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AIBU?

To not let my kids watch 12 & 12A movies?

49 replies

PodeTheBogeySlayer · 27/07/2017 22:09

I have 2 DSs, aged 4 and 6, most of my eldest's friends have seen all the Avengers movies, all the newer Star Wars movies etc, etc. My husband and I feel our kids are too young and that there's plenty of time for that when they're a bit older. Why does everyone want their kids to grow up so quickly?!

I don't want them to feel like they're missing out and I don't want to be those big bad parents that don't let their kids do stuff, but it just feels like its unnecessarily exposing them to stuff they don't need to see.

Part of the issue is I was shown films too young and for example can't go in the ocean past my waist height from watching Jaws too young. I'm working on it, but for years I couldn't even look at pictures of sharks without having nightmares. I couldn't go in shaped swimming pools in fear there was something hiding round the corner. I don't want that for my kids.

I'm also anti the whole guns and violence thing which I know is par for the course with boys, he does enough already without being allowed to watch stuff!! Am I kidding myself or do I (ahem) stick to my guns?

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 27/07/2017 22:11

My 7 year old hasn't seen any 12 films. Boys doesn't equal guns and violence either. Confused

JustHappy3 · 27/07/2017 22:12

Not bu at all. Only if you were passively agressively sanctimonious with other parents.
Everyone knows their own kids best.
And i let 6 year old DS watch the new Star Wars. But i had checked the kind of violence on show before hand.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 27/07/2017 22:14

Each to there own, I've let my kids watch 12a movies, just because it's a 12a does not mean they have to be 12 to watch it.

ProudBadMum · 27/07/2017 22:14

Your choice.

I enjoy marvel films and so does my son. I don't know anyone his age who hasn't seen something 12a.

Avengers is amazing though. Guardians of the galaxy is a must watch

megletthesecond · 27/07/2017 22:17

Yanbu. DS didn't see a 12 until he was 9. He's only see star wars and harry potter 12's so far.

FeedMeAndTellMeImPretty · 27/07/2017 22:18

At 4 and 6 I don't think they'd get much out of most superhero films. They can be a bit dull, interspersed with some violence and peril.

My DCs are 10 and 12 and the 10yo finds most 12A films a bit scary.

itstoolateforthisbollox · 27/07/2017 22:18

Do as you like with your own kids but quit the judgy shit like Why does everyone want their kids to grow up so quickly?!
It's super twatty.

JoyceDivision · 27/07/2017 22:23

But is it a genuine question, itstoolateforthisbollox?

DD is in yr4 and she has friends that have false tan,, leg waxes, snapchat, instagram, facebook etc... a worl away from DD, and I question should DD have access to this in her life so young?

Like wise, other kids in her class play games along lines of GTA etc...surely it is exposing them to themes / images that are too oldfor them/

If I've misjudged any comments then apologies, but this is just a very small snapshot of things that I do wonder about

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 27/07/2017 22:25

I heard this being discussed on the radio when one of the Star Wars films came out. Basically they were saying that they give films a 12a rating when it's aimed at adults and children, except for tiny children. This is so that adults won't be put off by a U or PG rating and think it's a kids' film. And kids can go and see it too and they make tons of cash as no one is put off by the rating.

itstoolateforthisbollox · 27/07/2017 22:25

It's not a genuine question, because letting my kid watch spiderman does not in any way mean I want him to grow quickly. It's a ridiculous and false correlation and its meant as judgement.

RiverTam · 27/07/2017 22:26

Dad is 7 and has never seen a 12 or 12a. She simply wouldn't understand half of what was going on, quite apart from anything else.

There's masses of age-appropriate stuff for her to watch without rushing into this kind of thing.

I love Star Wars, Marvel (though GOTG was shite), Harry Potter, LOTR etc but I am perfectly capable of waiting until DD is old enough to fully appreciate them. I do get the impression that lots of parents aren't capable of this.

ProudBadMum · 27/07/2017 22:30

Each to their own. My 7 year old has been watching them for a couple of years and easily follows the storyline.

Good guy vs bad guy is pretty simple though I suppose Grin

Spider-Man is for kids. I don't know any 12 year old plus that watch it. High school kids are too cool for it nowadays

RiverTam · 27/07/2017 22:34

each to their own indeed. I know plenty of 7 year olds who've not seen a 12 (and spoken to some who claim to have understood 12 films when they blatantly haven't).

Toysaurus · 27/07/2017 22:37

Mine have watched lots of 12a films 7 & 10. Nothing to do with growing up quickly. They prefer storylines with a bit more bite and intellect. I was at the cinema this week to watch Despicable Me 3. It was ok, but the trailers for the children's films featured the most awful shit. Emoji movie? No they'd rather watch Harry Potter, Jurassic World and Doctor Who. Even Sherlock.

So YABU based on your smug comment.

ProudBadMum · 27/07/2017 22:38

toys swap kids? Mine wants to see Caotain Underpants...

Palegreenstars · 27/07/2017 22:38

12a is recommended for 12 year olds and up unless you as the parent think your child can handle it.

The BBFC has publicly said they are unlikely to be suitable for under 8s.

Having said that there's a real disparity in bottom to top 12a's. The best thing you can do is watch for yourself and make a judgement call on individual movies (or read their BBFC guidance)

MiddleClassProblem · 27/07/2017 22:39

Jaws was a PG until 2012. A PG!

Titsywoo · 27/07/2017 22:39

Year 4's having their leg waxed? Hmm Come on...

gillybeanz · 27/07/2017 22:40

It's your choice OP.
We didn't allow any films whatever they were if they were for older than their age.
We thought they'd have nothing to look forward to.
Lots of dd friends watch 15 films and play 16 year old games, she is 13 and no way.
She watches 12 and 12A.
It's up to parents what they decide to do.

Toysaurus · 27/07/2017 22:41

ProudBadMum 😂 That was one of the films. I thought we would do Paddington possibly but deffo not Captain Underpants!

Italiangreyhound · 27/07/2017 22:42

PodeTheBogeySlayer your a good parent and right to be concerned about watching films too young. Very wise.

itstoolateforthisbollox "... but quit the judgy shit like Why does everyone want their kids to grow up so quickly?!
It's super twatty."

I think it is really wrong to let young kids watch films not suitable for them. Parenting involves making judgments all the time. It not 'judgy', it's just normal.

Why not explain why you think it is OK for children to watch films aimed at children much older than them? Why not explain why you think it doesn't make them 'grow up faster' than children who do not watch films aimed at children older than them?

Oblomov17 · 27/07/2017 22:43

Depends. I use my judgement. Some are suitable for 8 year olds. Most aren't.

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MiddleClassProblem · 27/07/2017 22:43

DD is not that age yet but you would have thought that the Lego movies were more their speed

ProudBadMum · 27/07/2017 22:52

Toys he made me watch Chipmunks: Roadtrip tonight. He isn't my favourite kid Grin

cariadlet · 27/07/2017 22:59

re Captain Underpants - I had it on my definite no-no list until I listened to a Mark Kemode film podcast. His film of the week was Dunkirk, but he said that he's laughed all the way through Captain Underpants and would totally recommend it.

I've changed my mind about it, but am yet to change my 14 year old dd's mind. She was quite disgusted with me when I suggested that we go and see it. Grin

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