Loud kid at Wall-E matinee

[Todd&Copper]

. . .

I can't believe that this would upset you. Instead of getting upset about it. I would enjoy it! Instead of seeing an annoying child I would see a child whose parent cares enough about them to take them out into the world to experience life instead of letting life pass them by.

Well, sometimes we see a parent who is selfish and doesn't care about how his children's behavior impacts others. [Not referring to the OP in this case, b/c he did do the right thing]

How about a deal - I will stop caring about loud talking and disruptive antics by young children during matinees, and you can pay for my movie tickets from here on out?

 

[disneyjunkie]

How about a deal - I will stop caring about loud talking and disruptive antics by young children during matinees, and you can pay for my movie tickets from here on out?

Works for me.

 

[Crystal0608]

I've been taking my kids to the movies since they were infants (6 & 8). My best friend worked at the theater and we got in free, so we were invited there about once a week. Only one time did my dd cry & I took her out. My kids behave pretty well in a theater, but I don't allow any talking unless they have to tell me they need to potty. Most little kids I see in theaters behave MUCH better than the talking teenagers & adults that kick my seat the whole movie. I would much rather be in a movie with a bunch of smaller kids than teenagers, thats for sure If I go in a kids movie, I expect for there to be smaller kids.

 

[mjkacmom]

I can't believe that this would upset you. Instead of getting upset about it. I would enjoy it! Instead of seeing an annoying child I would see a child whose parent cares enough about them to take them out into the world to experience life instead of letting life pass them by.

Sorry, as a mom to many, I don't enjoy other people's annoying children. Maybe you expect others to delight in the adorable commenting of your little angel through an entire movie, since you obviously think it was fine that the OP's dd did the same, but after dropping over $50 on tickets alone, I would not have been happy.

I care about my children experiencing life - however, I just wait until they are mature enough to enjoy activies appropriately, without disturbing others. Heck, television is not recommended for the under 3 crowd - I don't know why one would think it was necessary to bring a 2 year old to the movies.

 

[dreamer17555]

Okay this is where I get a little lost. Don't parents teach their children to be quiet at a movie? And if they can't sit quietly they should leave.

My DD started movies around 4. There were tons of reminders that is a quiet place (like a library) she would have had one warning if she was talking and then we would have left. Honestly we never had that problem.

Wall-E is an animated movie, not a kids movie. The themes are much more adult and messaged than a child under the age of 3 can appreciate. Just saying why take such a young child to a movie that is above their head and expect them to be quiet? Just asking for trouble IMO.

Also matinees do not mean it should be more or less noisy- just less money

-Becca-

 

[Skywalker]

I do not see any person as having more of a right to be at the movies than another.

Actually that's not true. Quiet, respectful people do have more of a right to be at the movies than loud, disrespectful people. That is why loud, disrespectful people are often asked to leave.

"talking during a movie" may be fine for the home dvd, but not in a theatre! If you just "expect" your children to talk in a movie you're not doing your job as a parent.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

When I see a quiet, well behaved child at a movie, even if they are occasionally a bit louder than perhaps they should be, I see a child whose parent cares enough about them to take them out into the world and teach them the proper way to behave there. If I am at the theater then the thing I want to enjoy is the movie, not the conversation of someone else's child. If a child is overly enthusiastic and they forget to be quiet - or at least whisper - in the theater and the parent quiets them quickly then I won't be annoyed. If there is a parent with such an entitlement mentality that they think the whole theater should enjoy hearing their child instead of the movie then of course I will be annoyed. I am there to hear the movie, not the child. The same goes for teenagers or for adults. Again, it has nothing to do with age. A well behaved, quiet 2.5 year old belongs in a movie theater more than a loud nine year old, nineteen year old or ninety-nine year old. It's not the age, it's the behavior.

It is rude to be loud and disrupt a movie for the other theater-goers. It doesn't matter how old you are, it doesn't matter whether you are talking or throwing a tantrum. If you are loud enough that others have trouble hearing the movie because of you then you don't belong in the theater.

