I have been involved with our elementary school's family movie night and this is the 2nd one that I will be the chair. I wanted to change things a little as we have a big problem with the kids running around prior to the movie starting. The movie night is held in a local high school auditorium. We serve pizza prior to the movie and allow families 45 minutes prior to the showtime to arrive and have pizza. However, our huge problem is that the parents seem to let their kids run around in the commons/eating area, prior to allowing them entrance into the auditorium.

Is this too much time? Should I reduce the pizza time to 30 mins. prior? Should we allow the families to go ahead and enter the auditorium? I'm then afraid that they will run around and climb on the theater seats and at least in the commons area, we have semi control over them. I just don't get why parents allow their children to run around while they sit and chat and have the school administrator run after the kids to stop the horseplay!

I brought this up at our last meeting and the response was "we need more volunteers" ~ well duh, but we know that's not going to happen so I need better options.

Thanks so much in advance for your help and suggestions!!