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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think reception class should not have been shown How To Train Your Dragon?

84 replies

ForkieForkie · 18/04/2015 16:01

DS, in reception year, watched How to Train Your Dragon in school last term. He told us this when it came up recently.

I'm not bothered enough to make an issue of this but I wondered if anyone else had thoughts.

Its a PG film which BBFC would not consider universally suitable for under 8 year olds. I would usually refer to commonsensemedia website before showing DS anything we haven't already watched. I find their guides really helpful. They rate it as an age 7 film, giving what sound like good reasons.

I don't think a reception class should be shown a film other than "U" certificates, as the levels of emotionally maturity will vary so much.

AIBU and overprotective to consider this poor judgement by the school?

OP posts:

Original poster

ForkieForkie · 19/04/2015 11:02

For what its worth I would care little (if at all) about Penis Breath - esp compared to sad scenes, threat or violence. That to me is a good example of caring about the wrong things.

OP posts:

JohnCusacksWife · 19/04/2015 12:26

I'm confused by this thread. HTTYD is a U, not a PG. Why on earth would a U film be unsuitable for children??

Pipbin · 19/04/2015 12:36

You are right John, I've just checked and it is a U, as is the sequel.

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 19/04/2015 12:37

According to idmb (or whatever it's called) it's a PG.

I think schools should err on the side of caution with this stuff, there are plenty of U films and so that is fine for 4yo I think.

I am more concerned about the post upthread "She said the screen was turned off at the worst parts (rape, beatings) but the sound was on. Parents were not informed and students were not given the option of not watching. DD was very upset by the film. I've avoided it myself due to the content and I was angry that it was forced on Y8 kids." I think that is really really awful. Children should have been given the opportunity to sit that one out if they wished. Statistically likely that a child/ren in the class will have been raped themselves for example, or just really disturbed by it (I avoid films and progs with rape and have since I was young) and absolutely for content like that children (and adults) should be given the option to opt out.

One that happened to us when DD1 was in recep (age 4) was that she came home saying that the soldiers had come for the people and killed them all and killed the children, and she was drawing really disturbing pictures. From what she said, I said it sounds like the holocaust, or maybe something from the bible eg killing of the first borns (it is a religious school). But I thought it can't be the first one and what on earth have they been telling them? Anyway I mentioned it to the teacher at pick-up as she was talking about it all the time and drawing these awful pictures and the teacher said "oh yes there was a day focussing on the holocaust for the older children with pictures films and stories I expect she saw some of that". WTF?

Anyway. So yes while children need to not be coddled, equally they shouldn't have the shit scared out of them when they're tiny / be exposed to things which they personally might find extremely traumatic with no opt-out.

JohnCusacksWife · 19/04/2015 12:44

I'm wrong...it's the additional material on the DVD that's a U - the actual film itself is a PG. have to say I'm surprised by that as, for me, there's nothing in HTTYD that would merit a PG. perhaps I'm just a lax parent though!

Brandysnapper · 19/04/2015 12:58

There is rape and beatings in HTTYD?

Sootgremlin · 19/04/2015 12:59

It's fine if you want to show your three year old a PG if you think they'll be ok with it.

But I don't show my 3 year old every film that is 'for children', I use my own judgement as he is quite sensitive to what he watches and gets upset by certain things, so I would be concerned about him watching something in a room full of other kids and unable to express his discomfort. That would come out later, during the night. Thanks, school.

I've vetoed Paddington and HTTYD 2 based on the imdb guidance as I know it wouldn't be suitable for my 3 year old and there's plenty of other things for him to watch in the mean time.

WhirlpoolGalaxyM51 · 19/04/2015 13:21

Sorry BrandySnapper I didn't think of people who hadn't read the whole thread, and cut an important bit off. This might be better:

" DD (13) watched 12 Years A Slave at school this year as they were looking at the slave trade. She said the screen was turned off at the worst parts (rape, beatings) but the sound was on. Parents were not informed and students were not given the option of not watching. DD was very upset by the film. I've avoided it myself due to the content and I was angry that it was forced on Y8 kids."

steppemum · 19/04/2015 13:34

Our school asks us to sign a form to say whether or not our kids can watch PG films.
They then will not show PG to a class without permission.

This has actually caused a problem as I had all mine on no PG in reception, but then happy to remove it once they hit year 2. The school system somehow didn't remove it, and ds year 6 class weren't allowed to watch a film!!

I am a big How to Train Your Dragon fan, but mine didn't watch it in reception.

The point is not actually whether or not any mn thinks it is fine, or would show it to their own kids, the point is that it is a PG rating and therefore should not be shown to under 8 without permission. It is the parents choice.

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