Boy here we go with the constant DIs theme of entitlement. I never once said anything about that.

My point is this a child does belong at a childrens movie in the middle of the day. How can we expect our children to learn if we never let them make mistakes? And please don't embarass yourself by assuming I mean a talkative child should not be corrected. I have not indicated that.

We've been taking our kids to the movies since they were 2. How are they supposed to learn how to sit still in a movie theater if they don't have an opportunity to experience it?

I think a movie marketed towards children in the middle of the day is the perfect place to do this!

Well, sometimes we see a parent who is selfish and doesn't care about how his children's behavior impacts others. [Not referring to the OP in this case, b/c he did do the right thing]

How about a deal - I will stop caring about loud talking and disruptive antics by young children during matinees, and you can pay for my movie tickets from here on out?

Um, respectfully no. I have never stated the above. I never said the op was selfish nor have I said I am. Nor have I said that I do not care how childrens behavior impacts others. I just think that sometimes we need to let kids be kids. Yes I do think that children acting like children (especially a 2.5 year old) is not a national tradegy. But that is the DIs for you! LOL!!!

Sorry, as a mom to many, I don't enjoy other people's annoying children. Maybe you expect others to delight in the adorable commenting of your little angel through an entire movie, since you obviously think it was fine that the OP's dd did the same, but after dropping over $50 on tickets alone, I would not have been happy.

I care about my children experiencing life - however, I just wait until they are mature enough to enjoy activies appropriately, without disturbing others. Heck, television is not recommended for the under 3 crowd - I don't know why one would think it was necessary to bring a 2 year old to the movies.

Don't worry we don't enjoy your annoying children either!

Just a question - where I post that my little angel ever talked through a movie? I am pretty sure that I never have. I believe that I stated I would correct my absolutely wonderful 7 year old should she behave like this.

That is wonderful that you wait for your children to grow up to experience life. I am sure all the parents who have children that will never get the chance to grow up follow this same mentality!

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Actually that's not true. Quiet, respectful people do have more of a right to be at the movies than loud, disrespectful people. That is why loud, disrespectful people are often asked to leave.

"talking during a movie" may be fine for the home dvd, but not in a theatre! If you just "expect" your children to talk in a movie you're not doing your job as a parent.

This is where we disagree. WHile this may apply to adults I hardly see a 2.5 year old as fitting this category especially when she is at a CHILDRENS MOVIE in the middle of the day. Last time I checked 2.5 year olds still qualified as chldren.

And just to clarify I never "expect" my children to talk at a movie. I have never said that my dd at age 7 does this.

It was the op's 2.5 year old that was talking. I am not sure she was intentionally being disrespectful though - can a 2.5 year old do that?

 

[allison443]

Wall-E is an animated movie, not a kids movie. The themes are much more adult and messaged than a child under the age of 3 can appreciate. Just saying why take such a young child to a movie that is above their head and expect them to be quiet? Just asking for trouble IMO.

I agree-there are lots of things we don't let our kids do til they're ready. I didn't take mine to the movies until they were 3 or 4, depending on the kid and the movie that was out at the time.

OP glad you did the right thing. If two different people complained, there are probably a lot more that were bothered but didn't say anything.

 

[allison443]

We've been taking our kids to the movies since they were 2. How are they supposed to learn how to sit still in a movie theater if they don't have an opportunity to experience it?

I do expect kids to ask some questions, but if our kids were getting too loud or disruptive we just take them out to the lobby for a few minutes until they are ready to go back inside and sit quietly.

Once kids reach a certain age, they can understand that certain places require sitting still. Like church, school, etc. So if they go to the movies then, they understand how to act without learning by trial and error.

I didn't take my kids to the movies at age 2, but as long as the parents take them out when they are disruptive, I don't have a problem with anyone else doing so.

 

[Todd&Copper]

. . . That is wonderful that you wait for your children to grow up to experience life.. . .

Gee, I guess, by your calculations, since my parents took me to the movies for the first time when I was about 4 years old that they were neglectful and not allowing me to "experience life" when I was 2 or 3 years old. I better haul my butt into therapy now before I die from the sadness at the revelation and become a drunk hobo who lives in a box on the hiogway, washes my nethers in a fountain and has no one in the world to love me.

