ThereYouSeeHer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2010
- Messages
- 2,644
We bring our 2 year old and, although it can be a process, this is what we do:What do you guys think about taking a toddler to a movie theater (bear in mind we'd do a matinee and it's a small city only about 35K people).
1) We don't sit down until the movie is about to start because once our child is seated, it starts the "clock" on how long she will be able to last. Remember that previews run until about 10 minutes after the movie start time, so we try not to sit down until all the previews are over. In the meantime, we let her play with any arcade games in the lobby (not with real money, but just letting her move the controls around or sit in a racecar) or just walk around somewhere. If you don't have another adult traveling with you, don't forget to reserve your seats in the theater with a coat or other object.
2) Bring a booster seat! We bring a booster seat, strap it down to the chair, and then strap the child in. Although she doesn't last in the chair the whole time, the longer the better. Once she insists on getting out, we know it is close to her reaching her limit for watching the movie.
3) Food is key! Our child stays occupied with a bag of popcorn and a drink for a long time. You may also want to have a second snack (hidden) on hand, to pull out when attention fades.
4) Also, make sure all potty breaks are taken care of beforehand and be prepared in case a potty break needs to be taken during the movie.