8 year old totally resistant to watching movies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She was tested because we worried she had a learning disability, but she is in 97-99th percentiles in every area except processing speed, which is low in comparison.

This is similar to my child, also not a big movie watcher at that age but now, as a teenager, watches a typical amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have what I think is a typical 8 year old girl, except for one thing: she hates watching movies. She would rather do nothing or go to bed early than curl up and watch a Christmas movie, and I can count on two hands the movies she’s been willing to watch over the course of her entire life.

We can get her to watch the Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and White Christmas 2-3 times per year each. She’s seen a handful of Disney movies. And that’s it. Even when she hears about great movies from her friends, she has zero FOMO and zero desire to watch new movies.

She loves TV shows, especially ones that are a bit young for her age, and she reads a lot with extremely strong comprehension and at a level a few years higher than her grade.

Should I be worried about an issue that’s keeping her from understanding movies? She was tested because we worried she had a learning disability, but she is in 97-99th percentiles in every area except processing speed, which is low in comparison.

Would processing speed affect her ability to follow and enjoy movies?

OP, can you articulate why this matters so much to you? Is it anxiety about attention? Wanting to have a relaxing hobby to share? Something else?

[Anonymous]

If your concerns are based on anxiety over possible LDs or attention issues, ask Jeff to move to SN forum.

[Anonymous]

My kid doesn’t like movies either. It bothers my husband but I don’t care. She thinks it wastes too much time and she would rather be doing something.

[Anonymous]

I didn't like movies as a kid and rarely watch them as an adult. I love TV and have no problem with attention span, but the idea of sitting down to a two hour movie fills me with inexplicable dread.

[Anonymous]

My DD also actively avoids movies. For her it’s the emotional roller coaster of movies that she doesn’t like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have what I think is a typical 8 year old girl, except for one thing: she hates watching movies. She would rather do nothing or go to bed early than curl up and watch a Christmas movie, and I can count on two hands the movies she’s been willing to watch over the course of her entire life.

We can get her to watch the Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and White Christmas 2-3 times per year each. She’s seen a handful of Disney movies. And that’s it. Even when she hears about great movies from her friends, she has zero FOMO and zero desire to watch new movies.

She loves TV shows, especially ones that are a bit young for her age, and she reads a lot with extremely strong comprehension and at a level a few years higher than her grade.

Should I be worried about an issue that’s keeping her from understanding movies? She was tested because we worried she had a learning disability, but she is in 97-99th percentiles in every area except processing speed, which is low in comparison.

Would processing speed affect her ability to follow and enjoy movies?

OP, can you articulate why this matters so much to you? Is it anxiety about attention? Wanting to have a relaxing hobby to share? Something else?

It’s anxiety related

[Anonymous]

My daughter was exactly like this. In kindergarten she cried at movies and had to sit in the library while other kids watched. She watched PBS as a preschooler but was still alarmed if a cartoon character was upset. It was total anxiety. Gifted children are often very attuned to emotional layers and are really distraught. We did not have the TV on much and she was not used to it. She finally got over it when she realized that at school they were only showing educational movies and not Chainsaw Massacre!

I had a student or two like this, also, over the years.

My daughter taught herself to read before kindergarten and just preferred books, because they are not so visually stimulating.

I get very bored at movies and rarely watch any and I don’t watch TV at all. Your daughter might enjoy watching twenty minutes at a time and then doing something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have what I think is a typical 8 year old girl, except for one thing: she hates watching movies. She would rather do nothing or go to bed early than curl up and watch a Christmas movie, and I can count on two hands the movies she’s been willing to watch over the course of her entire life.

We can get her to watch the Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and White Christmas 2-3 times per year each. She’s seen a handful of Disney movies. And that’s it. Even when she hears about great movies from her friends, she has zero FOMO and zero desire to watch new movies.

She loves TV shows, especially ones that are a bit young for her age, and she reads a lot with extremely strong comprehension and at a level a few years higher than her grade.

Should I be worried about an issue that’s keeping her from understanding movies? She was tested because we worried she had a learning disability, but she is in 97-99th percentiles in every area except processing speed, which is low in comparison.

Would processing speed affect her ability to follow and enjoy movies?

