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Original poster

What do you think the youngest age is suitable for watching the 1st Harry Potter ?

58 replies

Lardlizard · 07/05/2020 16:37

?

OP posts:
PeskyRooks · 07/05/2020 18:07

My dds 5 and 4 watched it last night!
They also love Coraline, Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride... so it didn't phase them at all!

Chiyo666 · 07/05/2020 18:09

My 5 and 3 year old have watched the first 4. The other ones are too boring for small ones really.

herecomesgeralt · 07/05/2020 18:15

I was 10 when I read the 4th one, and was scared at the end of that. Not terrified or anything, but I remember being wary to put the light off to go to sleep after I'd finished the chapter.

I read the earlier ones younger than that and had no issues with them.

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herecomesgeralt · 07/05/2020 18:19

Oh sorry just saw you mean the films. 6 or 7 maybe? The bit at the end with the slow motion shot of the smokey Voldemort shooting through Harry scared my 6 yr old niece, but she wasn't impressed when I tried to switch it off Grin she's watched it more since then and hasn't had any issues as far as I'm aware. It does depend on the child

bakingcupcakes · 07/05/2020 18:23

My 5 year old received the first 2 illustrated books for christmas and loved them. We've watched the films since then and he really enjoyed those. I'm trying to space the books out now so the 3rd for 6th birthday and maybe the 4th for Christmas because I think book 5 onwards are more suited to older children.

midnightstar66 · 07/05/2020 18:23

Dd1 would have been 4 or 5 at the most. I didn't really think about it tbh. Dd2 would have been in the room but not paying much attention. Depends on the child I suppose but I don't really question anything that's a 12A or below

Arewehere · 07/05/2020 18:25

I think DD was 5, but she doesnt like them, maybe when she is older she will be interested.

EllaPaella · 07/05/2020 18:26

All my 3 have watched it from 4-5 years. If they had found it scary we would have turned it off but they all loved it and are all Harry Potter obsessed.

TeenPlusTwenties · 07/05/2020 18:27

When they can read the book all the way through independently.

I honestly think they are more enjoyable if you have read the books as they make them come alive and you understand all the stuff they don't explain in the films due to lack of time.

There really is no rush. My DD's didn't read the books / see the films until y5/y6, they weren't scarred for life for not having rushed through them in infants.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 07/05/2020 18:37

Ds watched it recently age 6

Chrisinthemorning · 07/05/2020 18:40

I insisted on book first then film. We have read the first 4 as bedtime stories and then watched the films. DS is now reading the first one to himself. He’s nearly 8and we started about 18 months ago.

underneaththeash · 07/05/2020 18:54

I'd say 6 - Fluffy is quite scary.

merryhouse · 07/05/2020 18:57

My younger son was about 4 or 5 I think... I remember him in the suspenseful bit saying "run, Harry Pottermus!" Grin

Fairly sure most of his classmates had seen at least the first couple by the end of KS1.

Older son read the first 6 before the last one came out when he was seven and a half. We were at Tumble Tots with a child who read at least the first one when she was 5.

You know your own children better than we do. One of my nephews used to get upset watching Thomas and Friends (they do have a lot of danger and accidents) and one of my sisters didn't introduce her daughter to Tracy Beaker because she didn't want to point out that some people abandon their children.

PennyArrowBar · 07/05/2020 19:11

My DS had watched the first 3 films and he's 3, his favourite is chamber of secrets.

He doesn't like it when Voldemort is on the back of professor Quirrels head but other than that it's fine for him.

PennyArrowBar · 07/05/2020 19:13

He first watched them when he was 2.5 or so. Maybe slightly older. Last autumn.

Rayn · 07/05/2020 20:13

Fdepends on the child! My older child would have watched them at five.

My four year old is scared of Tom and Jerry! Blush

Drivingdownthe101 · 07/05/2020 20:16

My 6 and 4 year olds have watched it.

PaperMonster · 07/05/2020 20:42

My 8 year old has just watched the first couple of films - she was too scared before!

DippyAvocado · 07/05/2020 20:46

DD2 also watched at 5, all the films. She has a good attention span for films though - DD1 wouldn't have sat through them at that age. A lot of stuff went over her head but she enjoyed them.

EstebanTheMagnificent · 07/05/2020 20:54

I used to be quite snobby about reading the books before watching an adaptation but films then books is fine, honestly. By the last few there is so much book content left out of the films that it’s just an exercise in frustration that they have left out your favourite bit or somehow got it ‘wrong’.

DD has now seen all of the films at the age of 6 (yr 2, summer birthday). She saw the first three last year. She does not scare easily, however.

Figgygal · 07/05/2020 21:01

My 8yo watched it last week but that’s because he’s not allowed to watch them until he’s read the books first

He’s now reading book 2

Bloomburger · 07/05/2020 21:07

DD watched it at 5, she's been to Harry Potter world at 6 and now watched all the rest of the films.

You know your own child though so I'd go on that rather than other children. Some of DDs friends would be terrified.

Abbccc · 07/05/2020 21:13

Oh dear, I was going to say at least 12! but I don't like them at all). If your children watch HP as pre-schoolers what are they going to watch when they are 12?

ladykuga · 07/05/2020 21:15

My daughter has just started on the HP journey. She's 6. Not scared in the slightest. Going thru the monsters, ghouls, zombie, vampire stage atm though.Confused

It's the first thing in ages she's watched in complete silence/no fidgeting. Hooked and determined to watch them all.

ofwarren · 07/05/2020 21:22

My 5 and 4 year olds have watched them all. It depends on the kid really.

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