I find it pretty obnoxious that your husband is trying to decide what should interest your kid.

I vote for it doesn't matter what a 7 year old generally should be doing or what it is reasonable to expect, if your particular kid doesn't find the events fun, that's how he/she feels and that's fine.

OP here. These are great ideas. We've done kids concerts at the Kennedy Center. Today's episode erupted because A had bought two tickets to the concert at Strathmore and sprung them on DC, and DC refused to go. (Yes, I am B. )

WOLF TRAP!!! Lay out on the lawn, food, bathrooms, if you get in the way back, the kids won't bother anyone much. You can make an exit or go to the bathroom and not bother anyone.

We took the kids to the NSO family concerts, it's been a few years but they loved those shows - Peter and the Wolf type things. They had the instrument petting zoo before the concert.

I live in Baltimore and was just about to suggest that PP. My kids loved those concerts aimed at children. I'd imagine if you look around, you could find others.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra used to have a casual concert series on Saturday morning mornings that would only last about an hour. It was really great. I just checked and they have actually changed it to a family and children's series. (Saturdays at 11am or noon). If you aren't local to Baltimore, see if there is an orchestra near you that has a similar program. I wouldn't take the kid every week but 1 hour per month of live classical music definitely won't hurt anyone.

Half and hour, forty minutes, sure.

If the kid's tried it and doesn't like it, then I wouldn't push it. Pushing it is a great way to make them hate playing their instrument and hate classical music, hate the parent that forces it, and make them lose respect for that parent.

It depends on the concert.
If it is easy to listen to, then definitely. If the concert includes Berg, Weber, or modern composers, not so.
Also, a short concert or one half of the concert is more than enough for most 7 year olds.

Ok the expect 7 year old to behave at performance if you take him ofcassionally. Can't get made at him for thinking it is boring.

Anonymous wrote:Parent A wants 7-year-old DC to go to classical music concerts with A. DC plays an instrument and enjoys classical music at home. But DC not keen on going to the concerts, complaining that it's boring and too long. Parent A is disappointed, which manifests as deep annoyance, and thinks DC should have more interest and better ability to pay attention for longer amounts of time. Parent B thinks it's unfair to get mad and thinks A is expecting too much.

What say you?

My son is like this. I haven't taken him to a concert yet, because a whole concert may be boring. He's 9. I do, however, play classical in the car on the trip to school each morning. No need to torture the kid. That's like making them read for hours to somehow make them love it more.

Does Parent A want DC to go to concerts or to have a love of classical music? Don't force the concerts if they're going to make the child resentful. You might have to build more of a tolerance for concerts. Look for more informal concert opportunities, or plan to leave at the intermission. Keep an eye out for family concerts, or outdoor concerts, or concerts held at churches (and other community sites).

Realistic depends on the 7 year old.

In your case I would suggest classical concerts that are aimed at families. They might not be as long and they might have a little more energy to them.

Parent A wants 7-year-old DC to go to classical music concerts with A. DC plays an instrument and enjoys classical music at home. But DC not keen on going to the concerts, complaining that it's boring and too long. Parent A is disappointed, which manifests as deep annoyance, and thinks DC should have more interest and better ability to pay attention for longer amounts of time. Parent B thinks it's unfair to get mad and thinks A is expecting too much.

What say you?