One of my favorite things to do by myself is go to the movies. I love sitting in the theatre alone and taking in the film without any other distractions. However, I’ve found that taking Theo to kids movies is a delightful activity in itself. I admit that I probably wouldn’t see many of the movies I’ve taken him to, thus inadvertently exposing myself to fun movies that I wouldn’t otherwise see. And that, in general, is one of the best things about having kids!

Tips for a successful movie outing with kids:

— Matinee (cheaper tickets, better timing during the day)
— Dollar Theatre (cheaper tickets, less investment if you have to bail [see below])
— Low expectations (if the movie is “boring” or “too scary” [both things Theo has said in the past], be ready to leave in the middle of the movie and not get upset)
— Evaluate whether the 3D or 2D version is going to suit your needs (will your kid be able to keep the glasses on?)
— Be prepared to have your kid beg for popcorn and candy. I always give in, because at this point I’m still trying to make the whole outing a fun experience.

One of our most successful movie outings (pictured above) was during a weekday when Theo had a half day of school, so we could go to a matinee showing of Monsters, Inc. in 3D at the dollar theatre. It was a perfect storm of everything working and we had a great time.

I recently learned about a cool summer program that the Megaplex Theatres are doing, where kids can watch 10 movies at a discounted price throughout the summer (one a week). All of the movies are obviously appropriate for kids (G or PG rated). I love this idea because the movie experience is already geared towards kids and you won’t have to worry about whether your kid is squirmy or noisy among a friendly crowd of understanding kids and parents. See you at the movies!

Theo the Sundance Kid

I’ve written previously on here about how excited I was that this year was the inaugural year of the Sundance Kids program during the Sundance Film Festival. As you can see, Theo really soaked up the VIP film festival vibe.

I’m equally as excited for the Tumbleweeds Film Festival (sponsored by the same group, the Utah Film Center, who programmed Sundance Kids) which is coming up on March 14-16, 2014. This is the 4th year the festival has been running and features a weekend festival of independent, documentary and foreign films just for children! They helpfully categorize the films into age-appropriate groups (all ages, 8+, 10+ and 12+) and also have workshops.

They’ve thought of everything! I love how they handle the issue of foreign-language films and subtitles for pre-readers:

To enhance our young viewers’ appreciation of foreign-language movies, we have readers read subtitles aloud. We play the readings through individual headsets, to allow those who do not require the service to experience the film without hearing the reader.

Not to be confused with the annual film festival, the Utah Film Center also holds monthly FREE screenings of children’s films throughout the state, throughout the year, also under the name Tumbleweeds.

Theo and a friend enjoying a screening of “Fantastic Mr. Fox” at the Park City Library.

Sensory-friendly screenings are presented as part the The Utah Film Center’s commitment to ensuring that children of all abilities can enjoy the wonders of film alongside their peers. We do this by ensuring a “sensory-friendly” film screening where the lights aren’t turned down quite as low as you’ve come to expect in a traditional movie theater, the audio isn’t as loud and there aren’t any trailers. But the most important aspect of what we do is to create a welcoming and friendly environment for all. Our Sensory-Friendly Film Screenings program was launched two years ago at our annual Tumbleweeds Film Festival for families affected by autism or other sensory disabilities.