Children at the cinema

[Ravenfire]

Saw a similar thread on another site and made me think this could be a good one, particularly as I was at the cinema yesterday and some young children were running amok!

What age do you think it is ok to let a child go on their own to the cinema?

[MrTempleDene]

depends, if it's Daughter on a date then maybe at 130

[Sarah]

I think they have to be 3 don't they? It would depend on the child, I took Christopher when he was 3 mainly because I wanted him to experience the cinema and I didn't know whether he'd ever get the chance. He was a bit of a pain but I kept him quiet and went out with him when I needed to. I took him on a quiet day too.
Some 3 year olds will sit brilliantly while some 5 and 6 year olds are a nightmare. I do think that if the child is playing up and the parents do nothing then they should be asked to leave by the ushers.
Sarah x

[Sarah]

Oh sorry totally mis-read the thread :blusingan you asked on their own. Mine started going around the age of 11 or 12 I think.

[MrTempleDene]

Seriously though I suppose it depends on your kids, and more importantly the friends they go with. 11+ perhaps? trouble is if they go in a group and get themselves to excited.

[smirnoff]

not there yet.... but tbh the kids there will probably all be slapped with an asbo or something!!

[MrTempleDene]

not there yet.... but tbh the kids there will probably all be slapped with an asbo or something!!

Or possibly arrested under some vague "anti-terror" laws!

Actually, having seen what DS and DD have done to the living room I can see the point in that!

[Netty]

You haven't seen the room in the last 10 mins!

[Ravenfire]

I couldnt believe it there was a 4/5 year old boy running around and he was going down and touching the screen and moving seats with his sister who seemed no more than 7 and the parents weren't evident at all. Wasnt until after we left and saw them altogether that we realised the parents had been sat in front of us and let them just do what they like.

I agree if they are being noisy and wont stop they should be asked to leave as its not fair on others. Even when an usher went up to the children the parents just stayed where they were!

[MrTempleDene]

oh oh

[MrTempleDene]

You haven't seen the room in the last 10 mins!

Maybe I will just stay up here then

[ruthie]

18?

[ruthie]

Teenagers at the cinema drive me mad on their mobiles, chatting to each other through the film, chucking popcorn, it amazes me how the people sat near them seem to do nothing I always go over and tell them to shut up.

[MrTempleDene]

I always go over and tell them to shut up.

But does it work? or do you just get a mouthie load of F off's back?

[Girlzmum]

I've seen 14/15 yo's running round a cinema! I guess it depends on the maturity of the child in question. Madam has been to the cinema about 5 times now, went for the first time last October (she was 2 1/2). We take her to the kids clubs so I really don't expect to see the kids all sitting down and being quiet and it means I don't feel too bad about madam wanting to go to the loo 5 times during the screening!
I tend not to worry about it during kids movies but if it's for an older film it really gets my goat - I've probably had a night out and I don't want to see 14/15 yo carrying on and ruining the movie.

[ruthie]

But does it work? or do you just get a mouthie load of F off's back?


Actually it has worked everytime and apart from giggles as I walk away never had any abuse.

[smirnoff]

sad but true i havent been to the conema since dp took me for a surprise to see HP 3!!!!

[Ravenfire]

Hp3?

[smirnoff]

harry potter 3...

[Ravenfire]

Aww right. I cant even remember what number they are up to of that. They are pretty good at our cinema as they do check regularly and tell the kids the behave if they are being rowdy.

[mumsiejudy]

I think if one is able to afford the pictures these days they should expect to see what they have gone to see with the minimum of disturbance. Cinemas should have a policy which is displayed for all to see where and disruptive person whatever the age is removed/ejected or call it whatever you like. As for going on their own it really does depend on what the person is like. Personally, I have fou nd under 5's get restless quite quickly so unless it is aimed at this age group I don't think they should go.

[Trinity]

Teenagers at the cinema drive me mad on their mobiles, chatting to each other through the film, chucking popcorn, it amazes me how the people sat near them seem to do nothing I always go over and tell them to shut up.

This happened to me once when I was out with my g/friends - we had gone to see Ocean's Twelve and in the row behind us were 5/6 teenage girls - they talked very loudly, giggled and were told to be quiet to which they just laughed at. Then they started texting each other, I turned round and asked them politely if they could please be quiet and they replied with a rather loud NO!! I was so angry I jumped out of my seat to complain but at the same time the guy sitting next to me got out, so I didn't have to miss any of George or Brad!! The thing was there was no usher actually in the cinema at the time so he had to go out and get one. They were asked to leave and had the cheek to ask if they would get their money back!!!

I do remember going to Saturday cinema with my friends to see the Saturday Double Bill, it was great fun - cost about 20p. I think I would have been about 10 or something but I do agree that if you are taking young kids then you are responsible for them and even though it is a kids film you cannot have them running around.

[Ravenfire]

I agree - I never take dd3 to a film unless I think its one she would enjoy. What will happy is I will end up watching something with DD3 (such as Cars) while the other girls seem something with their dads!

[bikemad]

Id say it depends on the kid n who they go with-if ds went with Jasmine who is 6months younger than him then id let them go about age 12 but if he had his pal Connal in tow then id say 16!!!!!!

If I see kids playing up then il wait for 5mins to see if a parent shuts them up n if not il just get up n get staff n ask them to kick the kids out or give me my money back cos im leaveing-the kids get kicked out everytime.You get it a lot round here tbh some kids are right brats round here.I tend to drive half hour to Cardiff or Bridgend to take ds cos the kids are a little better brought up there.

[Jen]

I have taken mine when they have been 5-6 but only to films that I know will be full of young children.
Now when I take them. well when I take Dd as Ds said it would ruin his street cred to go to the cinema with his Mum, I am very conscious of any noise she makes and she is 9.

[kathyhinsh]

dd stayed @ 1 of her m8's B4 we went on hols, & the dad asked if I was happy with him dropping both the girls off 2 watch a film...he stayed til they went in, & was there B4 they came back out...but I'm not sure that's wot u meant @ the start of this thread Toni....but they're both 12, & the 1st time she'd done it...& knowing them both, I'd say they'd have been well behaved

[Ravenfire]

Yes thats what I meant Kathy.

[kathyhinsh]

:cheesy:

[snowy1974]

I think i'd be happy with dd going to the cinema with a friend when she's 11.

Neither of mine have been to the cinema much, so hopefully it would be a bit of a treat... but what they are like with you and with their friends are 2 different things.

[twiglet333]

I used to work for Odeon, and it was a flipping nightmare having all the kids running round, especially kids club arghhhhhhhhhhhh. That was defo a day to take a sicky!!!!!

They make such a mess with the popcorn, and you should see the shit that we had to pick up between each showing...not nice, false teeth, glasses, condoms, sweetie wrappers....eughhhhh.

Free films tho.

[Girlzmum]

Condoms????? No way, please tell me they weren't used.....