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Original poster

What age would you let your child watch Harry Potter?

72 replies

lizpi · 21/11/2023 16:27

DS is only five, however I'm a big fan and he is itching to enjoy it too.

I appreciate he's too young, but what age did your DC watch it?

OP posts:
Original poster
lizpi · 21/11/2023 19:11

Is

OP posts:
Original poster
lizpi · 21/11/2023 19:11

Thank you for all your helpful responses!

I think I'll wait a while.

OP posts:
frozendaisy · 21/11/2023 19:15

We let ours watch the first 3 films aged about 7, they then had to read the books to watch the rest of the films.

You have a long childhood ahead. I am (was don't get as much time now) very into HP but just enjoyed the films for 5 yr and kept it as a bargaining chip to read the books.

I wanted them to read the books more which they might not have done if we handed over the films.

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5 year olds Children's health Films General health
frozendaisy · 21/11/2023 19:17

Think about when he is 8/9/10/11 you will still have all this to enjoy and he will understand it's make believe (unfortunately) the spiders in the second film are not really for 5 year olds, the politics in the 5th film will be misunderstood.

ArtyStripySocks · 21/11/2023 19:26

I went too soon with DD1 by reading the book to her when she was about 6. She was freaked out and never showed an interest in the books after that. Dd2 started reading the books to herself when she was about 8 and LOVED them (read the whole series about 13 times!)

TodayForTomorrow · 21/11/2023 19:30

My son is 6 and we've watched them all together. He won't have understood them all but he's very interested and has listened to the first audiobook with us.

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 21/11/2023 19:32

When they were old enough to have read the books or have had the books read to them Grin

KThnxBye · 21/11/2023 19:32

Only after they had read each book.

Which in reality meant 7-8 for the first ones then 9-10 for the further films.

TeenDivided · 21/11/2023 19:41

When they have read the relevant book.
No rush. Plenty more age suitable films around.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 21/11/2023 19:47

I started a bit early, in hindsight. Dd read the first book when she was 6 (nearly 7). Obviously the later books get more advanced/complex as well as darker, and she loved the first one so much that it was hard to hold her back. We managed to space out the first few books over a year, then watched the first few films before she read and saw the rest.

Delt · 21/11/2023 19:53

Much of this depends on the child, how scared they get, how much they understand the concept of fiction etc etc. Along with whether he's just turned 5yrs or nearing 6yrs.

The first 2 are quite tame.
The last 2 - he would need to be older - there's more violence and beside that there are more emotional and relational themes that he likely wouldn't understand.

I really really would urge you to start on the books though. He'll be missing out if you dive straight into the films.

Paddleboarder · 21/11/2023 19:54

My son loved it and watched it over and over from the age of 4/5 (he was in reception). He watched the first two a lot but the third is a step up and was too scary for him.

EdgarsTale · 21/11/2023 19:58

7 or 8. Once they’ve read the books.

TheMarzipanDildo · 21/11/2023 19:58

I saw the first one at 5, it was just on the telly. But I remember hiding behind the sofa.

The start of a great love!

Elentwelvedoc · 21/11/2023 20:03

My DS is five and has watched them all several times. Didn't get bored and wasn't scared.

YourNameGoesHere · 21/11/2023 20:06

Elentwelvedoc · 21/11/2023 20:03

My DS is five and has watched them all several times. Didn't get bored and wasn't scared.

To be fair if he's 5 the vast majority of it probably went over his head which is a shame as he had years and years to enjoy it at a time when he comprehended every part of the films.

Sgtmajormummy · 21/11/2023 20:06

I read the first HP aloud to DD when she was 6 and said we’d only watch it afterwards. And so it went on. We took a break after the second until she was 9 I think.
DS was babysitting a few days after we finished the first and they watched it without me! She obviously said something like “Mummy says we can watch it now”, little vixen.
Still haven’t forgiven them…

TheValueOfEverything · 21/11/2023 20:09

i have few absolute rules but one is that my kids cannot watch a movie based on a book until they’ve read the book themselves or had the book read to them by DH and me. So far it’s worked (teen and tween) and is a good motivator for them to read - and quickly!

Consequently my tween has not yet seen Harry Potter 7 but we’ll try and get to it before she goes to secondary school.

piglet81 · 21/11/2023 20:13

I’m reading book 1 to my 8yo. Might suggest watching the film this Christmas hols. He’s not really into films and is a bit of a scaredy cat (just like me!) so he might not be keen, although he’s enjoying the book.

savoycabbage · 21/11/2023 20:17

It's a waste of a good film watching it before they can get full enjoyment out of it.

When the books came out there was such excitement. I remember being at school (as a teacher) and groups of children sharing copies. All crowded round. As soon as anyone finished any work at all they were saying 'can I read?' So I wanted my children to read the books and watch the films when they could appreciate them and get as much enjoyment out of them as possible.

cathyj87 · 21/11/2023 20:22

I'm clearly going against the norm here but my daughter started watching them with me at around 3.5 though she is quite mature. She's watched the first 5 and rewatches them regularly, usually asking for 1 or 3. We've also been reading them but are slower with this and are just towards the end of 2. She's nearly 4.5 now.

Glitterbaby17 · 21/11/2023 20:22

DD5 was desperate to see the films as school friends enjoyed. I decided we had to read the books before we could watch the film and got the first one for her 6th birthday. We’ve read and watched 1 - 3 and she’s obsessed. Trying to hold off on the others as they are more mature/dark but think we will do book 4 soon.

ABCXYZ17 · 21/11/2023 20:25

When my DD can read the books she can watch the films. She’s 7 soon so we’ll see how long until she reads the first one. But 5 is too young.

WrylyAmused · 21/11/2023 20:25

Partner's child, he read the books to her as a bedtime story from maybe age 4 (at her request) and she's been watching the movies since just turned 5.

The earlier ones are less scary, and he skips through the scarier bits, or sits with her so she's not scared. Works fine, she loves them, loves to rewatch as well.
Think she's seen up to the 5th one now, but leaving the last few a bit longer....

Likely taking her to the Warner Brother studio experience next year as well.

lovinglaughingliving · 21/11/2023 20:32

It's an individual thing!
My son who is almost 6, has watched the 1st one and will watch the 2nd. Then we may have a little break!
We have also been reading the books which he really likes, we have the beautifully illustrated Jim Kay versions which he adores.
Should also say he's seen all the Star Wars films. Massive nerd family here!