When Did You Take Your Child to Their First Movie or Stage Show?

We usually try at 3 y.o. for a kids movie, but if they can't sit still we wait and try again in about a year or so. I have only had one child not want to sit still and thankfully it was a pretty much empty house for the show we went to. You won't know until you try.

My son was 18 months old when I took him to the musical "Singin' in the Rain." After the show, more folks commented about his good behavior than the show (it was good, too, but they were just impressed). We've taken him to live shows ever since. He's afraid of the larger-than-life characters, so we don't do the character 'live' shows.

Talk to them ahead of time what to expect and what is expected of them. Practice at home. But be prepared to take 'em out if they are bored or disruptive. Bring a quiet snack, too. Sometimes that's enough of a distraction to keep them in the show.

It may depend on their interests... if they no enjoy movies at home I would skip the movies, since they could disturb other movie goers....
however, live shows like the circus, Sesame Street, Wiggles, Imagination Movers, Disney Live... may hold interest longer and since they are kid people don't mind if kids are loud!
So go with what they like... Disney for princess lover, or Sesame for the Elmo obessed. YOu can often get discounted seats for early shows...

Our daughters were about 2 - 3 when we first took them to a show. It was Sesame Street Live. The show was no more than an hour long and they did great. We then took them to see the Wiggles in concert and again they did great. When taking kids to see "kid type" shows, they usually keep it short. Remember if you take them to a stage show, they may not be able to get up until intermission.

I took my daughter on her 4th birthday to see a live performance of Frosty the Snowman. She was enthralled the entire time.

I took my barely 3 year old son and 5 year old daughter to see a live performance of Little Orphan Annie. My daughter did awesome and my son did really good until the last 20 minutes or so. So, his attention span for that was almost an hour and a half.

I think if it's something like the circus or other very kid friendly performances, their interest will probably be held longer than just a regular movie might.

You really can't tell. Our oldest has ADHD and loved the Wiggles when he was younger. We were fully prepared to leave that show in the first 15 minutes if he lost interest (he was only three at the time), but he did super the entire time!

Our youngest doesn't have any attention issues medically, but can not sit still for any show. Took her to Disney on Ice and spent half the time in the bathroom. I think she just wanted to check out the stadium. Same thing happened when we took her to see Toy Story 3. I missed a lot of that movie in the bathroom with her (and it's hard to know when a four-year-old is serious, so we kept going).

You never know. I'd say go and just have the mindset that you're giving it a shot and worst case, you will have to leave part-way into the show. Distance yourself from the financial aspect of it all so you don't resent your kids if it doesn't work out.

Good luck!

Depends on the child. I would say if your child can't sit through a whole movie, then its probably best to wait another year or so.

My oldest has always been attentive on shows, so I started taking her when she was around 2 1/2. Although, I knew this because she started going to the circus at 5 months. She loved it. (Only reason I even took her is because I always get free tickets to the circus.) She's gone every year its came to town since and has been awesome. She went to a movie at 2 1/2. She went to Disney Live at 3 1/2. And a handful of movies since. She is now 5 1/2. Her sister on the other hand, didn't go to any of it, until the past 4-5 months. She did great at her first movie, and she LOVED the circus. She is 3 1/2 and I wouldn't have ventured to take her any earlier just from my gut feeling. Although, both my girls love a movie and will sit and watch all of it if its interesting to them.

Keep in mind I'm almost postive my son has ADD and he LOOOVED Yo Gabba Gabba last year and he was amost three at the time.

We started movies at 3 1/2 and did Disney on Ice in February. He HYPER FOCUSED the entire time. We have seen: Yogi Bear (twice), Tangled, Cats and Dogs, Alpha and Omeaga and Hop. He actually sits down, has a snack and even tells me when he needs to go potty. I LOVE that he behaves and most importantly ENJOYS these outings.

We even have done a couple children's plays and he'll focus on anybody that isn't wearing shoes (what is THAT about?) but other than THAT he's my little "theatre" buddy.

We are LITERALLY counting the days until "Cars 2" comes out in June. We'll probably go every other day. (I already have a fund started for it.)

BTW, I was worried about the first movie and mentioned it when we bought tickets and the guy said to come back and they would refund our money. Glad we didn't have to do that, Yogi Bear was kinda funny!

