AIBU to not let my dd9 watch 12 films

Yes, my DS watched all the Harry Potters and all the Star Wars and Pirates of the Carribbean when he was about 7.

But there were others I said "no" to.

It's not a simple yes or no, it depends very much on the individual child and what they are likely to get bothered about.

'His Dark Materials' is absolutely fine for a 8 year old, unless they're ridiculously sensitive!

I know this is an old thread, but just wanted to see what others thought about Mean Girls, which some of DD's 8/9 year old classmates have been watching. Young girls that still play with toys. Amongst other things, it's literally full of sexual references. They're listed on common sense media very clearly. Are people really ok with this for their 8/9 year old daughters?

I find this far more sinister than a bit of horror/dark subject matter. Starting to feel like Mary Whitehouse....

I let mine watch 12s at that age yeah

I've always gone with 'depends on the film and the child'. The blanket age rating just doesn't function at an individual level. My DDs were quite sensitive and prone to nightmares until they were about 9 but after that they were tough as old boots and could handle most things. And yes, we let them watch 12s. We also let them watch some 15s before they were 15s, on a case by case basis. They're 18 and 20 now and aren't interested in 18s.

Lots of people seem to be confusing the 12 rating with PG.

It doesn't mean it's suitable for any children with adult discretion. It means that the cinema ratings organisation think it is not suitable for children under the age of 12, but acknowledge that some children who are younger than that may be mature enough to watch it. So that's probably just 11 year olds , not just any age of child. If you think it's fine for your 7/8/9 year old to watch a 12 film, why do you think it's been given a 12 certificate?

The latter Harry Potter films (for example) that have the 12 certificates are based on books that are not typically read by children much younger than 12 (say about 10 at youngest). There is lots of death and violence in them!

Depends on the film. I wouldn't be so keen on something like Mean Girls which is very teenaged in its content but Harry Potter and His Dark Materials I was reading at 9/10. They are children's series and the horror and scary scenes in them are aimed at children

I agree with PPs, it would be very dependent on the content. I'd make a case-by-case judgement if it was really something they wanted to watch.

Nope. anyone seen that Holmes and Watson film that's a 12?! Omg..... we had people walking out the cinema.

12's I'd say yes to depending on your child.

15's are a no film wise (Deadpool is a 15 and would have been an 18 all day long not that long ago) but I happily let DS1 play PEGI 16 games because the games rating system is judged by different criteria (Star Wars Battlefront 2 is a 16 whereas the original trilogy films with exactly the same content are U's)

but maybe not as the Spider-Man phase is a certain age really?? DH is 46 and it's still going...

DH and I were discussing ages for things like Star Wars and Harry Potter but DS is quite delicate around scary stuff and will demand we turn it off so well Def be extra cautious with him. I'm more concerned about the violence tbh in those.

Dark Materials I'd watch with her with the agreement we turn it off if it gets too much, and it's watched earlier in the day

Some 12s have quite vivid sex scenes in. Some are just a bit dark, like the later Harry Potters. Tread carefully, but don't dismiss them entirely.

My kids 8 and 10 have seen quite a lot of 12s. Quite like marvel films and tbh stuff like Ironman/ avengers doesn’t seem scary/ nightmare inducing. Similar aged friends watch it and and it does seem part of the pop culture for thier age group.

Some films I’ve said no to like Rampage which is a King Kong film that seemed overly dark. Reasonable to look at films first and decide if appropriate.

I'd prefer they watched Saw over Love Island.

@gobletsofmadness

It's interesting that people have such different ideas of what is or isn't okay/scary. It's funny people saying His dark materials is aimed at 9 year olds. I read His dark materials as a child and really enjoyed it and the first series on TV I liked. But there's something about series 2 that I find v difficult to watch - I've stopped half way through as I find it unsettling (I'm in my 40s !).

I can’t imagine most 9 year olds understanding the concept that the Voice of God is the powerful adversary while God just dissolves into nothing. It’s Paradise Lost from the devil’s perspective and it’s got a lot of hefty stuff going on.

As all cinema 12s are 12A - meaning it’s up to the accompanying adult - we took a relatively laid back view. 15, on the other hand, is a much more distinct category.

We watched Spiderman Far from Home last night with our 9 and 7 year olds and that had a 12 rating, they've also watched all of the Harry Potter films. I am careful with the 7yr old as he doesn't like anything scary especially involving animals! The 9 year old is desperate to get started on grown-up horror movies, we started off with The Mummy and she lasted right up until she saw the flesh eating scarabs and we had to turn it off so obviously not as ready as she thinks she is!

Let me guess, your DD is first-born or only child? It kind easy to overthink things with them, but with subsequent kids - these rules just go out of the window.
Also kids are much less squemish than adults.

Dd was the only child in her class without the latest iphone
She was the only child not allowed to watch love island
All of her friends had brand new white minis when they passed their driving tests

I don’t trust her in the slightest on these things 😀

They weren’t allowed to watch out of age films unless id seen them and knew they were fine for my children...and they all differed, ds2 had nightmares the other day watching films that ds1 wouldn’t bat an eye at

Agree depends on the child & the film. I remember my DSD 9 asking to watch Bring it On - I've watched it plenty of times and it's a seemingly innocent cheerleading film...when watching it with her I became far more aware of the reference to sex and was mortified when I was asked what a virgin was 😳
90% of the time I've found 12s are mild but we tried to stick to the certifications until they got into early teens and understood more - DSD2 is now 13 and we'd let her watch a 15 if we've seen it before and think it's ok.

We also got the "everyone I know is allowed to watch older stuff" - but we brush it off.

As pp have said, 12 ratings are slightly different as in the cinema they are 12A, meaning ok for under 12 with an adult. It does vary. Da has watched all the Marvel films this year and only just turned 11 but he's also watched Dr Who for years whereas his older sister could watch Dr W at that age without being terrified. I'm that mum who wouldn't let them watch HP until they had read the book, because the film's miss sooo much out and also, if they know what will happen, it takes some of the fear away. That kept my husband busy for years as ds doesn't have much reading stamina and had the books read to him in the end 😁

Just to add, I looked at Common Sense Media to see what it thinks about The Goblet of Fire (it’s an American site so it’s officially a PG-13). It thinks it’s appropriate for children aged 12+, and parents who use the site say 10+, and kids on the site say 10+:

www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire

It’s such a useful site. I use it a lot if I’m unsure if a film is really ok or not (especially since DS is desperate to watch Marvel!).

Sounds like you could be projecting a bit as you seem quite sensitive to films yourself?

like others have said at the end of the day its your choice and you know your child best I've allways followed the rule that no film/tv is banned outright but I have to watch it first or we watch together. There will always be one kid whos seen everything though my 7yo came home in yr1 telling me about the scary clown game his classmate had made up saying and X was pennywise and had to chase us.