How to Take Your Kids to the Movies

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:TakeKidsMovies
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How to Take Your Kids to the Movies

Introduction

It used to be that parents could expect one, maybe two, a??event moviesa?? for kids in any given yeara??say, one animated Disney movie, and one song-and-dance spectacular like a??Oliver!a?? Today, though, it seems like two or three kids' movies are being released every week, and odds are your kids are clamoring to see at least one of them. Here's how to treat them to an afternoon at the theater without feeling like you're undergoing a dental procedure.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Steps

1

Step One

Choose an appropriate movie. Yes, kids are growing up faster and faster nowadays, but that's still no excuse to bring your five-year-old daughter to the latest Eddie Murphy grossout. As a rule, try to see something that you'd (kinda, sorta) like to see yourself, and be sure to preview your choice with the kids involved. If they're not sufficiently enthusiastic, it's time to pick another activity for the day.
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Step Two

Pack food. Technically, bringing your own food to a movie theater is in an ethical gray zonea??until you consider how expensive kids' admissions have become, and how wildly overpriced the snacks are at the concession stand. If you're not comfortable stuffing candy into your pockets or purse, load up your kids with food beforehand and tell them you're not, under any circumstances, buying soda or popcorn.
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Step Three

Visit the bathroom. When it comes to little kids, there's no such thing as too many bathroom breaks. Have them go once before you leave home, and once more when you get to the theater, as close to showtime as possible. Use your own instincts as to whether a kid can be trusted to find the bathroom herself in the middle of a moviea??generally, children 8 and up can be trusted to take themselves, but you'll have to escort anyone younger.
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Step Four

Keep the peace. For some reason, siblings (or your childrens' friends) always choose a tense, hushed moment at a sold-out movie to begin arguing about who lost whose favorite toy soldier. If the kids won't respond to your frenzied hushing, take them out into the lobby for a timeouta??if nothing else, your fellow patrons will appreciate your strictness.
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Step Five

Stay through the credits. It used to be that a family could safely vacate the theater once the word a??The Enda?? appeared on screen. Today, though, there are likely to be fun tidbits scattered through the credits, or a short bit of business at the very end. If your kids find out they missed these (say, by talking about the movie with their friends at school), they'll be the ones telling you to sit down the next time the credits roll.
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