to think "how to train your dragon" is not suitable for a 3.5 year old?

[alicethehorse]

Lots of it is fine, but specifically the scenes with the fight with the big scary dragon at the end. DP thinks I'm putting ideas into DS's head by suggesting it is scary.

I think he's just too young to see those kind of images?

Please could I ask, if you've seen it, what age do you think it's suitable for?

Also, if you think IANBU, please could you help me explain why to DP?!

Here's the scene I'm talking about (plus some bits building up to it), for those of you who haven't seen it for a while, or ever before.

I am genuinely surprised that so many you you think that's suitable for very young DCs.

Also, one of the things I have a big problem with is that I can't provide an adequate explanation for why they kill the big dragon. The rest of the film is about befriending them, how they're misunderstood. I don't understand why they even need a big fight scene in the film where a dragon gets killed. It doesn't fit with the rest of the message in the film IMO.

No idea, never watched it. My 4 and 7 year olds watch it though - and have done since my youngest was 3.5 I guess. I trusted their father's judgement (shock, gasp!)

Maybe you ought to be having this discussion with your partner, not Mumsnet?

Ultimately, you know your own child. We don't. I don't think it would have bothered either of mine at 3.5 so YAB a bit U in assuming global parental irresponsibility based on your child alone.

But I do think it is perfectly possible to ensure that they'll be scared by something if you put that suggestion into their heads ahead of actually seeing something. Perhaps that is the reason for your dp's comments.

curiositykitten have a look at

That's the scene I'm talking about.

Yes I will have a discussion with DP when we get a chance, but this is useful to me in exploring why I think what I do!

It's useful to get other people's perspectives.

They have to get rid of the big dragon as it makes all the other dragons steal too much food from the villagers. So, no big dragon, no excessive food stealing, dragons and vikings living in perfect harmony.

I've seen this film many times.

YANBU, she's your child, you're doing your job as a parent deciding what will be too much.

Thanks for the explanation MavisGrind.

Thinking about it, it's not just about DS being scared.

It's also that I'm simply not comfortable with DS watching films with the message that killing is good and something to be celebrated, at such a young age.

I don't understand how you can have watched the film and not understood why they have to kill the big dragon :confused:

Or even.

I don't think that they really understand killing in the way that an adult does. Plus they are dragons which aren't real.

Tom and Jerry is much worse in the sense that the cartoon violence is extreme but they never die. I think that's much more confusing/disturbing

DS watched it when he was about four, but was more upset at the bit where Toothless is being tied up and taken away (he sobbed!) than the fight at the end. I think PG means that it's up to parents to think about whether there are bits in it that might not be suitable for your particular child, but a U means you shouldn't have to be concerned. It just really depends on each child

It's also that I'm simply not comfortable with DS watching films with the message that killing is good and something to be celebrated, at such a young age.

Time to take a big black marker to Mother Goose and the Fairy Tales too then....

I am reminded of these

"I don't understand how you can have watched the film and not understood why they have to kill the big dragon :confused:"

I mean that it's not necessary in the story IMO. They've written it in because they want to have a big fight scene. The stealing from the village is the excuse for the fight scene. But then I think films are too violent generally.

I've nothing against violence in films per se (Fight Club is one of my favourite films for example) but I'm so fed up with the story in so many hollywood film boiling down to basically two men having a fight in the end. Which the good guy wins of course . Often while reinforcing he message that America is the greatest nation on Earth.

I think there are so many other, much more interesting human stories that could be told than two men having a fight! But America is a violent, war-mongering nation, and it's not surprising that its stories are too.

To be clear - I'm not saying I want all films to be sweetness and light, nor to never have battles, that would be very boring and wouldn't reflect human experience. But I think overall too many films are violent in nature, and it's just not necessary in children's films, but it's a reflection of our culture.

But I digress

Take it your child is never going to watch Disney or the likes either?

"Tom and Jerry is much worse in the sense that the cartoon violence is extreme but they never die. I think that's much more confusing/disturbing"

I'm not mad keen on Tom and Jerry either!

Actually I should have said, a reflection of American culture, when we're talking about American films.

"Take it your child is never going to watch Disney or the likes either?"

I'm not saying never. Just not when he's so little.

So what films do you deem suitable for him to watch?

It's based on a book by a British author (Cressida Cowell) and that's the ending in the book.

Parents have stopped reading traditional fairytales to their children because they are too scary and not politically correct, according to research

First child I take it, OP?

Studio Ghibli stuff is great, like My neighbour Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service.

It's aimed at younger children.

DS was banned from Disney (until I caved with Cars and the like).. but that's nothing to do with violence.. more to do with other shite peddled by those films and the fact that theyre... well.. a bit shit
(Jungle Boob's OK though)

"First child I take it, OP?"

Patronising much?

Book!!! BOOK! FFS

My DS is really scared of Totoro :o