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?

I agree ss prob wouldn't be interested in your son right now but (and I say this trying not to be alarmist) maybe they will be 10-12 years from now. The issue is desensitisation to violence. If this is standard viewing for him now what will he enjoy when he is 6?

The film industry fight hard to get the most inclusive rating for a film. If it is given a higher rating we as parents should read something into that. These will be decisions involving a number of people and will not have been taken lightly.

Get him back on cbeebies/nick jr and enjoy your pre schooler!

proud not the hellboy film but I haven't seen that one. I mean reception/year 1/year 2 etc lots of the kids seem to have seen star wars/Indiana jones etc

hellboy oh I wasn't suggesting you do that - you misinterpreted my post! I was just adding that I dont put them on if other dc are in the house.

I think she's being silly there's much worse things he could watch, my friends dd was at a friends house and their parents were playing cod and she's had nightmares about it for the last 6 months!

No, none of the movies you mentioned are suitable for a 3yo. Just because you are his mother doesn't mean that you're capable of making the right choices. Clearly you are not.

I still think it's a wind up.

Agree with poster upthread, things like being allowed to watch inappropriate age related films are a red flag when SS/Schools are dealing with children who present with difficulties in relating to other children their own age, or demonstrating age inappropriate behaviour ( because it is not appropriate OP, in case I was too subtle).

Winny - tell you what, how about you parent your kids, and I'll parent mine. You'll make choices I THINK are wrong and damaging and vice versa.

At least we all seem to agree that SS are not going to snatch him away because hes watched it, which is why I posted.

Well I am mother and more than capable of making the right choices it a film for God sake I grew up with Tom and Jerry and all they do is hit each other with things

Also maybe try him on superhero squad. The dvds are available from amazon and all rated u or pg and feature iron man, spiderman, etc. My ds loves them.

hoiks up judgeypants ^what thescarlettpimpernell said.
IMO a 3 yr old (which I also have) should only be watching U classified films. Why would a parent want to expose their child to any sort of violence at that age?

Stop - just looked at that and its got all of his favourites! thanks for the tip

If you can call putting a 3yo in front of a violent movie parenting Why don't you go and do a little research the influence of violence in films/computer games on very young kids?

Too much effort, eh? Poor kid.

really hellboy for a 3yr old?! mine is sat watching Despicable me'

he may like these films now but he doesnt understand them and what the point in him watching something he doesnt understand and in all likelyhood may well end up scaring him, or worse simply desentisizing him to violence etc.

plus once you start on this path of letting them watch films that arent age appropriate you are starting down a slippery slope imo as he gets older he will want to watch more things that arent appropriate and play various games etc like COD that are NOT ok for chidlren, you say its 'your' game but seriously when would it be ok to play that if you are letting him watch hellboy at age 3!!!

and parents that DO let their kids play these games, watch these films etc just make it that bit harder for those of us that dont, oh how many times my 12yr old has told me of his friends that play grand theft auto and call of duty etc etc, well YOU dont sonny boy!

and i will watch a film that is a 12a etc and see if i think it is suitable, like the transformers 2 film where the sexual innuendo etc made it a 12, but we let ds3 who is 7 watch it, but those bits went over his head. there is SOME leaway to be had with some film verifications etc, but its up to the parent to sit and watch/play and check thoroughly and make a judgement call.

you say YOU fastforwarded over the gruesome bit, did your mil? there is no way in a MILLLION years my mil would ever let any of my boys watch a film like that!

I have to admit I have not seen half of the films mentioned above and my DS who is just 7 has not seen any of them, and not shown any interest in seeing them despite other boys at school talking about them.
I struggle to understand why anyone would consider them suitable viewing for a 3 year old. I know I am particularly squeamish, but there are some scenes in films like Indiana Jones where I look away eg face melting scene. I remember being quite shocked, when I started helping at school when DS was in YR, by what films some of the other boys had seen. I can also say that you could tell by the way they played in the playground what films they had seen as they tend to re-enact what they see, which isn't always appropriate.
I also feel it is a shame that they are being introduced to these films too early, plenty of time to see them when they are older, and there are plenty of films/tv programs that are much more appropriate for that age group, which they will probably miss out on seeing, as you can't regain a time of innocence. My DS still loves old cartoons like Paddington, Wombles and I do wonder whether some of his friends will ever watch things like this after being brought up on a diet of Star Wars etc

