Why do people bring toddlers to PG-13 movies?

[Tigger_Magic]

Appropriate age is when they can sit still, quietly. When they are old enough to understand that it is not okay to run, yell, or even talk loudly. My parents didn't take us to the movies until we were old enough to sit still and quiet through the whole thing. Then again, my parents never tolerated yelling and running anywhere in public.

Well said!

 

[sha_lyn]

I also think that sitting still and being quiet are not the only standards for going to a movie. I've always been pretty strict about 13 rule - as in don't ask me to see it if you're not 13.

It is not a rule, it is a guideline, and it means adult supervision suggested for under 13. It does not mean that under 13 shouldn't attend.

 

[justhat]

Fortunately where we live they show these movies at Reel Moms, where you can bring your kid and no one cares if they cry cause odds are yours will be crying at some point too. My daughter is too old to really enjoy a movie with now (unless it's a cartoon that she wants to see) so we dont' go anymore, but I did see many good movies that way. It's too bad that's not available in all areas.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Some theaters now have special showing of movies during the day with the lights on for parent and small kids. If I "had" to go to the movies my my little ones, I would go that route. I havent been to the movies in years. I wait until everything comes out on dvd.. and than again you can always get the movies that are out in the theater on dvd right away also.

 

[momof2inPA]

My family went to see GOF the first night it opened, and my five year old liked it (I wasn't wild about it, but that's another topic). We've listened to all the Harry Potter books-on-tape in the car, so what was on the screen was nothing so different than what he already imagined from hearing the stories. The night we went, there was half a row of five year olds sitting behind us, and they knew more about the characters than I did.

I think so many people are taking their kids to see GOF because the Harry Potter books are or were originally intended for kids.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Fortunately where we live they show these movies at Reel Moms, where you can bring your kid and no one cares if they cry cause odds are yours will be crying at some point too.

I honestly think this is the greatest thing for moms. A place to go, and see a movie with your child, and not worry about them acting up. (I know a bunch of SAHM's that would enjoy this too...just a chance to 'get out' with their child.)

I've also been to "family theaters"...the seat are spread out more and there is a like a 'table" in front of each row of seats...so you can eat in there, or let your child color.

sadly - this theater was in SUCH disrepair...but it really is great for families IMO.

 

[Karel]

I thought PG-13 meant you have to be 13 to see the movie alone, under 13 you need an adult w/ you?
I see a big difference between taking a 10 year old to a PG-13 movie and taking a toddler.
Just seems like common sense to me.....

PG -13 suggests that it may not be apprpriate for children under 13 and that parents should take a look at 'what's in' the movie.

As I said, just playing devil's advocate. Obviously, I see the difference too but I've also seen 9 and 10 year olds sitting on their own at movies who can't behave either.

Also, there are pg 13 movies that I would not bring my 9 or 10 year old either. I told my 12 year old she would not be watching either the HP movie or last spring's Star Wars.

 

[cardaway]

Fortunately where we live they show these movies at Reel Moms, where you can bring your kid and no one cares if they cry cause odds are yours will be crying at some point too. My daughter is too old to really enjoy a movie with now (unless it's a cartoon that she wants to see) so we dont' go anymore, but I did see many good movies that way. It's too bad that's not available in all areas.

I really wish movie theaters would adopt a policy that would make each showing either like the one explained above or completely child free.

In my experience the cross between the two doesn't work in these days where parents let their children totally disrespect those around them.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I really wish movie theaters would adopt a policy that would make each showing either like the one explained above or completely child free.

In my experience the cross between the two doesn't work in these days where parents let their children totally disrespect those around them.

My family was at Chronicles of Narnia on Saturday and I was quite impressed with the overall behavior of nearly everyone there. Amazingly, when they showed the clip reminding people to turn off their cell phones, my jaw dropped to the floor as several people actually did it!

Given all the younger children there, I expected the movie to be constantly interrupted, but it wasn't. There was one brief outburst when one child accidentally dumped his popcorn, but his parents quickly stifled it. There were no children running around, no talking, no shouting, no loud babies crying. It was an amazing and delightful experience.

Sadly, I know it probably will never happen again, but at least I know it can happen.

 

[pixiemomma]

When War of the Worlds came out DH and I went to the midnight show. Some moron brought their one year old, appeared to be anyway, and he cried for what seemed like forever. Well at least til I went out and got a manager and had them both ejected!

I'm pretty liberal about what I'll let my children watch but after watching it on DVD I was really happy we never made it to the movie theater to see WOTW. It gets rather gruesome.

The weren't scared in GOf though. My 6 year old loved it and my 5 year old fell asleep. The six year old did cry (to himself, not aloud) when Cedric died but so did I.

 

[TxJasmine]

To play devil's advocate, people without children or with older teens may wonder why you bring your 9 and 10 year old. THey are not 13.

How do you decide what the appropriate age is?

I realize that there are 9 and 10 year olds that can't behave, and 5 year olds that can. Age appropriate to me means kids that can sit still and stay quiet. If a 2 year old could sit still then I would be very impressed. I would still think that GOF is not appropriate, but if the kid isn't bothering me, then it's none of my business.

