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Home › Articles › Activities › Lights, Camera, Action!

Lights, Camera, Action!

Is Your Toddler Ready to Go to the Movies?

By Beth Hering

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On a cold wintery day, a movie theater can be a great escape. But is toddler ready for the experience? Before you buy the tickets, check out some ways to make the outing a pleasant one for the whole family.

This Isn't Your Living Room
For a generation of kids used to viewing DVDs in the privacy of their home, going to a theater and watching a film with strangers can feel unfamiliar. "Children may be scared if they come to a theater for the first time and don't know what to expect," says Carlo Petrick, marketing and communications manager for Marcus Theatres. He recommends that parents talk to their child beforehand about things they will encounter – a dark environment, a huge screen, a louder volume, many rows of seats with people they don't know sitting in them, fold-down seat cushions, public bathrooms, etc.

If your child seems apprehensive about sitting in the dark, try watching a film with the lights off at home first. (It also might help to remind the child of your presence by gently placing your hand on his arm when the lights first darken at the theater.) Remind him that although one can leave to go to the bathroom, there isn't a rewind or pause button for the movie. (Using the bathroom before the show starts and sitting near the end of an aisle can minimize disruption during the feature.)

If the theater isn't crowded, you might want to select seats somewhat away from other people. While it is good to get children in the mindset early on that they should be quiet (or at least whisper) during a movie and keep their bodies still, it may help you relax more if you don't have to worry about the child hogging an armrest, spilling food on a fellow patron or occasionally kicking the seat in front of him. Likewise, physically seeing the film is easier without a taller person blocking a youngster's view. (Most theaters have booster seats available for children; if they are not directly outside of the entrance to your movie, ask a staff member.)


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