Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

WWYD - 8yo child watching 15 rated films

19 replies

SeraphinaDombegh · 09/07/2020 19:00

It's pretty much there in the title. Just seen a post on FB from a friend, who is a childcare worker, saying her 8yo daughter is watching the Final Destination films. I'm not a pearl clutcher about kids being allowed to watch films that are a bit above their recommended viewing levels - a 5yo watching a PG or a 9yo watching a 12, fine - so long as the parent has made a judgement call. But an 8yo watching a 15 rated film that's pretty gory? I think that's really irresponsible. Am I overreacting? Should I do anything about it and if so, what? If the general consensus is that I should wind my neck in, I'm ready to hear it - but I wondered how others would judge this situation.

OP posts:

Mumdiva99 · 09/07/2020 19:43

Hmmm it's not me but could be. My OH doesn't see the issue with kids watching inappropriate movies.....he sneaked some 12's in when youngest was 6 or 7....He let the eldest watch 15's at 11......
Maybe the mum doesn't know the rating.
If she does don't say anything....but equally if your kids go on sleep over make sure she knows you don't let them watch older movies.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 09/07/2020 19:57

I'm pretty relaxed (DS8 has seen Billy Elliott, which is a 15) but even I wouldn't show him the FD films. They're incredibly gruesome.

Spanglebangle · 09/07/2020 20:05

Not seen the FD films so can't comment specifically. DD8 has seen Billy Elliot which is a 15 but mostly due to language I think. I wouldnt show anything gory or graphic.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

5 year olds 8 year olds 9 year olds Families

PinkyBrain · 09/07/2020 20:09

My daughter is 9 and has watched some of the Marvel films but I think it depends on the personality of the child and whether they would be scared etc. I’d say as a parent you know your child’s maturity level and what they can handle better than a generic age limit handed down by a board. I haven’t seen the film so can’t comment though, is it a horror?

Monsterjam · 09/07/2020 20:15

My 4yr old has watched most the marvel films, I am perfectly able to decide if he can , and I definitely wouldn’t appreciate someone deciding to intervene in my decision making.

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 09/07/2020 20:16

No, you're not overreacting. That's appalling. In my view, letting a child watch a film classified for older childen because of bad language or sexual innuendo is one thing but letting a child watch a film classified for older children due to violence and gore is another.

LemonySippet · 09/07/2020 20:20

@Monsterjam

My 4yr old has watched most the marvel films, I am perfectly able to decide if he can , and I definitely wouldn’t appreciate someone deciding to intervene in my decision making.

But that's what the rating on those films is for, they are 12A, which means anyone under 12 should have an adult with them to decide whether or not it's appropriate.

I barely watch anything that is a 15 because pretty much anything goes - I've seen all the Final Destination films in my misspent youth and they are full on horrors - decapitations, impalings and the most gory of gory deaths galore. Not in the slightest bit appropriate for an 8yo.

Have some common sense.

PlanDeRaccordement · 09/07/2020 20:21

It would not bother me. Most ratings are basically recommendations not rules. Parents aren’t required to follow them.

OohKittens · 09/07/2020 20:24

I always check common sense media because some 12 films are in my opinion perfectly fine like shazam. But some older PG films are awful. I made the mistake of putting on Howard the duck wtaf is that film

Stressedout1980 · 09/07/2020 20:27

This used to bother me when I worked in a cinema as a student - parents arguing with me to let their 10 year old into a 15 and then complaining it was too scary. I would never sell the ticket and would call the manager as if it was a mystery shopper I would have lost my job

pinkcattydude · 09/07/2020 20:30

The first one made me terrified of flying, so I wouldn’t let DS 9 watch. But he watches 12s like marvel and Jurassic world etc. But I’ve said no to 15s as it’s easy to just stick to the guidelines. Although I know he’d love DieHard.

Anxietyqueen1987 · 09/07/2020 20:57

I get why you are concerned and personally I would never let my daughter watch films that were not appropriate for her. Saying that though, I was allowed to watch 18 films when I was very young. I had very, very strict parents but that was the only thing they were lenient with - I have no idea why. One of the first films I ever watched was Aliens.

Imonlydoingwhatican · 09/07/2020 21:04

Im very easy with letting my 11yr old watch older flims, however anything gory or scary is a big no no, she would most likely leave the room if she found ot to much but just no, even tv shows shes sent out, or i make dh turn over.

As for the previous poster about howard the duck.. i have no idea how it ever passed as a kids flim even back in the day, to the point i told dh about it and he had never watched it. Needless to say he was a bit and no dd hasnt seen it

AuditAngel · 09/07/2020 21:32

As there is a 6 year gap between my oldest and youngest, she got to see a lot of films (at home) that we’re above her rating, but my youngest is fearless, whereas my middle one, is the scaredy-cat we have to monitor content for.

You won’t make friends telling her to abide by the categories, I would just warn on sleepovers,

BobbieDraper · 09/07/2020 21:38

I think it really depends on the child and the movd. My kids (9 and 7) have watched some movies which are for older people. I think maybe the worst was Edge of Tomorrow, but my 9 year old reads books which are aimed at older people and his imagination can do a lot more than a movie can. Whereas one of his friends can barely handle Transformers without getting scared; it really is down to the temperament of the kid, and also how the osrent discusses the content before/after.

My youngest is obsessed with how movies are made. We watched the the LOTR and then he spent hours watching behind the scenes on YouTube, learning about how they made Golum and all the rest of it. He doesnt watch a movie and see violence; he watches a movie and asks "how did they make it look like that" and off he goes to learn.

SpinningLikeATop · 09/07/2020 21:40

The FD films are pretty gruesome. Some 15 rated films I might not have a big issue with (although I can't think of any of the top of my head, of course!)- and some "U" rated I would never let kids watch (Watership Down being one!). So it's not so much about the film, but the content... and FD isn't one I would be happy with.

WhitbyGoth · 09/07/2020 21:51

Pearl clutching indeed!

Jimdandy · 09/07/2020 22:12

I was allowed to watch anything I wanted. I was born in 1983 and I watched the first IT and Terminator 2 when they first came out!

I was scared for a while after watching IT I wouldn’t let a child watch that.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 10/07/2020 17:44

I think the question for me is - why those films? There are a lot of well made, gripping, thought provoking, even frightening 12s and PGs out there (in fact there was a thread on here recently with some great recommendations). There are also some really good 15s if she feels her DD is ready for something a bit more mature, like Billy Elliot or Little Miss Sunshine for example. The FD films are good fun if you like that kind of thing, but after the first one they're pure trash. Literally the only reason for watching them is to 'enjoy' the multiple, OTT, painful and terrifying deaths. I'd question why she wants her DD to get into that kind of thing - is she a bit of a self-consciously 'cool' mum?

Flip