As far as my kids go - my DD is 10 and she read GOF several years ago so nothing in the movie was new to her. DS9 is currently reading the book. Both kids can sit still and behave and they don't get scared very easily. The movie contains no bad language and no graphic violence. I don't believe that they are too young for the movie.

However, the question about PG-13 and age appropriateness is interesting. I have not seen Anchorman, but my gut feeling is that I would not let my kids see it. Yet, both my kids have seen Revenge of the Sith which we all thought was a great movie. I believe for us, it almost seems as if fantasy and science fiction are more acceptable.

 

[Froggyswife]

Well having a child cry all during a movie is nerve racking to say the least but it's the teenagers who really get on my nerves talking during the movie, (or should I say screaming) laughing loudly, trying to start fights with other teens it's a mess I try to just wait for the DVD. I did go see GOF luckily it was a very good experience for me I agree that little ones don't have the ability to be still especially when the movie is as long as GOF, there were some younger ones there but they were well behaved so I guess I was lucky.

 

[dani0622]

I think so many people are taking their kids to see GOF because the Harry Potter books are or were originally intended for kids.

Sorry to go off topic (only because I've had this discussion with non-Potter fans) but in many interviews J.K. Rowling has stated that she wrote the books with no target audience in mind- neither adults or children. She has been quoted as saying she wrote the books for herself and what she finds funny and interesting. She believes the books appeal to adults because of her humor and it appeals to children because it's about someone their own age.

 

[Rex Rules]

When DH and I went to see Mr. and Mrs. Smith (and I'm not even sure of the rating, but we definitely chose not to take DD) - there was someone with a freaking baby in there. Don't get me wrong, I love babies - but on an evening when DH and I made the conscious decision to have DD go to Grandma's and have an adult evening, the last thing we wanted to hear (then or ever) was a screaming baby in the theater. And to make it worse, the mother didn't take the baby out, she just chose to walk the baby around to calm it down. If you can't find a babysitter, do not go to the movies!!!

 

[Feralpeg]

As I was coming out of Saving Private Ryan, I saw a family in line with small children. The oldest couldn't have been more than 7 or 8. I went up to them and told them that the movie was extremely graphic and very hard to watch. They just looked at me kind of strange and said thanks. They didn't move from the line.

I also so little kids in the Lord Of The Rings films. Totally inappropriate. When I went out during one of the films to use the restroom, there was a mom trying to calm down a very upset little girl. The girl didn't want to go back into the movie. The mom did.

 

[pearlieq]

I just had to sit through a showing of Pride and Prejudice with screaming, babbling toddlers whose parents did NOTHING to quiet them. I was fuming!!!

I can't think of a single reason why a toddler should be at this type of movie. I absolutely can't stand it!

 

[punkin]

Unfair. I took my then toddler to the first Harry Potter movie and she loved it. I was ready to take her outside if she made any noise and sat in the very last row to facilitate an quick exit. Never had to leave. She loved the Troll the best. Of course my older daughter who was 8 at the time (and the reason we went to see the movie) was very scared.

I got some nasty looks before the movie started and at leastthree complements on my daughters' behavior after it was over.

 

[Aneille]

I've contemplated bringing my 4 year old to see GOF. She has seen all the others at home and I brought her to see Polar Express last year when she just had turned 3 and she was perfect. I only had to remind her to whisper once and she was glued to the screen.

She still remembers the movie and it was a great experience.

The only reason why I haven't brought her to GOF is because as she gets older she is getting more afraid of things although at this point not of movies.

So I am waiting to watch it at home.

I also did bring her when she was an infant to see HP as well. She was very small and when she cried my husband or I took her out. She only cried once, and slept for most of the movie.

I don't have problems with infants in theaters at any time as long as they don't cry or as long as if they do their parents take them out right away. Many young infants just fall asleep.

 

[Hillbeans]

I've not been to the movies much since I had kids, however I thought it was standard movie theatre policy not to let any "babies" or young children into any movies that are not G/PG rated and not after 6 pm on the weekends????

 

[Sleepy]

As I was coming out of Saving Private Ryan, I saw a family in line with small children. The oldest couldn't have been more than 7 or 8. I went up to them and told them that the movie was extremely graphic and very hard to watch. They just looked at me kind of strange and said thanks. They didn't move from the line.

I know it is off topic, but why don't parents take advice of someone who has already experienced a movie, etc? I remember giving similar advice to the parents of 3 young girls in line for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom. We shared a car with them and they placed their girls ALONE in the front seat. I told them "Not a smart idea. The ride is noisy and dark and can be frightening". Sure enough, 3/4 through the ride, the car stopped....in the dark with the sound blasting of dino roars and trees cracking. The girls were terrified and screaming and there was nothing the parents could do to comfort them since they were in a totally different row of the car. Things stayed that way for about 10 minutes. After the ride, I just looked at the parents and shook my head.