basically i think you are starting down a VERY slippery slope and most kids of 3 are only just starting to sit the whole way through a film anyway they dont really have the attention span and nor can the process and understand them, i know my own ds4 who is 3 (almost 4) loves the toy story films but he doesnt totally understand the story in toy story 3, no 1 and 2 are much more simple in terms of story line and so he will watch them happily as he can FOLLOW the story and understand it! i doubt very much that your 3 yr old understands or can follow the story in hellboy, but if that is acceptable at 3, what will be acceptable at 5, 8, 10 etc, that is the problem you are going to have!

Oh and despicable me where he blows up the stall to get his own way ... no difference animation/actors in costumes violence everywhere and as long as grow up to know it pretend then what the hellboy is the problem and winnybella poor kid you really should look at the bigger picture of what some kids are going through

SS won't get involved but to be honest i do think to allow him to watch it is pretty poor parenting

Winny - as we have established there is violence in programs designed for children, and in U classified films. Must be a alot of bad parents out there.

I don't understand the argument that other films are PGs or Us so that must make it OK.

This is a 3 year-old we are talking about. PG is flagging up that there is some content in that some parents might be uncomfortable with. I would have thought that it was a matter of common sense that films rated PG are therefore aimed at older children, not pre-schoolers. If a film has some content that the makers think parents of children under 12, for example, might want to vet, surely that suggests that the content is probably not aimed at very young children.

Something that might be unsuitable for a 10 year-old is highly likely to be unsuitable for a 6 year-old and almost certainly unsuitable for a 3 year-old.

Again, read up on the subject of violent/scary movies and young children. Why won't you? I'm sure all the research will validate your stance

Or just continue to be ignorant and deluded that because you are a parent then you must know what's the best for your child.

Despicable Me is violent too - and about as realistic as Spiderman or Hellboy.

Shame on you for letting your 3yo watch that .

(sitting on fence here - because I don't think it's worth the hysteria, and I certainly don't think OP's DS will be turned into a serial killer by it, but at the same time I do know (because her brain is hardwired to her mouth) that DD was almost 5 when she worked out that some things on TV are more "real" than others - we had a hilarious few weeks when, completely out of context she would periodically say (for example) "Nina and the Neurons" or "Dr Who" and we would have to explain the reality/otherwise mix involved)

And what kungfupanda said. You would think it's not thatcomplicated of a concept to grasp.

Star Wars and Paddington aren't mutually exclusive, toomuch.

My own ds was hugely into Star Wars at 3 (still loves it at 11), but also enjoyed Bob the Builder, Thomas, Peppa Pig (her early works, clearly) and Ivor the Engine.

As I said ealier, I don't think I've seen Hellboy so unlike some posters on this thread, don't feel I can comment on that specifically.

I do believe however that some children are very, very good at distinguishing between fantasy and fact. Some are very susceptible to anything too fighty, some are easily scared. As a parent, you get to know your own child and make your own decisions as to what is and what isn't suitable viewing.

KungFu - Im using that argument because some people are talking about it being violent, and also that rating are there for a reason. So I have just been pointing out the fact that alot of programmes designed for children and U rated films are also violent.

TBH all I wanted to know is would SS really be bothered if DS goes into nursery calling himself "Hellboy" to his mates who watch Batman, Transformers etc (same kind of films) and was my mate being a bit of a hypocritical moo being all sniffy about DS watching Hellboy when in the same breath she put Batman on for her DS who is the same age.

but no one is hurt when the stall blows up and its make believe with squid guns and shrink rays and very obviously cartoon like.

and on just this issue no ss wouldnt get involved but if they had any other reason for concern then YES it would be an issue, speaking as someone whose partner works with ss and children..

and as i said you cant just look at the age certificate on a film, you have to watch it yourself and see what you think and all kids are different, one of mine was scared by bedknobs and broomsticks and at various times they have found the film chitty chitty bang bang scary. some childrens films are 'violent' as is tom and jerry and its very obviously made for children, but the violence isnt graphic and in general no one is hurt seriously or dies, its very much slapstick humour and done for comedic affect. i really think that hellboy is not like that.