-03-2008, 01:26 PM

You forgot "what are they doing" and "whats that". ;D Drives me nuts as well I try to explain the answer for all, but most of the time in the explenation I get hit with more new questions. I am a walking encyclopedia, well thats what my kids think.

I am right there with ya man! Do you feel yourself getting frustrated because you are being forced to explain things that you haven't given a second thought to in over 25 years?

I tell you one thing: I have become one of the world's biggest BS artists when it comes to random, meaningless questions!

Have a great 4th!!!

edgemyster

07-03-2008, 01:58 PM

My son is 4 and he's gone to very few movies, merely because he can't sit still that long.

Just ask yourself - can your child sit in one spot for 1.5 - 2 hours without acting on the desire to release a burst of energy down the aisle or through their feet into the back of the seat of the person sitting in front of you?

I think my son will be ready when he's 5-6.

Ray Finkle

07-03-2008, 02:53 PM

Good luck TJ, Mira is about the same age and can't even sit through an episode of Spongebob....

Taco John

07-03-2008, 03:03 PM

broncosteven

07-03-2008, 03:25 PM

Zachary doesn't have a great attention span. Honestly, I figured he'd be bored and ready to run around within the first half hour... But I thought the experience might be fun for him.

I still can't decide...

Do it it is fun to them, also go at a Matinee so you don't lose that much dough.

I was thinking of taking my 5 year old to this also.

TheReverend

07-03-2008, 03:46 PM

Try it and see. Worst case is he starts crying and hates it... but no one will really care because all the parents are just killing time anyways.

Needa Pass Rush

07-03-2008, 04:42 PM

21 months is too young IMHO.

2KBack

07-03-2008, 05:07 PM

Taco John

07-03-2008, 05:35 PM

as an avid movie goer, this is just a painful thread to read. I see everything, family films included, and nothing ruins a movie worse than a child that really doesn't want to be there.

I appreciate that parents don't have a lot of choice but to bring their kids along with them to places. Still I don't feel that it is too much to ask for the courtesy to not bring a child that will be a disruption and ruin the experience for other paying cutomers.

Ah ha!

I remember being you. I can't remember how young I was, I think I was in high school. A couple of friends and I went to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, and I remember being annoyed at how many kids there were. Then it dawned on me - What do I expect? It's a kids movie!

I'm not going to take Z to Batman or anything. But a kids movie is different. I know that's where thereare going to be other kids, and my kid might not be such a distraction compared to all the rest.

Zachary is pretty well behaved anyway, so long as he's got his tummy full and his nap in. :)

2KBack

07-03-2008, 05:46 PM

Ah ha!

I remember being you. I can't remember how young I was, I think I was in high school. A couple of friends and I went to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, and I remember being annoyed at how many kids there were. Then it dawned on me - What do I expect? It's a kids movie!

I'm not going to take Z to Batman or anything. But a kids movie is different. I know that's where thereare going to be other kids, and my kid might not be such a distraction compared to all the rest.

Zachary is pretty well behaved anyway, so long as he's got his tummy full and his nap in. :)

Personally I consider Pixar films more than kids movies. It's not like it's spongebob or something. Still, when I go to them I am prepared for the fact that there are kids there. I accept that it's a younger demographic, but it should still be a demographic that even comprehends what is going on. i mean someone on here said they took their kid at 6 months old. Does a child even have object permanence at that age?

I look at it this way, if a child is old enough to show interest in going to a movie, then that's when they should go.

and yes, I know it seems odd for a 29 year old to go to family movies, but I went to school for illustration and digital animation. i'm sure i'm not the only adult with interest in these movies, so at the very least if you are going to take a young child to the movies, and don't even know if they can stay seated, stick to the early shows.

snowspot66

07-03-2008, 07:07 PM

Zachary doesn't have a great attention span. Honestly, I figured he'd be bored and ready to run around within the first half hour... But I thought the experience might be fun for him.

I still can't decide...

He won't enjoy Wall-E. It's an animated film but it's really for adults (I wish people would stop assuming that cartoons are for kids). It's not a wild and zany cartoon. It's colors are muted and the subject matter/humor is too complex for a child. It's really great movie but at that age he'll be bored with it.

I would highly suggest this one for a date movie with your wife though. I would wait and take Z to another movie more kid oriented when he's a little older.

BroncoFiend

07-03-2008, 07:13 PM

If you don't mind leaving before it's over I say go for it.

I took my son to the Rat movie when he was four, and he wanted to leave just before the end. Now that he's 5 he asks lots of questions (quietly) but he's enjoys going.

