Taking Your Children to the Movies. What Age is the Right Age?

Children love to watch movies. Many of my fondest childhood memories are with my parent in a theater watching the new Disney movies. When you have the time off from your busy school schedule or accounting career, you really want to do something fun that you know your kids will remember. The only problem is that no one wants to the be the parent in the back with the unruly child. What age is the right age for their first real movie experience?

I have had many friends that tried to attend a movie with their kids and it scarred them for years. It's hard to know if your children are ready to sit still and enjoy a cinematic experience, but here are a few clues to help determine their readiness.

1. Will your child watch an entire movie at home. If a child will not watch a movie at home, they will be driving you crazy. Movie theaters are full of other people to investigate. Until you child can give a movie at home their full attention, you might want to wait on taking them out.

2. Is your child vocal during movies at home. If you child is excited and vocal during movies at home, they will be loud at the movies as well. Being that silence is a virtue in a theater, you might want to work with your child on not talking at home before trying the theater.

3. Is your child comfortable around strangers. Most kids are not concerned by strangers, but there are a few that are caught off guard by unfamiliar faces. For instance, my younger son saw a man in a restaurant that frightened him for some reason. He proceeded to scream until the man was no longer in sight. Though my son is an extreme  case, it is possible that other people in the room may cause a child to be uncomfortable.

In most cases, children are able to watch a movie contently in public at around three years of age. Of course, it doesn't hurt to bribe them a bit with concessions. Another factor is your personal sensitivity to distractions in a theater. If you are concerned how your child will fair, try attending a daytime showing of a children's film. They are usually less crowded and full of other sympathetic parents. If your first movies isn't a home run, be patient with your child. They're nervous too. Hopefully soon, your family will be enjoying many bonding moments over popcorn and a great movie.