Kids and Movies

As published in the LaPorte County Herald-Argus:

Kids and Movies
By, Michelle Harmon

One of my family's favorite activities to do together is to go see a movie at the local cinema. It seems that more and more families are electing to do so, as well. This is a good thing, but I think that some parents need to reevaluate the purpose of a theater outing. In addition, I have seen young kids too often watching movies that they definitely should not be watching.
The purpose of a family theater outing is to watch a movie together that the whole family will enjoy and that is appropriate for all members of the family. There are usually several family appropriate movies to choose from on any given weekend. I'm sure The Tooth Fairy or Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs wouldn't be your first choice (I know they wouldn't be mine), but these types of movies are appropriate for families and are usually, at least, somewhat funny and enjoyable for the adults in the family. If you want to see an R rated movie, get a sitter and go without your kids. It is not fair to your kids, or to the other people in the theater to bring young kids to a scary or otherwise inappropriate movie. The ratings are there for a reason. This also applies to dropping your older kids off to watch a movie with their friends. If the rating is R, your thirteen or fourteen year old does not belong there. Granted, kids mature at different levels and maybe you feel that your fourteen year old is grown up enough to watch an R rated movie. That is fine—in your own home—not at the theater. Also, in regards to preteens and teens, please make sure you at least go over proper theater etiquette with your kids before you drop them off. Nothing is more annoying that teenage girls giggling through a movie or putting their feet up on my chair!
Further, if you have a baby, he has no business being in the theater at all. Nobody wants to hear a crying baby when they are trying to watch a movie, especially a movie that is not meant for kids. Moreover, is it really worth going to the movies if you have to get up and tend to your crying baby instead of relaxing and watching the movie? I think not. Many theaters have special showings for parents and their babies. If you must take your baby, take him to one of those showings.