to think that no, actually, SS wont be interested that DS(3) watched Hellboy?

[Hellboy]

DS (3) loves proper 'boy' films like Spiderman, Transformers, Batman, Starwars etc. He recently watched Hellboy at MILs and apparantly loved it. Ive bought it for him and he has watched it a few times (Ive vetted it and there is one scene that I think might be a bit too grisly for him so I fast forward past this bit). Apart from this one scene to me its no different to Spiderman and all the other 'hero' type films and there is no swearing (apart from a few craps)

My friend (whose DS also watches Spiderman, Batman etc) has said that if DS goes into nursery going on about Hellboy, then they will call SS as its a sign that we are letting him watch inappropriate films as its a horror film (its classed as a PG-13, Spiderman is a 12 so to me there isnt much difference)

I take my lead from DS, and I do think there may be a time when he will be more aware of what goes on in these films (eg. the idea that there is a hell, baddies that want to hurt us etc) so when that time comes I will of course take the lead from him again. But for now he loves the action bits, we have a right laugh together when we watch them and tbh its nice to not have to watch endless Chris and Pui (and we do turn it into a learning experience - what colour is Hellboy, how many baddies can you see etc )

I dont want to start the age old debate of age limits for films etc, we are just talking about the usual films that most of the kids at his nursery have seen. My friend just thinks that me letting DS watch Hellboy is an invite to get SS involved

So, is she being ridiculous and hypocritical? Or am I being too laid back about what SS would get involved in?

*game

In fact This is a wind-up isn't it?

What a bleedin' relief. I'm going to go and have a lie-down.

OP I think you are getting a bit of a hard time TBH....... I monitor what both DS (4) and DD (3) watch very closely, as I can stand most of the nonsense on Cbebbies, Nick Jnr etc. We watch films on a Sunday - Family Film Club and so far have done the Goonies, Indiana Jones and Temple of Doom, Jurassic Park, as well as things like Cloudy with a chane of Meatballs..... In truth they both prefer the more adult films like Jurassic Park (the only film my 3 year old will sit down through!)I have never watched Hellboy, but I know he is a comic character and my little boy is obsessed with Spiderman, Batmans Superman etc and so we do let him watch films like that. I think if you have watched it first and you explain its not real then their really is no harm at all.... Its just soemthing else for other people to get all judgey over. Some of my friends do things that I wouldnt in a million years consider - it doesnt mean social services will get involved and nor does it make them bad parents.

I would rather they watched Spiderman, Star Wars and Jurassic Park that the total sh*t that some people seem to think is ok for children to watch - Tweenies, Barbie cartoons, or bloody Dora..... When we watched Harry Potter they werent bothered at all about Voldermort on the back of Snapes head ... Of all the things we have watched together the only thing that has caused a problem was my DS getting a bit upset that in Harry Potter his daddy didnt stop Voldermort killing the mummy in the beginning..... Im sure all the righteous people on here wouldnt mind you showing your DS Harry Potter and its the only thing that has ever made my son cry during a film.

scarlettpimpernel. Brilliant post. You put your finger on why this makes me uneasy. Desensitising. Exactly.

They've got years to watch that stuff. Let them see the beauty and innocence of the world for a bit longer.

Quite!

Scarlett - I wasnt actually asking if anyone thought I was U or not to let him watch these sorts of films, just if anyone thought that SS would come charging in if he goes into nursery banging on about Hellboy (he and his friends normally compare notes on Batman and Transformers and who is better Bumblebee or Optimus Prime blah blah). And I dont need anything explaining, I already know that my opinion on what is suitable for my own children matters more than what some little green or yellow box on a DVD case says.

People have their own parenting choices that I wouldnt make and vice versa. I wouldnt let DS watch Watership Down for eg but thats a U, more evidence, if any were needed, that the classification system is aload of gash.

I was tongue in cheek about the learning experience btw.

I wouldn't show a three year old any of the Harry Potter films either,Loie.

too right Hellboy, I would never ever let them watch Watership Down as I still cant watch it now..... far more upsetting and disturbing IMO

COD is an 18 though isn't it? If Hellboy is a PG13 then the idea is surely that it can be watched by a child at the parents' discretion - it's not the same as watching/playing something that is ONLY for 18 and over.

Also, with films like Hellboy, the baddies lose, the goodies win, the lonely misfits find friends and fall in love and all is well with the world. It's not exactly sending out the message that you should be a baddie, go around murdering people and that way happiness lies.

DS saw hellboy when he was (guessing) about 5 or 6, because we know someone who worked on it. I agree with the OP - it is no worse than Spiderman, for sure.

Hellboy you're not asking directly no, but it's kind of obvious that people will respond in a certain manner to the topic in hand isn't it?

Yes, well: the beauty of Mumsnet is that you get advice even when you don't ask for it, eh?

Having a child is a privilige. You are in a position to form and nurture the spiritual well-being of another human being, with influences and experiences that will go on to shape their tastes, their priorities, their emotions - everything about them. It sounds to me rather as if you are putting your own tastes and needs ahead of that of your child. Much more fun for you to be watching an adult film, isn't it, than to have to sit through yet another tedious game or child's entertainment?

As you say: if you think exposing a tiny child barely out of babyhood to almost hysterical levels of violence including a scene showing the tortured souls of hell being surveyed by a vast demon with flaming horns, then that is entirely your decision. But don't expect people not to have an opinion on the subject.

Shocking

Cakestall I think thats missing the point TBH. The conversation is about whether or not SS will get involvled, and many posters have taken it totally off piste and turned it into a debate of what films are suitable. Im sure OP is perfectly able to make decisions for herself about this,but was worried by what her friend said. My point was that many would think Harry Potter (the first one) was more kiddie friendly that Temple of Doom, but HP is the film that upset my son. Like a poster said earlier "judging by the number of clown phobic adults, you can be quite surprised by what bothers children"

Not a wind up Scarlett, my friend actually said this

Agree 100% with thescarlettpimpernel

Loie doing something other than directly answer yea or nay to the initial question isn't going 'off-piste', it's called 'a discussion'

well, as someone who has repeatedly begged social services to help me with my children (one has severe sn) I can guarantee they wont give a fuck. If my social worker is anything to go by, as long as you aren't sending them out jaywalking on the M1, putting vodka on their cornflakes and letting them be washed by your pet rottweilers, then everything is okay and you are coping really, really well.

HTH

I'd be surprised that people would think that HP was suitable for children of that age. It wouldn't occur to me to allow a 3 year old to watch that,or any of the super hero films that have been mentioned.

Barney the purple monstrosity is definitely out too.Though that'd be to preserve my own sanity.

As for desensitising, I do question the effect that playing a very realistic game in which you spend hours killing people yourself would have on children (which I assume is why these games are rated 15/18) but I'm pretty sure my moral compass was set by what I was taught by my family - not what they allowed me to watch on TV. As such, despite watching scary movies when little, I am a very caring, considerate well balanced person who detests real life violence.

Agree with shirley and others - I wouldn't let a 3yo watch it.

It just seems so... Unnecessary. When there are SO many amazing shows and movies for families and kids, why rush into the older stuff?

I think your friend might be confusing Hellboy (a rather silly comic book adaptation) with Hellraiser (a fairly icky classic horror movie). SS is unlikely to give a shit.

Yeah but clowns are the devils own work.....we all know that.

I think she is confusing hellraiser and hellboy as well....though I'm not sure how you could as they are worlds apart.