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Films suitable for sensitive children

33 replies

FairyPenguin · 19/02/2014 08:52

DS has never really enjoyed any films, complaining that they are too loud or too scary. He finally enjoyed something the other day - Mary Poppins! I think the classics might be more suited to him as they are slower-paced and don't have the animated baddies or the fast action which is what he seems most scared of. I think having people in them also caught his attention (rather than all animated). He liked the visual humour in the scenes too, and he does actually like watching Mr Bean (Rowan Atkinson originals!) and things like Swashbuckle on TV. Cartoons are hit and miss really because they often had bad people or bad things that he gets scared of.

Can anyone recommend any other films or TV series suitable for a 4yo, that will keep his attention and capture his imagination, please?

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drivenfromdistraction · 19/02/2014 08:56

My v. sensitive 5yo and 3yo loved Rio. I didn't see it but DH watched it with them and said it was 'the perfect kids film'.

My 6yo rather likes Topsy & Tim.

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TeWiSavesTheDay · 19/02/2014 09:03

My neighbor toturo has no bad guys. Very popular with sensitive dd1. She also liked cars, again no bad guys.
Can't advise on non-animated because she is a big cartoon fan!

She is a massive my little pony fan now. It is actually quite scary in places, lots of bad guys, but seems to be old enough to ignore that now and concentrate on the bits she likes.

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Barking · 19/02/2014 09:09

Have you heard of The Red Balloon? Very gentle

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GraduallyGoingInsane · 19/02/2014 09:16

I don't have too many recommendations, but a warning! Don't ever let him watch Firehouse Dog. My DDs like things with people in rather than animation, but this terrified my more resilient DDs and my sensitive little DD2 wept for days! Beethoven the dog also resulted in tears.

My DD2 is 15 now so a lot of this will be out of date, but she coped well with a lot of the old fashioned musicals and films - Mary Poppins, the old Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (new Jonny Depp one was scary), Babe, Charlottes Webb, the King and I. High School Musical was ok but may be a bit old for your DS.

Matilda and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang were a 'bit scary' but she survived them. We also watched a lot of the Barbie films which made me feel like smashing my brains out.

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/02/2014 09:20

My 6yo DD1 is like this, she's scared of the most ridiculously fluffy films! She has always loved all the Shreks, the original Charlie and the Chocolate factory (she hid for the boat bit), Wallace and Gromit and strangely Blackadder :o

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GwendolineMaryLacey · 19/02/2014 09:21

Oh, and Up and the Smurfs.

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babybythesea · 19/02/2014 09:23

Shriek might be worth a go. The ogre is actually quite sweet, and the villain is an idiot rather than scary.

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storminabuttercup · 19/02/2014 09:25

What about Pete's Dragon? DS discovered this at Xmas and loved it. And HOP!

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Timeforabiscuit · 19/02/2014 09:27

Tinkerbell secret of the wings, and I actually really enjoyed it Blush

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babybythesea · 19/02/2014 09:29

Finding Nemo? Toy Story? And how about some real old classics like Whinnie the Pooh (the proper old one where the film is interspersed by pages on a book turning over and the characters jump from one page to the next) and The Wind in the Willows (the animated one with David Jason and Michael Horden, or indeed the newer one with Matt Lucas as toad).

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arselikekylie · 19/02/2014 09:31

Bedknobs and Broomsticks is great.

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MarshaBrady · 19/02/2014 09:35

Wall E is gentle.

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Homebird8 · 19/02/2014 09:36

I have a sensitive DS1 (11) and it's always difficult to find films for him too. We've had success with Mr Popper's Penguins, might be worth a try.

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thebear1 · 19/02/2014 09:43

My ds was sensative, could not do Finding nemo as the mum fish goes a few minutes in. Toy story had to much peril for him. Cars was a big hit, no badies and they are not cute. Even Shrek was to scary.

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TheLostWinchesterWife · 19/02/2014 09:44

If you have LoveFilm they have quite a few of the b older films on including Finian's Rainbow and The Gnome Mobile (has tge girl and boy from Mary Poppins in that one)

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FairyPenguin · 19/02/2014 09:46

Thanks for all the fast replies, and all the suggestions. Will definitely try some of those. The ones that leap out at me are Winnie The Pooh, Wind in the Willows, Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

He already likes Shrek, Cars and Toy Story (original only), but these are all ruled out: Finding Nemo (sharks), Wallace and Gromit (all the baddies), Blackadder (I know he will find it too noisy!).

Thanks for the ones to avoid too, very useful! I will look into some of those that I don't know much about.

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FairyPenguin · 19/02/2014 09:47

Actually what am I thinking - he started off enjoying Shrek but we didn't finish it!

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drivenfromdistraction · 19/02/2014 09:58

Also my sensitive DC really love The LIon King, though we had to talk them through the hyenas-in-the-elephants-graveyard bit the first couple of times.

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wigglesrock · 19/02/2014 09:58

Smurfs
Rio
Jungle Book
Peter Pan
George of the Jungle
Turbo

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SomethingkindaOod · 19/02/2014 10:06

Agree with Hop, such a fun film.
The problem is it's not always east to tell what will affect them. My not at all sensitive 13 year old DS still tears up at the end of monsters Inc when Sully finds Boo again. This is the child who watched Saw at his friends sleepover and feel asleep half way through because it was boring! (It was too over the top apparently)
There's a Pokemon film with a beautiful piece of music about half way through that sends him off as well.

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Rhythmisadancer · 19/02/2014 10:21

Peter Pan and 101 Dalmatians were faves w mine at that age, tho' we used to have to fast forward the"scary bit" where Horace and Jasper steal the puppies!

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FairyPenguin · 19/02/2014 18:16

Oh I know what you mean, SomethingkindaOod. Some things both of mine are fine with, others really affect them.

Unfortunately I can't really do the fast forwarding as DD would want to watch so just trying to find something the whole family can sit down to instead of DS getting upset.

Is Planes any good? Is it very similar to Cars?

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Whereisegg · 19/02/2014 20:22

what about some slapstick?
Laurel & Hardy, Mr Bean...?

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FairyPenguin · 20/02/2014 14:46

Laurel and Hardy! Brilliant. Great idea! He loves Mr Bean!

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HauntedNoddyCar · 20/02/2014 14:53

Oliver Postgate things like Bagpuss and Ivor the Engine? Dd would cheerfully watch episode after episode of them. Not films though.

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