Movies with Toddlers

Help your munchkin master the matinee with these tips for cinema trips, plus get advice on choosing toddler movies your child will love.

Is your small fry ready for a feature film? Maybe, if he’s approaching age three. That’s when most children can pay attention for (almost) long enough and have a big enough vocabulary to understand the dialogue and plot. That said, it’ll probably take your tot a few theater trips to get the hang of it, thanks to the many new things he’ll encounter on this big kid's day out — namely, the large, dark space and having to whisper and stay sitting still for a long time. But with a bit of planning and a bundle of patience, your little one can flourish into a film fan. Here’s what you need to know:
MOVIES WITH TODDLERS — WHEN TO GOLook for theaters that host “Mommy-and-me” movies just for parents and their young children, so the rest of the audience will be extra understanding of your movie-maven-in-training. Otherwise, aim for mid-week daytime showings of kids' movies so you’re likely to be in the company of other mom-and-toddler duos instead of less tolerant older kids and adults.
BEFORE YOU GO TO THE MOVIES WITH A TODDLER

• Choose your movie wisely.When you're picking movies for a toddler, consider this before you select your screening:
  • The movie length. Most toddler-friendly flicks run somewhere between an hour and an hour-and-a-half, which is the max amount of time a little critter can handle. Less is definitely more at this age.
  • The fear factor. Don’t completely rely on ratings. Some G movies may still frighten your tyke, so check out the trailer beforehand and talk to parents who’ve seen the film to get feedback. There are Web sites like commonsensemedia.org that can help you decide on good movies for toddlers by filling you in on potentially scary content.
  • The plot complexity. Some kids’ movies have pretty complicated storylines, so be sure to choose one intended for the youngest of audiences. Again, preview the previews and chat with moms who’ve already caught the flick.
  • Debrief on the dark. Give your toddler a heads-up (especially if he has a fear of the dark) that the lights will dim when the movie starts so that people can see the screen better. If you let him know beforehand, the blackout will go more smoothly — he might even think it’s cool.
• Explain what trailers are. Clips from other movies that have nothing to do with the feature you’re about to see can be confusing to first-time theatergoers. Tell your little guy that the theater will show a few super-short movies before the main event.
• Work on your whisper. Nothing rattles fellow audience members more than talking (even during toddler movies), so work on your wee one’s whisper before movie day. To turn the exercise into a game, suggest he pretend he’s telling secrets.

DURING TODDLER MOVIES

• Make a pit stop your first stop. Hit the bathroom just before you take your seats. It may not prevent your recently potty-trained tot from having to go again mid-movie, but it may be the difference between one extra trip and two.
• Choose aisle seats so you can get to the bathroom or make an exit quickly if necessary.
• Pass on the popcorn. The smell of freshly popped, generously buttered popcorn is pretty irresistible, but hold off on handing it over to your young toddler: The hard kernels are choking hazards. Instead, be prepared with a toddler-friendly snack from home.
• Keep an eye on those wiggly legs. You know it’s not okay to kick the seat in front of you at the theater, but your toddler doesn’t. Remind him that the people in front of him can feel his kicks, so he needs to keep his legs (mostly) still.

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

• If your tot’s scared… Acknowledge your toddler’s fears (“That big man really is kind of scary”), and let him know that it’s okay to feel that way. With any luck, whatever’s frightening him will head offscreen soon, but until then, turn your tot around on your lap to face you and whisper in his ear until the scene is over.
• If your tot’s squirmy... Rather than get into a power struggle, take him for a bathroom break or a trip to the concession stand. Stretching his legs for a few minutes may get rid of those ants in his pants.
• If your tot’s bored… Try the above. If he’s still not feeling the flick, take it as a cue to cut the trip short. When planning your next outing, look for more active places to take a toddler and give a movie date another shot a couple months from now

http://www.whattoexpect.com

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