סימן קמא סעיף ז
חַיָב כָּל אָדָם, בֵּין אִישׁ בֵּין אִשָּׁה, לִשְׁמֹעַ קְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה בַּלַיְלָה וּבַיוֹם. וְלָכֵן גַּם הַבְּתוּלוֹת, יֵשׁ לָהֶן לָלֶכֶת לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת. וְאִם אֵינָן הוֹלְכוֹת, צְרִיכִין לִקְרוֹת לִפְנֵיהֶן בַּבָּיִת. וְגַם אֶת הַקְּטַנִים חַיָבִים לְחַנֵּךְ אוֹתָם שֶׁיִשְׁמְעוּ קְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה. וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם לֹא יָבִיאוּ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת קְטַנִּים בְּיוֹתֵר, שֶׁמְּבַלְבְּלִים דַּעַת הַשּׁוֹמְעִים.
It is an obligation upon everyone, both men and women, to hear the reading of the Megillah in the evening and during the day. Therefore, girls too, should go to the synagogue. If they do not go someone must read for them at home. Children too, must be trained to hear the reading of the Megillah.4Mishnah Berurah writes: “Presently in our times the result of bringing children to the synagogue has had a reverse effect. Not only do they not listen to the reading of the Megillah, they create such a tumult that the adults are unable to hear the reading properly. Their purpose in coming is only to make noise at the mention of Haman’s name, and as such, the father does not fulfill his obligation of chinuch, (training his child to perform mitzvos.) In truth, therefore, a father must keep his children near him and to see that they actually listen to the Megillah reading, and though they are permitted to make noise at the mention of Haman’s name, this should not be the primary reason for their coming to the synagogue. (Ibid 689:18) Nevertheless, you should not bring very young children to the synagogue since they disturb the congregation.
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא שנאמר הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות (נדה ע"ג.)