Give me a break. This is about respecting others. Nobody expects dead silence in a movie theater, and if they do, they are crazy. And yes, at a G-rated movie, there will be more kids, who may ask more questions. Two other parents informed the OP that his child was too disruptive, and by his own admission she is loud and doesn't understand the concept of whisper. He took her out of the theater, which was the right thing to do. To basically tell the other dads to "sit on it" b/c your concept of a matinee is a roucous bunch of houligans is the epitome of rude. Why can you not see that an excessive loud child that is not responding to parental shushing is just not old enough for the movies????? Do you really think waiting until the child is a tad older and more aware of her surroundings (and what a whisper is) she is not experiencing life?

 

[mjkacmom]

This is where we disagree. WHile this may apply to adults I hardly see a 2.5 year old as fitting this category especially when she is at a CHILDRENS MOVIE in the middle of the day. Last time I checked 2.5 year olds still qualified as chldren.

And just to clarify I never "expect" my children to talk at a movie. I have never said that my dd at age 7 does this.

It was the op's 2.5 year old that was talking. I am not sure she was intentionally being disrespectful though - can a 2.5 year old do that?

I think a lot of people on this thread (most people, actually...) disagree with you - from my experience, a 2 1/2 year old is too young for any movie in a theatre. Yes, there are exceptions (we brought dd12 to the movies to see The Wizard of Oz when she was under 3, because she was a very well behaved child, and we were willing to wisk her out if she talked or acted up). My others kids were not mature enough at that age to handle sitting quietly for the length of a movie, so we did not bring them.

Even though it is considered a children's movie, that does not mean it is appropriate to bring a toddler.

 

[mjkacmom]

Gee, I guess, by your calculations, since my parents took me to the movies for the first time when I was about 4 years old that they were neglectful and not allowing me to "experience life" when I was 2 or 3 years old. I better haul my butt into therapy now before I die from the sadness at the revelation and become a drunk hobo who lives in a box on the hiogway, washes my nethers in a fountain and has no one in the world to love me.

Give me a break. This is about respecting others. Nobody expects dead silence in a movie theater, and if they do, they are crazy. And yes, at a G-rated movie, there will be more kids, who may ask more questions. Two other parents informed the OP that his child was too disruptive, and by his own admission she is loud and doesn't understand the concept of whisper. He took her out of the theater, which was the right thing to do. To basically tell the other dads to "sit on it" b/c your concept of a matinee is a roucous bunch of houligans is the epitome of rude. Why can you not see that an excessive loud child that is not responding to parental shushing is just not old enough for the movies????? Do you really think waiting until the child is a tad older and more aware of her surroundings (and what a whisper is) she is not experiencing life?

 

[MELSMICE]

I think a movie marketed towards children in the middle of the day is the perfect place to do this!

I just think that sometimes we need to let kids be kids. Yes I do think that children acting like children (especially a 2.5 year old) is not a national tradegy. But that is the DIs for you! LOL!!!

That is wonderful that you wait for your children to grow up to experience life. I am sure all the parents who have children that will never get the chance to grow up follow this same mentality!

Targeted toward children or not - if a child is disruptive in a movie, it is not the right place for them at that time.

Yes, kids should be allowed to be kids, but not so it disrupts others. Certainly, not a national tragedy, but a 2.5 year old will act like a 2.5 year old. If they start to be disruptive in a non-child friendly setting then they should be removed.

I'm not sure I understand the last statement you made that I quoted.

It was the op's 2.5 year old that was talking. I am not sure she was intentionally being disrespectful though - can a 2.5 year old do that?

I would also doubt she was intentionaly being disruptive. She is only 2.5. However, as the OP stated, 2 people commented on how they felt she was being disruptive. A conscientious (sp?) parent (as the OP was) will remove their child from the situation, realizing it was probably not the best idea & try again at another time.