My normal 7.5 year old does not like movies. She loves reading, karate, soccer, puzzles and all normal things but not movies. Why is it a concern if a child doesn't like movies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have what I think is a typical 8 year old girl, except for one thing: she hates watching movies. She would rather do nothing or go to bed early than curl up and watch a Christmas movie, and I can count on two hands the movies she’s been willing to watch over the course of her entire life.

We can get her to watch the Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and White Christmas 2-3 times per year each. She’s seen a handful of Disney movies. And that’s it. Even when she hears about great movies from her friends, she has zero FOMO and zero desire to watch new movies.

She loves TV shows, especially ones that are a bit young for her age, and she reads a lot with extremely strong comprehension and at a level a few years higher than her grade.

Should I be worried about an issue that’s keeping her from understanding movies? She was tested because we worried she had a learning disability, but she is in 97-99th percentiles in every area except processing speed, which is low in comparison.

Would processing speed affect her ability to follow and enjoy movies?

My normal 7.5 year old does not like movies. She loves reading, karate, soccer, puzzles and all normal things but not movies. Why is it a concern if a child doesn't like movies?

Because watching movies is a huge part of US culture. Like signing your kid up for sports, getting a dog/cat, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have what I think is a typical 8 year old girl, except for one thing: she hates watching movies. She would rather do nothing or go to bed early than curl up and watch a Christmas movie, and I can count on two hands the movies she’s been willing to watch over the course of her entire life.

We can get her to watch the Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and White Christmas 2-3 times per year each. She’s seen a handful of Disney movies. And that’s it. Even when she hears about great movies from her friends, she has zero FOMO and zero desire to watch new movies.

She loves TV shows, especially ones that are a bit young for her age, and she reads a lot with extremely strong comprehension and at a level a few years higher than her grade.

Should I be worried about an issue that’s keeping her from understanding movies? She was tested because we worried she had a learning disability, but she is in 97-99th percentiles in every area except processing speed, which is low in comparison.

Would processing speed affect her ability to follow and enjoy movies?

My normal 7.5 year old does not like movies. She loves reading, karate, soccer, puzzles and all normal things but not movies. Why is it a concern if a child doesn't like movies?

Because watching movies is a huge part of US culture. Like signing your kid up for sports, getting a dog/cat, etc

So you actually think a child should what, go to therapy because they don’t like movies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m very smart and there are very few movies that I can sit through. Such a waste of time. Would rather read a book or two in that time.

That’s cool

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter was exactly like this. In kindergarten she cried at movies and had to sit in the library while other kids watched. She watched PBS as a preschooler but was still alarmed if a cartoon character was upset. It was total anxiety. Gifted children are often very attuned to emotional layers and are really distraught. We did not have the TV on much and she was not used to it. She finally got over it when she realized that at school they were only showing educational movies and not Chainsaw Massacre!

I had a student or two like this, also, over the years.

My daughter taught herself to read before kindergarten and just preferred books, because they are not so visually stimulating.

I get very bored at movies and rarely watch any and I don’t watch TV at all. Your daughter might enjoy watching twenty minutes at a time and then doing something else.

Anxiety over characters is such a thing!

My child’s Kindergarten class talked a big game about movies. If you listened to the recess chatter, they had all seen Star Wars, Grease, and every Disney and Pixar movie.

During the last week of school they earned a movie as a reward from their sweet, loving 2nd year teacher: Finding Nemo.

As my Dd described it, they were really excited. And then it started. And then they started putting their hands over their eyes. And then a couple of boys cried and then everyone cried, and the teacher had to turn the lights up and stop the movie and she re-read part of Ralph S. Mouse instead.

I try to remember this story whenever her classmates (much older now!) are being jerks.

[Anonymous]

My 15yo daughter is like this. She is very extroverted and active and would rather practice sports or her instrument or just talk to someone instead. She’s just not a very visual person, never liked video games either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does she have difficulty recognizing new faces?

This is an interesting insight. I struggled to watch movies as a kid as well and I also had a terrible time following characters as I couldn’t recognize or remember their faces from scene to scene. I also had undiagnosed ADHD and it was hard for me to sit still for 2.5 hours. I’m highly intelligent otherwise and seem to have grown out of it now as an adult.

I have a bit of this. Always struggled with faces. The worst movie for me was watching the departed with Matt Damon & Leonardo di caprio, had to keep checking with dh who is who. I usually rely on non facial features to recognize people, haircut, skin color etc. These two where identical