Now Showing: Your Preschooler at the Movies!

Is your little one ready for that first movie date? If he’s past the age of 3, then maybe he’s ready for the cinema experience – complete with dark theatre, big screen and popcorn.

I say maybe because all kids are different. Some children this age can already focus more than an hour for a movie. Some cannot. Some will be bothered or fearful of odd-looking characters. Some may be fascinated. Age is a rough guide really, as much of this first foray into the theatre will also depend on your child’s temperament, interests and quirks.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children younger than 2. According to the AAP, at ages 2 to 6, children should be consuming no more than 2 hours of media a day. By media they mean screen time including TV, computers and movies.

Considering these basic AAP guidelines, it’s safe to say you can make that first trip to the cinema after age 3. If your child can watch a full-length children’s film at home, then he’s probably ready for the movie theater experience. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

For young children, “seeing is believing”.

It almost goes without saying, they are not the audience for scary, violent or disturbing films. To a preschooler, if that monster appears in a movie, it could  exist under his bed. Once they start watching films or television, it will be time to teach them the concept of real versus fantasy.

Be prepared though, as the lessons can go beyond what is make-believe and what isn’t. When my kids and I watched a Hallmark version of Alice in Wonderland, my 3-year-old was enthralled. My 5-year-old?  He was disturbed by the Mad Hatter’s seeming psychosis and the Queen with her commands of cutting people’s heads off. I asked him: “But is it real or fantasy?” His response: “Fantasy. But they’re still in my brain!”

Believing certain fantasies can also border on dangerous. For instance, if Superman can fly off a building, your 3-year-old may think he can do that too! This would be a teaching moment for explaining that movie characters can do things real people cannot. Add to that a lesson in safety – and maybe even gravity, if you’re inclined.

Like literature, film offers stories that are rich in life lessons – way beyond the basic lesson that seeing is not always believing. Take advantage.

Children are natural mimics.

They will often imitate what they see and hear. The more “interesting” the behavior, the more they may be inclined to imitate. As much as possible, impressionable preschoolers should be exposed to well-behaved characters. Of course, it is impossible – and also not ideal – to completely shield them from who and what ails our world. When movies show this, get ready to talk to your child about the character’s bad behavior, about how sad it was for the boy to lose his pet, or to be treated badly by a friend. When you engage your child about what’s going on, the movie can become an enriching experience.

Movie-dating in the preschool years.

Since you will be your child’s co-viewer for many years ahead, it’s good to know some relevant movie basics.

First, what do those movie ratings mean? G stands for general audiences, PG for parental guidance, PG-13 for parental guidance for kids 13 and older.

It is the MPAA or Motion Picture Academy of America that gives these movie ratings. Most of the time film industry people themselves make up the MPAA, so don’t just take it from them. Movies for preschoolers will fall under the G-rating, but this does not mean that all G-rated films will be appropriate for your little one.

Having the latest “it” toy doesn’t mean they can watch the movie either. Some cases in point are the live-action movies of Batman or Spiderman. Even if these get all the thumbs up from movie critics, they are just not right for young children. Imagine a 5-year-old meeting The Joker as portrayed by Heath Ledger.

Choosing film fare for young children takes a bit of extra research. There are many good resources that can help. Common Sense Media is a non-stock, non-profit organization that rates media for the young. At their website, you can find age-by-age ratings and reviews of books, TV shows and movies.

Ready, set, watch!

So you’ve decided on that first film, and I’m guessing it’s something from Pixar or Disney. Now before you get tickets, here are a few practicalities.

Tell your child what to expect before getting to the theatre – it will be dark, there will be lots of other people watching with us, etc. With preschoolers, it always helps to set the stage for a new environment.

A matinee screening is a good choice as it fits in with your child’s post-nap or happy-and-alert time of the day. Matinee audiences are likely to have kids in tow like you, and will be more understanding if you have to whisper to your child as you try to contextualize parts of the movie. Expect mid-movie pee breaks, so get seats near the restrooms. Have popcorn and their favorite snacks on hand to keep them happy.

Most important, expect the unexpected and take your sense of humor along for whatever may happen. You are taking your preschooler for the first time into a movie theatre. To a 3-year-old who has never been there before, it could feel like entering a dark, cavernous place filled with strangers. Now that could end more interestingly than the movie itself!

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