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Parenting

film ratings

12 replies

poppymax · 05/04/2016 20:18

Ds age 11 and 8 only watch age suitable films e.g. PG or U recently been criticised for not taking boys to Star Wars by my brother in law when they haven't seen the other films or expressed a desire to watch it. My 6yo nephew recently watched San Andreas ! Wondering if I'm very old fashioned parent our just sensible

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Toffeelatteplease · 05/04/2016 20:24

It's 12A which means it is the responsibility of the accompanying adult to decide if the film is appropriate.

This is a good thing because it means younger children can see things like star wars if their adult thinks it is appropriate for them.

YABU for not really understanding the ratings system. Your brother is perhaps too lapse but has a point

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uhoh2016 · 05/04/2016 20:30

My ds are 8 and 6 they've watched 12A films such as the new batman v superman. I don't really see this as an issue I think some things/ jokes/ lines/references etc probably go over their head.

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poppymax · 05/04/2016 20:38

I do understand the rating system :) I think the key indicator is the number 12 for me

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Toffeelatteplease · 05/04/2016 20:45

m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/7654310

The link above is the spokesman for BBC explaining the 12a. Yes the 12 is important but so is the a.

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pippistrelle · 05/04/2016 20:45

You know your children best, poppy. I would watch a 12A or 12 (non cinema ratings are still 12 because the law is about supplying them, not watching them) with my 11 year old. But you also have an 8 year old to factor in, so I can see that it's probably more straightforward just to stick to the BBFC rating. That way there's no debate about one being old enough and the other not.

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Toffeelatteplease · 05/04/2016 20:45

Not the bbc, the bbfc!

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SueTrinder · 05/04/2016 21:05

It's not really about the ratings though is it, it's about your BIL sticking his nose in and saying you 'have' to take your kids to see a certain film. There are lots of reasons why you might not go to see a film and frankly it's none of his business if that's because of the rating or the representation of gender or how adult you feel the story is or because you have a child who is particularly sensitive. You are the parent and it's your choice, nobody died because they didn't see a 'must see' film when it first came out in the cinema. Unless your BIL is in his late 40s he probably didn't see the original Star Wars film when it first came out did he?

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corythatwas · 08/04/2016 18:02

Agree that your BIL should keep his nose out of your parenting.

When mine were younger, I kept a sort of balance between the guidelines and my own feelings about what a) I consider generally shocking and inappropriate and b) what might be wrong at any particular time for any particular child of mine.

As dd had a thing about ghosts and being frightened by very mild stuff, there were plenty of PG films I would not take her to see. As for my own feelings, I was less worried about sex and far more fussy about violence than most British parents.

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babyblabber · 08/04/2016 19:47

Sag and I are always at odds about this, he is way more lax. He wants his buddies to watch movies he likes with him, I want them to stay young and innocent for as long as possible and watch cartoons!

If you google a movie name and "parental guide/guidance" you can get a breakdown of what's in it to deserve the rating eg violence, swearing etc and even what exactly eg a punch in the face, blood, death. I use it loads now and decide from that whether it's ok or not (be prepared for the movie to be spoiled somewhat though!).

For what it's worth DH brought DS, 6 to Star Wars and he loved it but did tell me after there was a scary part. Then one rainy day DH asked did he want to go see it again and he said no it was too scary.

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babyblabber · 08/04/2016 19:48

That should start with DH and I!

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TheHoneyBadger · 08/04/2016 19:58

sounds like a stealth 'i'm a great parent and others are shite, don't you agree?' post to me.

12A means they won't let a child under 12 in alone but if they're with an adult fine - re: parental discretion. children vary, parents know them. if you're happy you know yours fine and be happy - you don't need to make other parents shit to feel good about yourself.