If You Bring Your Kid To A Movie Etiquette 101

My family loves to go to the movies but sometimes when we go, it can be frustrating. It seems when there's a kid movie, parents don't feel the need to discipline their young children, and I don't understand it. Oh sure, there will be more noise during a children's film, and that's fine, but constant noise? No. It's not fine, because guess what, I paid to watch the movie too, and if I can't hear over a child's constant whining, it's simply not cool.

Trust me, I know it's tough, which is why I waited until my kids were 5 to take them to see a movie in a theater. Was it tricky having kids spaced 5 years apart? Yes. I would take my son to a movie and leave my daughter with my husband. Or we'd switch. We'd have our family time in other ways knowing full well that our toddlers would not stay quiet throughout an entire film. Other people seem to think it's okay to let their toddlers roam the aisles, which is baffling.


I can generally be understanding, because this parenting gig is TOUGH, but not when I'm paying $10 a seat. Sorry. Here are some basic etiquette rules that everyone should follow.

1. Make sure your kids stay quiet.


No one wants to constantly hear little Johnny talk throughout the film. Some kids don't understand indoor voices, and they'll keep TALKING LIKE THIS. It's not okay. If your kid asks a question every five seconds, that's irritating to the people sitting around you. If your toddler keeps screeching to the point where the people around you cannot hear the film, it's a problem. Whispering now and again is not an issue because yes, kids can get excited.


2. Make sure little Suzy can stay in her seat.


People can feel it if your kid is running in the aisle behind you. I was once sitting in front of a family and the kid would walk from Mom to Dad and each time my seat would be bumped. I got Diet Coke up my nose at one point because I went for a drink and the kid slammed into the back of my seat. No apologies were said.


3. Don't let your kid put their feet against the seat in front of them.


I mean, it's common sense why, but a lot of people don't have common sense these days. I had to turn around and tell a kid to take their feet off my chair since the Mom wasn't paying any attention. Then she muttered something about strangers disciplining her kids--well, strangers wouldn't have to if you did it on your own, thanks.


4. Kids need to stay off the iPhone when the movie is on.


A parent once handed her kid an iPad in the middle of a movie. Someone else complained about the light and she yelped, "What am I supposed to do?" I don't know? Leave? With your kid? Hello? She didn't leave. She told the man to leave if he had a problem with it. I think he told a theater worker and that worker got her to get out.


5. The aisles are NOT a place for children to run up and down.

Yes, there are stairs. Maybe you want Billy to have a workout. But it's not appropriate during a film. It's distracting to others.



So please. Have some manners if your decide to bring your child to see a movie. I understand it can be a challenge taking young ones to the theater, but if you have to wait a few years, it's okay. Do something else. Go to the zoo. Go to a park. Explore your city.

And then in a few years, try again.