We took our daughter to see Toy Story 3 about a month before she turned 4. I don't think she was really ready though because she kept talking and had a hard time paying attention to the movie. We took her to see Tangled when she was about 4 1/2 and she did much better. She had no interest in watching more than 15-20 minutes of a kids movie at home either until right around the time she turned 4 (and then that one movie was the only one she would sit still to watch).

I've been taking my daughter to live shows like Dora, Backyardigans, Disney Clubhouse, etc since 2 and she's LOVED them. Movies at the movie theater... well I'd wait until almost 5 y/o due to distraction and concentration issues. Raven's been doing well at theaters for the last 2 years (since 3) but I've been told that's not the norm.

I love going to the movies and refused to take my daughter until she was 4. She is now 5.5 and sometimes she still has difficulty sitting thru a movie. She didn't like Rango so she didn't want to sit still or be quiet (until I threatened her with no more movies until she was 6!). We saw Hop a couple of days ago and were unfiortunate enough to share the theatre with a 3/4 year old who wanted to let everyone know (very loudly) the ABC song and how loud she could scream - if you think your children will be disruptive, don't take them yet. You could try taking them to a dollar theatre as a test run.

Good luck.

Our first child would be quiet in movies and we took her to see Sesame Street Live at 5 yrs old. However, our second child is very active and a talker. She is 2yrs old and we took her to a movie last month and she talked, pointed, laughed loudly and would yell No! to the bad guy in the cartoon. Every child is different; I believe if it is a character or show that you know your child enjoys then they will be attentive.

My kiddo was at the theater at 3, play at 4, circus and live shows at 3. She loved them all.

A live show is great for little ones their age. I also think the shows are designed to keep their attention. They will love it! By all means go!

I've always taken my kids to movies. We took my oldest when she was about 2 and my youngest went to her first move at about 6 months old. We go to matinees, the earlier the better. These seem to be the ones that are the least crowded. I've found that people at kids movies (especially during the day) are more tolerant of a kid getting a little squiggly. :) We make sure to buy lots of popcorn and other snacks too.

My son is 3 1/2; I took him to his first movie at just under 3. I was proud because he sat through the whole thing, it helped a lot though that it was Toy Story 3 and he LOVES Toy Story. I've taken him to other movies since as well as Sesame Street, Toy Story on Ice, and the circus and he did well at all of them. I think it is something about the different setting and the darkness (the snacks help too of course :) ) that gives it a different feel than home. He really enjoys the movies and shows, so it's a great outing for him and I. I do make certain though to take him to early matinee movies and if it can be on a Friday when most everyone is working is even better. I've found it's mostly younger kids so all the adults in the theater are more tolerant if he does want to stand rather than sit. Have fun, it's absolutely great!

Didn't have time to read the other responses, but I took my daughter at 3 to the movies. The theater in town offers free movies on Saturday and Sunday mornings (at 9am). It was great because the movie was free, and they also stopped half-way through for an intermission...aka potty break and a chance for mom's to buy more junk at the counter. We still left a few minutes early, but I didn't mind since it was free.

Good luck

Took DS to see the Wiggles when he was around 1.5, took him to the circus at 2.5 and 3.5. Still haven't taken him to the movies (he's 4 now) but it's because we don't go to the movies much and just watch at home.

Anything loud or noisey is fine at 3/4. I brough my daughter to circuses at 3 and she loved them. My friend brough her two year old to a circus last month and he sat and watched most of it. When he needed to get up, daddy took him up the stairs.

4 is fine for a movie - 3 is a little young. But if you go to a G rated, 12pm movie on a Saturday there is plenty of chaos all around. So don't worry about having to get up. Just get there early and get an aisle.

Where he had to be quiet except for clappling, probably around 9 years old --- The Nut Cracker around Christmas time.

Where he could be noisy and move around a little, the circus, or something like Disney on Ice, about 5 or 6.

Sometimes younger children get board or frightened over something and you might end up having to take one or both outside and end up missing some of the show.

Blessings......

I have twin boys and I have been taking them to live shows since they were two (like Dora on stage, Diego on stage, Disney on Ice, Thomas on Stage) and they loved them. I bring enough snacks/drinks in my purse to keep them happy during the show if they get fidgety.

I took them to a movie once at age 3 and then I didn't start take them again until they were almost 6. They really didn't like the LOUD volume that the movies are shown at and covered their ears and cried.

I highly recommend a live show. They are created for young kids and are really fun!