Determine whether your kid is really ready. Lots of kids see their first movie around the age of 3 or 4, but some parents wait until kids are a bit older, especially if they’re sensitive to loud noises or scared of the dark.
Choose the right movie. Obviously, you want something kid-friendly — usually, animation fits the bill. Skip the ads and trailers. Lots of theatres show a slew of commercials before the feature. Kids younger than about eight aren’t able to distinguish advertising from content. Also, movie trailers are often louder and faster-paced than the movie itself, which can be a scary introduction to the theatre.
Plan it right. Most little kids are at their best earlier in the day, so a theatre’s first screening can be a great time to go — and it’s usually filled with other kids who won’t care if your kid talks through the whole thing. Make sure kids are well fed, and decide ahead of time if you’ll be buying popcorn or candy so you don’t have to negotiate in the theatre.
Go with the flow. You won’t be the first parent who’s left a theatre with a screaming, crying, or otherwise overwhelmed kid. Yes, you might feel like you wasted your money on tickets, but you don’t want to force your kid to sit through something they’re not ready for.
