To think that 6 is too young to watch "Jaws"?

[Boozilla]

A friend recently posted a pic on FB of her 4 children aged 15, 9, 8 and 6 sitting on a sofa. Two looked like they were about to cry and one was covering here yes. To be fair the eldest one looked fairly nonplussed.

The caption was "Lol. The kids are freaked out watching Jaws"

Now I generally refrain from pulling on judgey pants but my first reaction here was along the lines of "WHAT the f....?!"

If I let my 6.5 DS watch that he wouldn't sleep for a week! I would certainly have trouble ever getting him into the sea on holiday ever again!

I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to scary movies but I was pretty shocked!

[Boozilla]

"eyes" not "yes"

[DontGoCurly]

I saw it when I was 5. It scared the shit outta me. I expected Jaws to come up the toilet and was afraid of water because of it!

[IWannaGetFiscal]

In my opinion no YANBU. I wouldn't let my 8 yo watch it. Don't understand why people feel the need to subject kids to films that are intended for teens/adults but that's just me.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Yes, I think they're too young.

I might let my 13 year old watch it. I did when I was about 12 and was scared shitless to go to the loo - thought a shark would bite my bum.

[IWannaGetFiscal]

(and I KNOW Jaws is dated but that is from an adult perspective, to a 6 yo it is a giant shark with huge teeth jumping out of the sea and eating richard dreyfuss and family)

[Xales]

XP and I were in the kitchen once dishing up the Sunday roast, early evening/late afternoon. DS wandered in and out.

We asked 'what are you doing'

He replied 'watching the shark'

We asked 'oh what is it doing' (assuming nature documentary or something)

He replied 'eating the man'

Yup Jaws was on He was only 3 or 4, I felt like a terrible parent but he was not fussed.

[bubbleymummy]

YANBU. I think it would still freak me out now! I think some Looney Cartoons are a bit too violent. :)

[bubbleymummy]

Looney Tunes* clearly

[meditrina]

It's a PG certificate, so it's up to the parents.

I wouldn't let mine anywhere near it - I still remember being freaked out (when much, much older) by that head scene!

[AgentZigzag]

DD1 saw it for the first time last year when she was 9 and wasn't too keen on the gorey bits.

Even I was a bit shocked I'd not remembered some of the scenes as being as bad as they are.

My friend lets her DS watch stuff that's far too old for him, like the updated Casino Royale at 9/10 YO which has a scene of Bond being tortured by having a thick rope swung into his nacker sack.

What can you do though?

Not much I'm afraid.

Perhaps she thinks it's OK because it's an old film?

[Boozilla]

If the kids were just laughing it off I suppose I'd be ok with it but they looked genuinely fucking terrified! Having said that this is the friend whose DH was watching Street Kings on DVD one Sunday when we went round, with their then 4 yr old DS. We walked in during a lovely scene when people were getting machine gunned at close range.

My DD freaks out if I skip through Casualty while changing channels!

[IWannaGetFiscal]

A bit off on a tangent but I am surprised by how many films that "back in the day" were PG rated and now im a bit about the swearing in them. Back to the Future, nice safe film I thought, it is full of son of a bitch and shit! Same with The Goonies, i mean wtf, The Goonies!!!!

[Tallulah1978]

One of my most vivid and earliest memories is of watching Jaws. When I was 5 years old I was travelling in the back of my uncles car after a family 'do'. Drink driving was less controversial then I think. As we drove up our road the car hit and instantly killed a boy in my class at school and used to play with. Me and my four cousins were bundled off into our house and were parked in front of the tv which, and back the original point, had Jaws on. I knew something terrible had happened and that everyone was very upset but was was utterly transfixed with terror at Jaws. Even now I will not go into open water above my knees and didn't learn to swim until i was 14.

[wrongdecade]

I saw Jaws and the beast when I was about 8/9

I think 6 is too young, thing is though sometimes its on like 5pm on TV

[casawasa]

My son who is 7 has seen some of Jaws. What worried me was that he was totally untroubled by it! When i was his age it would have given me sleepless nights.

[Fifis25StottieCakes]

I watched it 1st time around. I was terrified about going to bed as i thought there was a shark under the bed

YANBU

[KurriKurri]

I saw it when it first came out when I was about 15, - spent most of the film with my hands covering my eyes!, but at the time these sort of special effects were new and we weren't used to them, I think kids nowadays are probably more inured to such things. I still think six is much too young though.

[begonyabampot]

I watched it in the cinema when I was 5 or 6 and it was scary and so far I've not allowed my 8 and 5 yr old to see it. Saying that their dad is less concerned and has let them see the last Jurassic Park and Transporter of all things - they don't seem to be that bothered. They were more scared at Coraline. Slowly some movies a re slipping through as they are getting older.

[Mousey84]

I saw it aged 5 or 6 at my childminders and still can't swim over a grate in a swimming pool without feeling panicky ( obv I know it won't be in there, but my subconscious just recalls the terrifying dreams I had)

[Alwaysworthchecking]

I watched it when I was 9. I am still scared of fish and for this I blame Jaws. Six years old is far too young IMO.

[squeakytoy]

I saw it when I was 6, and it did freak me out for quite a while.. my mum felt really bad for letting me see it, as she didnt think it would bother me.

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

I went to a friend's house a few months back. Her two DCs aged 4 and 5 were in the lounge with another child of about the same age, so DS (4) went in to watch tv with them. I didn't pay attention to what they were watching as they usually have some Disney shit film on. I went into the kitchen with my friend.

After a few mins I popped my head round to check on DS and realised they were watching Jaws. I was not impressed and immediately told DS to come into the kitchen with me, but the damage had been done. For quite a few days DS had disturbed sleep and often talked about sharks in the sea eating people, and he probably only watched 5 mins if that! He still talks about it now.

It's a totally inappropriate film for a 6yo imo.

[worraliberty]

It really depends on the child I think.

I imagine my 8yr old would find it quite amusing. He has a very technical mind and will bore you shitless with talk of special effects etc.

However, I wouldn't let him watch it the day before a seaside holiday!!

[wrongdecade]

I watched the Beast , has anyone seen it? with Grissom from CSI in it? its a peter benchley film rather like Jaws just with a giant squid?

I saw that when I was 7 really loved it not scared at all, jawsis somewhat more gory though.