Lap children at theatre & sporting events?

[DisneyBeagle]

My coworker is upset because they were denied admittance to a local theatre last night to watch a play. She and her husband purchased 2 tickets, but planned on taking their two children (8 months & 5 years old) and having them sit on their parents laps. The staff at the theatre told them that they needed to purchase a ticket for the older child and the parents refused.

Now, I don't have any children so I don't really have a reference point for this, but at what age do places (theatres & sporting events) usually require that you purchase tickets for children and not allow them to sit on laps anymore?

 

[dizluvah]

i don't know for sure - but I think over age 2 - they should get a seat.

 

[jrmasm]

I can see not paying for an 8 month old but a 5 year old? Um yeah, that kid needed a ticket. I guess i'd put the cut off at 2 years old.

 

[ashley0139]

I work in theatre, and I don't know of any theatre that allows a lap child that doesn't need a ticket. I've never heard of a child that didn't need to have a ticket at a show.

 

[kelleigh1]

Some places require tickets for every person, regardless of age. I believe that when I used to work at the football stadium, they required a ticket for everyone and one of the reasons that they gave was that in case of an emergency, they needed to account for each and every person who had entered through the gates.

That being said, most places that I have seen, age limit is usually 2 or 3. I don't know of any place that would allow a 5 year old into a performance without a ticket, whether the parent intended to have them sit on their lap or not.


And I have to say, that I think your coworker was just being really cheap. It sounds like they didn't want to pay for a babysitter either and that's why they brought the kids along and tried to get them in.

 

[Magic Mom]

The 5 year old needed a ticket. They were silly to expect to not have to pay for a child that old.

 

[punkin]

I've never heard of "lap children" at a live performance. A five year old is old enough to see a show and sit in her own seat (which should be paid for). An 8 month old has no business in a live show at all. I have taken infants to the movies, but if they fussed, I could just leave without disturbing actors. The whole thing sounds very strange to me.

 

[JenM]

Most theater box offices and ticketing websites do state that everyone in attendance, regardless of age, must purchase a ticket.

I had a friend who couldn't understand why she couldn't bring her 3-month-old to a Broadway show with us a few years back, no matter how many times we explained why she couldn't.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I would think 3 years old is the cut off for most places. No way would/should a 5 year old be allowed in without a ticket.

The bigger question is why would someone think a play would hold the interest of an 8 month old or a 5 year old.

 

[kelleigh1]

I would think 3 years old is the cut off for most places. No way would/should a 5 year old be allowed in without a ticket.

The bigger question is why would someone think a play would hold the interest of an 8 month old or a 5 year old.

See the word I highlighted...yeah, they didn't do that.

And as I said above...they just didn't want to pay for a babysitter.

 

[leebee]

Yup, the 5 year old needs a ticket. I know of groups that require a ticket for everyone, even infants, because some parents aren't very wise about what they take their kids to see. Bored children (or children who are uncomfortable from sitting on someone's lap too long) can be noisy and bothersome to the rest of the audience, those who paid for tickets and deserve to watch the performance without interruption.

 

[punkin]

I would think 3 years old is the cut off for most places. No way would/should a 5 year old be allowed in without a ticket.

The bigger question is why would someone think a play would hold the interest of an 8 month old or a 5 year old.

Agreed about the 8 month old, but by 5yo my DDs had already been to Broadway shows. They were very interested at that age.

 

[JenM]

Even Disney goes by the same rules: both Mary Poppins and Lion King require everyone to purchase a ticket, and the recommended age for both shows is 6 and up.

Although I saw my first Broadway show when I was 5 (Peter Pan) and loved it, and I've definitely seen younger kids at both of the Disney shows.

If they're attentive enough to enjoy the show, it shouldn't be a problem. But they still gotta have a ticket.

 

[iheartdisney]

I know for children's events, it will state on the ticket. We took our kids to se the Wiggles a long, long time ago, and it stated on Ticketmaster and on the ticket itself that each child over 12 months needed a ticket. Thus, DS11 months was a lap baby.

 

[shortbun]

infants would be lap children. Children who can walk and talk-not lap children.
Also, unless this was a family production, my kids would have been at home with a sitter. I love children and we rarely attended an event that wasn't child friendly when our son was little BUT if we did, he was doing something else. And while I agree that there are some special kids who can appreciate theatre at age 5; the majority can not sit quietly though a stage play and talk or move around causing a distraction.

 

[dngnb8]

My DD14 has always looked a lot younger then she is. We have done our share of age fibbing for childrens pricing. Those days are gone for my little lady now.

However, if someone made a point of it, I wouldnt throw a fit or fight it.

 

[Coconut36]

I can see not paying for an 8 month old but a 5 year old? Um yeah, that kid needed a ticket. I guess i'd put the cut off at 2 years old.

Same thought here with a big if though...many many places require that a seat be purchased regardless of age of guest so it is up to them to find out the policy at the time of ticket purchase. Some are cool with infants/toddlers as lap children..some not. I can say that I was a semi season ticket holder for hockey and it was NEVER allowed..for each body..be it 8 months or 100 years old a ticket was required. Same with shows/theaters (as in a live action show). Now many times a place like the regular movies does not charge under a certain age but that is all I know.

 

[cari12]

And we wonder why there is so much talk of the "entitled" attitude these days. The 5 year old should definitely have had her own seat and the baby should not have been there. Sounds like they were being incredibly cheap and felt that somehow the theatre owed that to them and their kids. Wow, just wow!
We have taken DD9 and DS6 to many live performances and they have always had their own seat. Many places, any child over 1 needs their own seat.

 

[Janepod]

Yankee Stadium, if a kid can walk under the turnstile they don't need a ticket. Our son started to need a ticket when he was about 3.

Giants Stadium, everyone of every age needs a ticket.

I prefer the latter, only because I think it discourages parents from bringing infants to events (especially movies, theater, arts performances.) Infants don't get anything out of it and it just annoys the people around you.

 

[cornflake]

Interesting about the hockey - here if you're carrying in an obvious carrying-age child, no one will ask for a ticket. If they kid is walking in themselves or obviously old enough to, they need a ticket. I'd guess the cutoff is 2 or 3, though I've never asked, but have been with a friend toting in the baby who didn't and sat near people who started to have to shuffle their season seats when someone's kid got about 3 or 4ish. Before that he was an add-on and would bounce between laps and sit on the steps next to his peoples' seats, after, an adult was missing if he came.

I also don't get taking the 8-month-old to a play. A hockey game is noisy enough general baby babbling surely doesn't bother anyone and you can just go out to the concourse if the baby gets really upset. A play? No. I've seen babies and small, small kids at philharmonic outdoor concerts, because they will listen to music and if they get upset just take them out but indoors? At least around 3 so kids can grasp the play, ballet, whatever and that they're expected to sit quietly.

People who take infants or small kids to non-tiny-kid focused movies should be taken out back and put in stocks.