I don't think anyone here has a problem with a "kid being a kid" or taking their children to different places so they can learn how to behave in different settings. The problem/issue comes in to play when the child is being disruptive to other people. Then it's time for the parent to step back & say, "Oh well, looks like they're a little too young. We'll try again another time."

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Gee, I guess, by your calculations, since my parents took me to the movies for the first time when I was about 4 years old that they were neglectful and not allowing me to "experience life" when I was 2 or 3 years old. I better haul my butt into therapy now before I die from the sadness at the revelation and become a drunk hobo who lives in a box on the hiogway, washes my nethers in a fountain and has no one in the world to love me.

Give me a break. This is about respecting others. Nobody expects dead silence in a movie theater, and if they do, they are crazy. And yes, at a G-rated movie, there will be more kids, who may ask more questions. Two other parents informed the OP that his child was too disruptive, and by his own admission she is loud and doesn't understand the concept of whisper. He took her out of the theater, which was the right thing to do. To basically tell the other dads to "sit on it" b/c your concept of a matinee is a roucous bunch of houligans is the epitome of rude. Why can you not see that an excessive loud child that is not responding to parental shushing is just not old enough for the movies????? Do you really think waiting until the child is a tad older and more aware of her surroundings (and what a whisper is) she is not experiencing life?

Gee I am sure someone here can help you find the name of good thearpist.

Please point exactly where I stated that the op should tell the other dads to sit on it. I also never said the op he should just let his dd run wild. I just think that he should not have had to leave the movie entirely. He could have moved, the other family could have moved, he could have taken his daughter out for a bit and then brought her back in. There are countless other solutions to this problem.

I think that waiting until children can behave absolutely perfectly inorder to please all the adults that are out there does cause kids to miss out on life. Kids are kids they need to make mistakes in order to learn. Keeping them at home all the time will never give them the same oppertunity to learn and grow as actually going out.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Targeted toward children or not - if a child is disruptive in a movie, it is not the right place for them at that time.

Yes, kids should be allowed to be kids, but not so it disrupts others. Certainly, not a national tragedy, but a 2.5 year old will act like a 2.5 year old. If they start to be disruptive in a non-child friendly setting then they should be removed.

I'm not sure I understand the last statement you made that I quoted.


I would also doubt she was intentionaly being disruptive. She is only 2.5. However, as the OP stated, 2 people commented on how they felt she was being disruptive. A conscientious (sp?) parent (as the OP was) will remove their child from the situation, realizing it was probably not the best idea & try again at another time.

I don't think anyone here has a problem with a "kid being a kid" or taking their children to different places so they can learn how to behave in different settings. The problem/issue comes in to play when the child is being disruptive to other people. Then it's time for the parent to step back & say, "Oh well, looks like they're a little too young. We'll try again another time."

A childrens movie in the middle of the day is not a child friendly setting?

I guess I have been mistaken all along. I somehow thought that childrens movies well were in part for children.

 

[Scurvy]

Boy here we go with the constant DIs theme of entitlement. I never once said anything about that.

My point is this a child does belong at a childrens movie in the middle of the day. How can we expect our children to learn if we never let them make mistakes? And please don't embarass yourself by assuming I mean a talkative child should not be corrected. I have not indicated that.





I think a movie marketed towards children in the middle of the day is the perfect place to do this!




Um, respectfully no. I have never stated the above. I never said the op was selfish nor have I said I am. Nor have I said that I do not care how childrens behavior impacts others. I just think that sometimes we need to let kids be kids. Yes I do think that children acting like children (especially a 2.5 year old) is not a national tradegy. But that is the DIs for you! LOL!!!




Don't worry we don't enjoy your annoying children either!

Just a question - where I post that my little angel ever talked through a movie? I am pretty sure that I never have. I believe that I stated I would correct my absolutely wonderful 7 year old should she behave like this.

That is wonderful that you wait for your children to grow up to experience life. I am sure all the parents who have children that will never get the chance to grow up follow this same mentality!

