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Dad Field Manual · Field card 142 · Dad-and-Kid Dates

Home movie date: tickets, a snack bar and their pick

One kid gets the best seat. You check two movies ahead; they pick, tear the tickets and run the concession stand.

Time
2.5 hours
Cost
About $5
Ages
4 to 10
Where
Living room

What you need

  • Two movies you've checked for rating and content
  • Snacks for the bar: popcorn kernels, fruit, a small treat
  • Paper, markers and tape for tickets and a sign
  • Bowls, cups and one big blanket

Before you start

  • Check the movie first. AAP says ratings are only a guide; read the content notes, and use caution with unrated streaming titles.
  • Popcorn is a choking risk for younger kids. AAP says keep it and other high-risk foods until 4 or older, by maturity, and eat sitting down.
  • Dad runs the popper or stove, handle turned in, and pours the hot popcorn himself.

Steps

  1. Check two, hand over the invite. Check two movies' ratings and content notes, then invite them to choose one.
  2. Make tickets and a sign. They make two tickets and a snack bar sign while you set up seats.
  3. Open the snack bar. Dad pops the popcorn; they run the counter and tear your ticket.
  4. Watch together. Phones away, sit together, and save most comments for after.
  5. Talk and keep the ticket. Ask two questions after, then tape the ticket stub and their star rating in a date book.

If it stalls

  • If they can't choose, flip a coin. Both movies were already fine.
  • If they get scared, pause and ask what's scary. It's fine to stop and save the rest for daylight.

Cut out: the invite

Movie date, Friday at 6. You pick from two movies, run the snack bar and get the best seat.

— Dad

Ask on the date

  1. Who was your favorite character, and why?
  2. What part would you change?
  3. Was anyone brave in the movie? What did they do?
  4. If you were in the movie, who would you be?
  5. How many stars out of five?

Keep it

Tape the torn ticket stub in a date book with the date and their star rating.

We went on Next time: Date