To think it would be ok to take my 4 yr old to see HP7

[Clarence15]

I'm not sure if this is normal but my 4yr old son (along with my 9yr old dd) LOVES the Harry Potter films and has watched them all so far (on DVD) Dh, dd and I really want to watch the final film at the cinema but don't really have anyone we could leave ds with. Even if we did we'd have to keep it secret!

AIBU to think I could take him too? It's a 12A so in theory I could, but although he loves the films there will undoubtably be parts where he'll be asking what's going on or wanting to go to the loo - is this likely to upset the die-hard HP fans?

Regarless of the 12 on a video/DVD - the cinema classification is 12A which means under 12s can go and see them.

My 9y DD is most definitely fine watching these films and reading these books. The books are far more intense, far more graphic and far more gory.

I know that I am not harming my child by allowing her to see the HP films at this age. They are not, imo, like watching real violence you see in 15/18 movies. TBH you see worse at times on programmes such as Eastenders which is on at 7:30pm, which I actually don't allow her to watch.

I don't allow DD to see 15/18 films and won't do for a very very long time yet, but I know the full story of HP and this book. I know my child and I know how she has watched the other 7 films previously. I feel that I am ble to make an informed decision. Yes, at the cinema it will be a different experience to on a DVD at home but I believe she is able to deal with this, and also she would like to see it. We'd also like to see it before we go to HP land the week or so after.

My feeling is that if they are not old enough/mature enough to read them, they probably shouldn't be watching them.

I haven't said that we are taking him to see this film, he has seen films that we have watched before hand like x men and transformers. He isn't in to harry potter but if he wanted to watch it we would take him. I am in no way bragging that films like this don't bother him just pointing out that all children are different and react to things different. My son def has not got a lack of imagination quite the opposite.

Many films aimed at children have elements of fear, danger, murder, deaths and violence - even TV programmes. OK, because of the way it is shot HP is more intense than these hence its 12A rating, but it is still a fantasy film primarily aimed at older children and teens.

Look at other films too - Star Wars for example. All but one are PG films yet have a lot of violence, tortue and killing in them. Yet many people are happy to let their children see them.

but how does a child "get into" X-men? It's not like he could mosey on down to the cinema by himself. You're making it sound like he's the one choosing to watch all this stuff, yet presumably you hired these films and decided he should watch them.

I agree that anything you are showing a small child needs viewing first by the parent. I'm that someone would let a child watch a film that risks containing torture/ killing without viewing it themselves first.

Also, I am wary of introducing a very young child to ideas or images that may not bother them at the time as they don't understand it all, and lack the empathy to be scared, but later on the image stays with them. :(

Again I didn't say that violence doesn't affect him. He doesn't like people animals getting hurt and cried his eyes out when simbas dad dies in the lion king. But he hasn't watched that again as a result. I was pointing out that he isn't violent as a result and never would be due to his personality. Its not like I am sitting him down in front of awful films that are going to scar him for life. He isn't scared of the dark or going upstairs on his own as he knows the films he watches aren't real. He also understands that there are bad people in the world and will always check with us whether he can talk to people he doesn't know.

Tyv he loves x men as he watches the cartoon that its based on. He loves any superhero type film as does dh and its something they watch together. He also watches star wars.

you said "violence doesn't have an impact on my son" . I'm not sure how this is different from saying violence doesn't affect him.

I'm not trying to imply that your son is going to become an axe murder or anything - I'm sure he's a lovely little boy. I just think... I don't know. I just wouldn't want my four year old nodding along to all that stuff. However it's all immaterial for us since he's the biggest wuss you could imagine and had to be taken out of the Fireman Sam movie

Er, no. In a word.

I mean, er, yes! YABU.

I just meant that he never thinks that if he sees violence in any film or programme that he knows that its not o.k. And he has never been violent to another child or adult. I believe that this could happen with some children but I know my ds and he doesn't see it as o.k. He was terrified of tangled also due to the scary women in it.

Oh hell no, I'd be well pissed off if I got stuck next to a twitchy little 4 year old that wanted to the toilet every ten minutes and kept asking for sweets and drinks!

I've waited ten long years to see the final potter film and if I'm stuck next to anyone that so much as even thinks about rustling sweet wrappers...

I think that there are alot of clingy and whingy children due to things like this. I agree that not all 4 year olds would be ready to watch a film like harry potter I haven't read the final book so wouldn't make a decision on it for my ds until I knew what was in it. Its just all the 10 year olds that aren't seen as able to watch a fantasy story Like this.

So allowing my 4 year old to watch something that is not suitable for him because he is clingy and whinging is your recommended course of action here?

If I followed that advice my DS would never go to bed, eat sweets all day and watch tv all day. Giving into whinging just encourages more whinging!!

trixy If you actually read what I put I agree that not all 4 year olds are ready to watch films like this. I don't know if my son would be ready to watch harry potter but he has been to see similar rated films.

Not watching violent films doesn't make children mardy I just think that when people are questioning whether older children ie teenagers aren't seen as old enough to watch this film that I can see why some older children are still clingy. Just an opinion

It is absolutely not about action. It is about adulty themes, such as death and torture. It makes me despair that parents think this is appropriate for a child who at 4, is sometimes still in nappies at night.

12A is right for Hallows. I have seen it and it is NOT suitable for a four year old. Do you really want unresolved and misunderstood violence to emerge in that child as they struggle to absorb the information?

No way would I take a 4yo.
Apart from anything else cinema tickest here are v expensive - I wouldn't waste the cost on a child who can't benefit from the full potential of story etc.

One of you stay at home with him - do you have to go and watch children's films as a couple?

YABU in my opinion.

Watching it at home on DVD is nothing like watching it at the cinema.