As for having a problem with kids in a theater, that is totally within your control, just go to a late movie and you don't have to worry.

broncosteven

07-03-2008, 09:42 PM

As for having a problem with kids in a theater, that is totally within your control, just go to a late movie and you don't have to worry.

I am with you, Matinees are for kids/familys, evening and nights are for everyone else.

Even on date night (which is exceedingly rare now that we have 2) I like to take the wife to Matinee's because they are cheaper, but the last one we went to was Atonement and there was no one under 30 there.

Broncofan_H

07-04-2008, 12:57 PM

Thinking about taking Z to see Wall-E. He's only 21 months though, so I don't know if it's such a great idea. I'm sure I'm inviting hell on earth, but then I figure, they're all a bunch of parents with kids themselves...

What say you?

We just took our 3 kids last weekend to see Wall.E (ours are 7, 4 and 20 mos.). The difference being we went to a drive-in, which worked REALLY well. I don't know if you have any drive-ins around you, but maybe try that?

broncosteven

07-08-2008, 04:32 PM

So Taco,

Did you take him?

bronco militia

07-08-2008, 04:35 PM

He won't enjoy Wall-E. It's an animated film but it's really for adults (I wish people would stop assuming that cartoons are for kids). It's not a wild and zany cartoon. It's colors are muted and the subject matter/humor is too complex for a child. It's really great movie but at that age he'll be bored with it.

I would highly suggest this one for a date movie with your wife though. I would wait and take Z to another movie more kid oriented when he's a little older.

that's about right....my 3 year old was bored halfway through the movie.

Taco John

07-08-2008, 04:36 PM

So Taco,

Did you take him?

No. The day that I was going to take him (the 4th) he was up all night the night before - scared of something (all the fireworks going off, I'm sure). The next day he was very crabby, and nothing seemed to please him. I decided to save myself the headache, and took him instead to buy some fireworks of our own (which he was terrified of) and buy him a new Elmo video (he adores Elmo).

All in all, it was a great weekend... If not a short one!

Drek

07-08-2008, 05:05 PM

sounds like your a little early there TJ. I say go for it taking screaming kids into public is your God given American right :)

And its my God given American right to curb stomp their as of yet un-fused skulls.
:~ohyah!:

Seriously though, can he sit through a movie at home yet? Is drive through an option?

If you were talking about a spongebob movie or a sesame street movie then go for it, it'll be all screaming kids (except a few stoners for spongebob). But Pixar films are ageless and so many people who do not have kids (and don't want to have wasted $10 due to someone's kid having a 20 minute hissy at the movie's climax) attend them. This is also the middle of the summer, so people go to movies at all times.

Go for it if you want, but don't be surprised if you wind up in a theatre with a lot of people sans-children, and be prepared to exit quickly if your kid starts to lose it.

Sassy

07-08-2008, 05:16 PM

Can he sit through one at home?
That's what I was going to ask...
Not even two....too young.
Maybe not even three...

broncosteven

07-08-2008, 07:41 PM

No. The day that I was going to take him (the 4th) he was up all night the night before - scared of something (all the fireworks going off, I'm sure). The next day he was very crabby, and nothing seemed to please him. I decided to save myself the headache, and took him instead to buy some fireworks of our own (which he was terrified of) and buy him a new Elmo video (he adores Elmo).

All in all, it was a great weekend... If not a short one!

We took the kids to the local carny and watched the carney folk work. my daughter went on some motorcycle ride that had a few up down moves she wasnt expecting. her expression was priceless!

I hate those things but it was worth the $20 to watch her have fun.

gunns

07-08-2008, 09:22 PM

I'm not a parent, but the first movie I was taken to was Cheyenne Social Club with Jimmy Stewart. It was about a house of ill-repute, and there was a scene with a nearly topless woman.

I was traumatized.

I went through the same thing. We lived on an Air Force Base in Alaska so my parents rarely went out. They must not have been able to get a babysitter. They took me to the Stripper, I think with Jayne Mansfield or Marilyn Monroe, some blonde bombshell. All I remember is watching it for a second and then my mom would push my head down on her lap. Then I could get up and then down would go my head again. I couldn't wait to see that show when I grew up....but I never did.

TJ, it depends on the kid. I took my oldest at 23 months to see Jaws. He was great. But some of my other kids I wouldn't have dared no matter what the movie.

missingnumber7

07-09-2008, 01:11 PM

We took Jacob last week with us, 5 1/2 months, and he was just fine, stared at the bright light for most of the movie, then took a 20 min nap until it got kinda loud, and then wanted a bottle, but was quiet the whole time...but then again, thats pretty much how he is at home. I liked the movie and so did both step kids and the wife.