Wall-E for child w/ autism?

[lucigo]

Has anyone seen Wall-E yet? I'm hoping the limited language in the film will actually be a plus and that DS will watch it! Wish us luck, he has a problem with things getting smooshed so I'm really hoping nothing big falls on top of Wall-E in the movie. Other than that...we will have game boy as a diversion in case of emergency!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Well, we had the misfortune of seeing this movie yesterday. It was just me and my 2 boys. They seemed to enjoy it although I did NOT! My 6 year old started to get really restless towards the middle because it was just so confusing. My 7 year old seemed to like it but he did say he enjoyed Alvin and the Chipmunks more . In any case, it's a great way to spend a nice air conditioned afternoon, but go to a matinee because to me, this movie was not worth the price of full admission.

 

[PotteryGal]

I noticed you mentioned you hope nothing really large falls on Wall-E. Be aware that this does happen toward the end, and while it turns out OK in the end, if your child would have a problem with it you might want to wait and preview it when it comes out on DVD.
I took my kids to see this yesterday, youngest is PDD-NOS, and I can see an interest by autistic children in this movie -relating to characters who, for the most part, do not speak, but act out their feelings. I personally found the movie charming and very well done.

 

[lucigo]

Thanks for the warning, we did go see it and it turned out fine! My son watched the whole movie, and so did my friends son, also with autism! Both of these boys have a history of having to leave the theater. When we first got there he was scared to go in because it was already dark (they were showing ads on the screen 45 min before the movie even started). But once he got used to it he was fine. We had previewed the clips online at home before we went so he knew that the rocket comes down on top of Wall-E but that he was ok. When that part came he started to get scared but I reminded him it was just the rocket and then he was fine. Now we are home and he is playing a Wall-E game on the computer with dad.

I didn't particularly like the movie, it was ok, but kind of depressing. Makes you want to go to the gym and recycle LOL

 

[MomOf2DisneyKids]

we saw it yesterday, and ds loved it. I did not!!!! We had to go buy a wall-e toy right after it.

 

[PotteryGal]

Thanks for the warning, we did go see it and it turned out fine! My son watched the whole movie, and so did my friends son, also with autism! Both of these boys have a history of having to leave the theater. When we first got there he was scared to go in because it was already dark (they were showing ads on the screen 45 min before the movie even started). But once he got used to it he was fine. We had previewed the clips online at home before we went so he knew that the rocket comes down on top of Wall-E but that he was ok. When that part came he started to get scared but I reminded him it was just the rocket and then he was fine. Now we are home and he is playing a Wall-E game on the computer with dad.

I didn't particularly like the movie, it was ok, but kind of depressing. Makes you want to go to the gym and recycle LOL

I'm so glad he did well. My son got fidgety toward the end but the ending captured his attention. I know it has a serious underlying message, but I don't think it was overpowering. I know what you mean about the gym and recycling, though...already partaking in the latter, the former....not so much.

 

[brettgirl]

I took my 7 year old high functioning autistic son to see it last week. I personally loved it. He said he also liked it. We do not go to many movies as he does not get them (Curious George was great for him, Cars-no and Kungfo pando-ok, antsy though-I did not like this one, too violent). I had to explain a lot about the movie-he does not "get" inuendos like the falling in love stuff. It was ok to keep explaining things as we went to an early show where there were a lot of younger children chatting, etc. (not a disturbance though).

 

[GraceLuvsWDW]

Are there any tricks/tips you guys have for getting your children to sit through the movies? My daughter is 5, diagnosed with SPD and has never once sat through a movie. I have tried 3 times but literally within 5-10 minutes she wants to go! She doesn't like the LOUD theater or the darkness. But that's not all, she doesn't seem to have the attention span either. She doesn't watch any TV at home with the excption of Blues Clues-she must watch that once before bed! I know autistic kids also have the sensory issues so maybe you guys know some secrets!??
Thanks!

 

[LuvsTinker]

We saw it Friday. I enjoyed it and DS 8 loved it, but he loves robots. He actually stayed quiet during this movie; he usually wants to talk too much and keep asking me questions.

 

[SandrainNC]

My son actually has Down syndrome (and not autism), but I took him yesterday. He paid it no attention whatsoever. I thought it was cute and had to bear hug him to keep him in the theater. I kept him occupied with cheerios and a juice box for part of it. One thing I have decided is not to sit down before the previews. We sat down about 15 minutes before the movie started. Then 20 minutes worth of previews, so we were 35 minutes into it before the movie actually started. He was already trying to leave. So I started the bribery. Luckily (well I say this for the movie theater anyway, we really want him to be more verbal), he doesn't get noisy except playing with the seats and kicking the seats, which is easily stopped. Somehow I saw the whole thing except for when I took him to the bathroom. He did much better for Horton Hears a Who.

Sandra

 

[LuvsTinker]

Are there any tricks/tips you guys have for getting your children to sit through the movies? My daughter is 5, diagnosed with SPD and has never once sat through a movie. I have tried 3 times but literally within 5-10 minutes she wants to go! She doesn't like the LOUD theater or the darkness. But that's not all, she doesn't seem to have the attention span either. She doesn't watch any TV at home with the excption of Blues Clues-she must watch that once before bed! I know autistic kids also have the sensory issues so maybe you guys know some secrets!??
Thanks!

Foam ear plugs helped my son with the loudness. But, he does like watching TV and only with age did he improve with sitting through the movie.

5 wasn't a good age for us to sit in a theatre

 

[mechurchlady]

Don't forget that all kids are born with short attention spans. The average 5 year old is going to be fidgeting or looking for something in the seat cushions just because it is boredl.

Go at an low traffic time and then go in just as the movie is starting. Some theatre chains have kid friendly showings where anything goes and moms can being kids to a show without having some geezer snarling because junior is bouncing in his seat. Practice at home and watch your kid. Don't expect a kid to set in a theatre for 80 minutes if he cannot set and watch Barney for 5 minutes. You could try interaction like "Oh look there is a fire truck" or "Do you like that song?".

God did not give me a kid or neices and nephews so anything I say may be wrong, lol. Feeding an antsy kid lots of carbs ends up with a sugar-high, super antsy kid. lol

 

[SandrainNC]

God did not give me a kid or neices and nephews so anything I say may be wrong, lol. Feeding an antsy kid lots of carbs ends up with a sugar-high, super antsy kid. lol

Well (in case that high carb thing was directed at me since I took in cheerios and a juice box), that is pretty much all my son will eat that is portable. So it was carbs or nothing. And milk is hard to transport into the theater in my bag.

Sandra

 

[mechurchlady]

High carb as in candy, hot dog buns, nachos, popcorn and large sodas. Nothing wrong with juice and cereal at all and rather healthy me thinks.

 

[scottsod]

hi

we belong to a local autism support group and they have arranged
with a local small theater to allow us to see movies on 1 sat a month
they charge us 7 a head with popcorn and a drink

its just us family's with spec needs kids and other Sib's
if you yell or stimm or run up the aisles or gota leave and come back over and over who cares we are off to see wall-e tomorrow we go at AM which is before the 1st reg showing so its just us and the guy running the movie

i would recommend if you have a group going to the local theater and ask