Stranger things...suitable for 11 yr nealry 12?

[Burpsandrustles]

Anyone else let younger children watch?

My 12 year old is watching this now. She said it has a few 'jump scares' but is not scary- if that makes sense. I think it just depends on the child. Mine is the eldest of 3 and is pretty mature.

I think you know your child and if they are used to watching similar kinds of programs. It is a 15 and I would say that is a fair rating as I've been watching it with my 15 year old and did hide behind my hands a couple of times. She watched it last year when 14 as watched season 1 and 2 in one go but this one is cranked up a notch or two in comparison imho.

Ok - a few minutes later and she's now asking to sleep in my room tonight...

I would wait another year tbh. There are bits of it that are scary, and the story revolves around a missing child and a kidnapped brainwashed child, both of which are frightening concepts for young children. Also, at a little older your DC will get a lot more out of the programme, which imo is a genuinely good programme so it's worth waiting. There are some positive messages in it, particularly the depiction of friendship and loyalty, so in that sense there's a lot of good stuff that an under 15 will get out of it, but really I'd say in terms of some of the themes and the arc of the story your DC is just that bit too young.

Personally I think it’s a bit gory and scary for a 12 year old, but I’m basing this on my ten year olds who would be terrified.

I think I’d wait a year or so, prime her with some other stuff (not sure what if I’m honest!) as I think the relationships in it are good for young folk to see.

and the story revolves around a missing child and a kidnapped brainwashed child

This new season doesnt. I agree with pp that the scary bits (and swearing and everything really) have been cranked up a notch and the beginning of every episode reminds you it's a 15. I wouldn't let somebody that young watch it

I don't think so. The end of season 2 comes to mind as something that would've stuck with me at that age. The monsters in all the seasons are pretty scary looking too.

My ds was desperate to watch it at around 12 because friends had, but decided it was too scary about 10 minutes in and came back to it a year later - we watched it together and really enjoyed it.
We're 3 episodes into season 3 and loving it.

I don't think it helps that they have a Fortnite tie in so younger ones who play the game then want to watch the series. It is proper scary in places - I had to hide my eyes a couple of times when I first watched it with dh.

Depends on the child though - ds1 has always been quite sensitive to scary stuff...he has a very overactive imagination. And still hasn't quite got over seeing the weeping angels on Doctor Who when he was about 6.

They have a fortnite tie in? Really?

I think it depends on the child. At 12 I would have found it tame but my brother would have been terrified

Maybe they'd like me the Goonies if they haven't seen that already. I know it's not the same thing but Stranger Things has a definite Goonies vibe (and the Mikey actor is on both!) so watching that first would be a nice foundation for watching ST in a couple of years or so.

Give Stranger Things a watch yourself OP. You be able to judge them and I think you'll like it.

Excuse the typos!

I have watched it the first two and I'm not sure.

She liked Jaws 1 and wasn't scared really... And liked gremlins... But I'm not sure about this, there were some parts where I was scared. I think ill wait a bit....

It's a 15 and I'm definitely finding the horror turned up this year

I would say that the first 2 seasons are fine for that age group. We are halfway through the 3rd season at the moment and it is much darker than the previous seasons.

I'm further into season 3 now and I'd say 100% no to a 12 year old watching it. Definitely not.

You're right to say no for now Burps. Maybe in 10 4 years time.

I really wouldn't- season 1 or 2 maybe; but I'm watching season 3 and it's a lot darker and theres quite a bit of brutal violence/blood/horror, which increases as you get past the first couple of episodes. It's more horror than it is drama this time around- I was slightly perturbed and I'm 30 , I wish they'd keep it lighter.

I fell for the Hollywood parody and decided to watch the real thing...and I just can't cope with the missing child stuff.

Depends on how sensitive your child is. Personally it would have been too scary for me when I was 11!

Having just watched episode 4 I'd say HELL NO

I’ve just watched season 1 with DH and spent half the episodes hiding my face 😂 I’m awful with jump scares though and the music makes me really tense. On the whole it isn’t actually that scary and whilst the themes are ‘mature’, they aren’t desperately inappropriate for a 12 year old, I don’t think. I have no idea about the following seasons though.

My 11yr old has watched it all (as have me and DH).

It's creepy, but not that scary, there is some mild gore and violence (a little more in s3) and mild sexual references, but nothing too bad.