You have misunderstood what people in this thread have been saying. I don't think anyone in this thread has said that children do not belong in an afternoon showing of a childrens movie. Posters have said that badly behaved or loud people do not belong in any showing of any movie unless it is intended as a showing for people who are likely to be overly loud.

No one has suggested that there is a magical age requirement when a child is suddenly allowed to go to the theater. If you re-read the posts in this thread you will see that many of us have specifically stated that children who can behave should be permitted at the theater no matter how young they are. You are the only person on this thread who has said that people don't want children at the movies; everyone else has said they don't think badly behaved, loud children belong in a theater.

I have no idea whether your child behaves properly in the theater and I have made no comments about the behavior of you or your child. I did say that parents who believe that the entire theater should enjoy listening to their child rather than the film have an entitlement attitude, and I stand by that. If you correct your child if she talks in the theater and take her out of the theater if she won't be quiet then you are obviously not one of the entitlement minded parents.

You persist in interpreting my comments as meaning that no young children belong in a theater, which is not my view. You should re-read my posts if you still believe that's what I said, because you are wrong.

The only specific poster on this thread that I have commented on was BostonRob, and I did not say that he was entitlement minded. I said that he was very considerate to come online and clarify what others' expected from a movie theater experience and to remove his child from the theater when she was disrupting others' enjoyment of the show.

Children learn the proper way to behave by being taught. A child should be told before their first movie that the theater is a quiet place and corrected quickly if they start to talk or misbehave during the film. She should be removed from the theater if she persists in misbehaving or being loud. If she can be good during the film the she is entitled to be there; if she misbehaves then she is not entitled to be there, and that applies to everyone.

I really don't understand why you seem to be taking this so personally. If you and your child are behaving in a considerate manner in the theater then of course you are entitled to be there. Most of the comments in this thread are about inconsiderate parents who see nothing wrong with their children talking and misbehaving during the movie. If you aren't one of those parents then we aren't talking about you.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think that waiting until children can behave absolutely perfectly inorder to please all the adults that are out there does cause kids to miss out on life. Kids are kids they need to make mistakes in order to learn. Keeping them at home all the time will never give them the same oppertunity to learn and grow as actually going out.

Who said anything about keeping kids home all of the time? Who said anything about being perfectly behaved? This is a movie, geared towards children and adults, NOT toddlers. I don't care if you're 10 - if you can't keep REASONABLY quiet in a movie theatre, stay home.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

You have misunderstood what people in this thread have been saying. I don't think anyone in this thread has said that children do not belong in an afternoon showing of a childrens movie.

I did say that parents who believe that the entire theater should enjoy listening to their child rather than the film have an entitlement attitude, and I stand by that. If you correct your child if she talks in the theater and take her out of the theater if she won't be quiet then you are obviously not one of the entitlement minded parents.

Children learn the proper way to behave by being taught.

I really don't understand why you seem to be taking this so personally. If you and your child are behaving in a considerate manner in the theater then of course you are entitled to be there. Most of the comments in this thread are about inconsiderate parents who see nothing wrong with their children talking and misbehaving during the movie. If you aren't one of those parents then we aren't talking about you.

First of all I am not taking this personally!

My opinion in this case just does not agree with the majority. I agree with your statement that children need to be taught the proper way to behave. In order to do this they need to taken out, even to the movies.

I think that a midday showing of a childrens movie after it has been out for quite some time is an appropriate place for a young child to experience the movies. It is also an appropriate setting to teach that child the proper way of acting.

I also think that not all parents are inconsiderate, which is often the assumption of the posters on the dis. Some are, as are some adults and yes those people should leave but most won't.

I just refuse to let things like a 2.5 year old enjoying a movie, and yes talking when she shouldn't, bother me. I have the power to move my seat (a midday showing over six weeks after opening is not likely to be crowded). While not ideal it is an option.

 

[Scurvy]

I think that a midday showing of a childrens movie after it has been out for quite some time is an appropriate place for a young child to experience the movies. It is also an appropriate setting to teach that child the proper way of acting.

Then I think we all agree! Provided, of course, that the chlild in question can remain quiet enough during the film that she doesn't disrupt the movie for everyone else that is there.