to let DC 4+6 watch harry potter?

[Happypenguin2014]

My friend thinks we are. Every night for the past 6 days we've had movie night with munchies and harry potter 1-6. Kids have actually loved it and glued to the TV! I thought they would be scared but nope.

Aibu? I want Us to go harry potter world in a few months lol

[amyhamster]

oh yes my ds watched from 4 onwards
as long as you sit with them through the scary bits it's fine

My 7 and 10 year old have been watching the LOTR trilogy over the weekend

[Lally112]

Yes, People need to stop sheltering their kids from so much, its not like you are sitting them down to Kubrick's collection is it??

[WooWooOwl]

Some of them are rated 12, so I wouldn't have let my 4&6 year olds watch them, but it's up to you I suppose.

My dc read the books before they were allowed to watch the films simply because I knew they'd get more enjoyment out of it that way, and the youngest was 10 when they got into it. For us, HP provided a great way to start conversations about things like bullying and racism, so I'm glad we waited until they were old enough to get the full benefit from it.

I'm assuming you mean you want to take them to the studio tour rather than to the HP world in Florida, and that will be fine for children that age. Can't comment on the Florida stuff though because we haven't done that yet.

[Lally112]

I meant yes u agree with you, Stupid thing deleted that part though. ou are not unreasonable at all.

[Coughle]

Yabu. They should have read the books first, now they will always imagine the characters as the actors!

[IHeartKingThistle]

I wouldn't. They're rated 12 for a reason. There are loads of great films that are age appropriate - why the rush for kids to see older stuff? They're not kids for very long.

And I say this as a massive HP fan who is really looking forward to reading the books and watching the films when my DC are older. I have a 7 and a 5 year old and am resisting so far because you know what? My little children don't need to know about evil just yet.

[WildCherryBlossom]

I'm reading Harry Potter to my 5 year old who wanted to watch the movies. I said not until we had read the books. My 7 year old isn't remotely interested in either the books or the film. I would happily let them watch the films but I do prefer to read the books first.

[lecce]

I have a friend who did similar to you and I did think it wasn't the best idea ever - I wouldn't have dreamt of saying anything though. My dc are 5 & 7 and the eldest has read the first two books and, last week, was finally allowed to see the first film. I wanted them to read the books before seeing the films as I think they will get more from it that way. He wanted to see the film as a lot of his friends at school have seen it. However, my great plan went wrong as ds2 was around when the film was on and has now seen bits - always harder to do things they way you want with younger siblings, I find.

I do think it's a bit of a waste to watch all the films within a week - there is a lot in them / the books to discuss and think about and, though I haven't read them, my understanding is that the series gets progressively darker as Rowling wanted to develop it with her original readers, so allowing a 4 & 6 yr old to watch the whole thing within a few days seems a little inappropriate but, hey, each to their own. They will always be able to watch them again or, even, you know, read the books, when they are older.

[loudarts]

I took my little brother to see hp4 at the cinema when he was 4, my dcs have seen them (aged 3-7) as long as you are with them in case they get scared I don't think there's a problem

[GroupieGirl]

Yep, my four-year-old has seen some of the films. I don't see the problem when it's fantasy and sci-fi. We've tried reading the first book, but she lost interest and forgot the beginning about half way through.

[IHeartKingThistle]

That's because she's 4 and should be reading books aimed at 4 year olds.

Sorry, these threads do my head in.

[ToomuchIsBackOnBootcamp]

I loved the books but am just about to start the first one with DS now, and he's 8. He can be pretty intense and has a vivid imagination so we will probably only read books 1-3 and then the films 1-3 for now. The books definitely get a lot deeper and darker and have themes I just don't feel are age appropriate for him yet. I assume the later films (haven't seen them all) do too, which is why they are rated as they are (12?)

I suppose some of the deeper stuff will wash over the heads of younger ones anyway but I prefer to keep to the ratings where possible for now. I've found some younger kids IME find it difficult to seperate fantasy from reality and take in a lot more than we think, but don't have the emotional intelligence yet to process it. I'd rather he enjoyed them and got the most from them as he progresses. I know JK wanted her readers to "grow up" with the books, one each year for that reason.

[unrealhousewife]

YABU and in denial about film ratings and the effect on children of scary images and dark subjects.

[weatherall]

I didn't realise some were 12s. Which ones?

I'm sure mine have seen them all in the cinema when very young.

Mine have been watching them in video (!) and DVD since toddlers. Neither found them scary.

Arachnophobia is a pg and imo that's a very scary film!

[wouldlikeanother]

My DS is 7 and he has only seen the first one. I have no plans to let him see them any time in the near future - next year perhaps?

[Artandco]

I wouldn't . My 4 year old would be terrified. We are in James and the giant peach territory atm and he still asks why some are bad in it!

They do have fairly scary parts and make me jump in parts as an adult.

I would probably aim for 8-10 years for reading the first few and seeing films, 4th book onwards is 12+ imo

[wouldlikeanother]

and I don't mean all of them - perhaps the second/third ones - def not the last couple for a long time!

[IHeartKingThistle]

Great post toomuch. I taught the year group that were Harry's age right through secondary - it was wonderful. They were so excited every time one came out and so involved in the stories.

Yes, secondary!

[iseenodust]

If a film is rated 12 then no I wouldn't let DC of that age watch it.
Following your logic if a child of 4 can watch a 12 film then a child of 10 can watch an 18. Children need time and space to grow not to be hurtled at teen/adult years.

[unrealhousewife]

You say they're not scared, because they can't process it. Their brains probably aren't used to the scary imagery and are probably just a bit stunned and traumatised.

You can only be scared if you can identify with what's going on and it's actually a healthy emotion and part of books and films because it keeps you interested and helps you root for the main characters etc. But chances are they are too young to understand the characters well enough to get anything out of it at all.

Why didn't you get them to watch age appropriate films?

[IneedAwittierNickname]

My dc have been watching them since a similar age. Ds2 (7) can practically quote every film word for word

IMO it depends on the child. Mine have never been scared of the films, and love the books to.
Ds2 won't watch Monsters Inc though because it's too scary!

[Happypenguin2014]

Well I caught them yesterday playing harry potter. Ds using a stick to make dd eat bugs!

If they didn't want to watch it, I wouldn't force them. Some nights I CBA to watch it but theyev begged me to put it on. They bring duvets down and end up falling asleep on the sofa.

[BookABooSue]

Artandco I at your James and the Giant Peach comment. DS (5) was worried about James' parents and kept suggesting that the aunts would be nice to him soon!

As for Harry Potter DS has only watched the one rated PG. I like the ratings system. I don't see the need to stray from it. Most of DS' DVDs are U.

[ChangelingToday]

I might let Ds watch the first one but that's it, everything freaks him out, even Scooby doo and toy story 3 is a definite no go. I put it on for dd yesterday and he made me switch it off. He has nightmares about that monkey.