to think that you should not show children horror films?

[chloekitten]

I have just found out that a boy (aged 6) my son (aged 4) plays with watches horror films rated 15 and 18.

I found out when my son started telling me he had watched a film at this boys house about a clown that eats people (IT by Stephen King).

I immediately stopped all play with this boy, and we spoke to his parents who seemed entirely unaware that it was a problem.

I think the only reason my son has not been haunted by the film is that I read to him every night and then stay in his room until he falls asleep, so his mind is on other things and he is not alone in the dark.

However, I am still haunted by the thought of this other boy regularly watching horror, and I can see now how it was reflected in his play and his rather odd behaviour. I know its none of my business, and you cant interfere in other peoples parenting, but I feel so sad for this already damaged little boy who now has no friends at all to play with and parents who clearly dont give a damn about his welfare. Social services said theres nothing you can do, but to maybe let the school know. He has already been excluded from school for fighting, and maybe knowing he watches horror would put his behaviour into context for them - or am I just being totally out of order to contemplate this?

I saw IT when I was 13 and it really, really frightened me. I saw it again a couple of years later and just found it silly!

I don't know what you think the school could do?

I dont suppose they could do anything.

I was just so upset and angry about the whole thing, and its horrible to know that its still going on for that child, and that he is being damaged daily just a few doors away.

I have a feeling he is going to be a big problem for the neighbourhood when he grows up. We have already had to talk to him about not cherry knocking, not vandalising the neighbours trees, not spitting and not throwing sticks at cars.

So his parents confirmed they let him watch them?

Was it a one off, or is it a regular thing?

My youngest stepdaughter was weaned on horror films, thanks to a rather irresponsible parent, but she has grown into a sensible sociable adult, with lots of friends and no issues.

Sounds like there is a much bigger picture to this childs life than just watching inappropriate films though. :(

Watching horror films does come under 'the allowing children to watch inappropriate material'. The school can speak to the parents and if this boy is having real problems could put him under a 'CAF'.

There is no reason as to why he needs this exposure so young.

My DD is into all things 'dark' but i was very careful until she was 13, she is now nearly 15 and i still won't allow some types (HC, Saw, Hostel).

You don't know the damage that they can do, the research is there to show that some people are affected more, so there is no need for children to see these thinds and i include the news in that.

YANBU -

I was round my old friends house a few months back and her 7 year old son was looking for a dvd to put on. Eventually he wondered off with 'The Ring' and Terminator...
Then later that night he was watching ET and came down crying because ET was dying....The horror film was fine though

YANBU. My best friend in high school had a 4yo little sister who routinely watched 18s. She's grown up to be a nice young adult, but it's odd that anybody would be happy for a young child to watch that kind of thing.

The parents were kind of dumb when my partner went round and spoke to them about it. The boy confirmed to me, before we went round, that its a regular thing for him to watch these films. He also identifed Ghost Ship (18) as a regular watch.
The mum blamed the boy.
The dad said 'did it affect him then?', to which my partner said 'HES FOUR YEARS OLD!'

I asked my boy how much he watch and rather worryingly he said 'the first time we only watched a little bit, the second time we watched some more, the third time we watched more, then you told me not to'.

Sigh. Sounds like its pretty regular for the other boy. And it explains why all his play revolved around shooting, fighting, killing and zombies.

Since these two boys started playing together, their son has learned to say 'please' and 'thank you' (at our house at least) and my son has learned how to kill zombies by punching them in the neck.