Kids are never too young to learn about theatre manners, which boil down to being respectful of both the performers and the other popcorn-munchers so that everyone—including the kids themselves—can focus better and enjoy the performance. Here are the rules.

• Be on time. If you’re unavoidably late, wait until a break to be seated.

• Turn off cell phones—and never text during a performance. It’s distracting to everyone else.

• Turn off voices. Save the whispering, talking and giggling for the intervals.

• Feet on the floor. There seems to be an epidemic of kids who think it’s OK to prop their feet on the seat in front of them—yikes!

• Rustling candy wrappers are verboten (wait for a break or a very noisy part to unwrap a cough suppressant). However, I have been known, when I knew that a piece would stretch younger kids’ theatre manners exceeding thin, to be prepared with a non-rustling plastic snack bag of M&Ms to be passed out one at a time.

• Applause is tricky. In general you shouldn’t applaud until the end of each act of an opera, ballet or play; until after the last movement of a musical piece; until the end of a modern dance piece; and at the conclusion of the entire performance. To do otherwise can be distracting to the performers and can spoil the mood and flow of the piece. You can and should also applaud when a conductor first comes onto the stage, and as enthusiastically as you like after a jazz solo or an amazing juggling feat.

• Remember that the performers have rehearsed endlessly and poured heart and soul into their performance. They have feelings too. Even if you’re eye-crossingly bored, be respectful during the performance and applaud at the end.

• Don’t stampede to the exit immediately, or even before, the performers leave the stage, as audiences are now wanting to do whether they’ve enjoyed the performance or not. Talk about rude!

As a parent, your job is to not only teach and enforce “theatre manners” but also to make sure that your child is old enough to attend. Be selective. If your child is four, children’s symphony concert yes; Othello, probably not! And if they start squirming…it’s time to leave.