How firm are you with age ratings on films/games?

[BowieFan]

DS1 and DS2 are both 14 (15 in two weeks) and I've pretty much let them watch anything up to a 15 since they were about 11, as they were both sensible kids and most of the time they were watching the films with us anyway.

18 rated films are kind of an approval basis. DS1 is a horror nut and I have no issue with him seeing things like The Exorcist or Friday the 13th. Anything like 50 Shades of Grey, they'd have to come to me first to have a discussion on why it's not a healthy relationship and all that, and if they understood it I'd probably let them watch.

Games don't come up that often but I've pretty much let them have GTA and CoD since they were 12 as me and DP are both gamers and understand what they're playing. We wouldn't let them have horror games until this year though because we're aware they affect you differently to horror films.

How firm are you on age rating things?

Yes you did. You went on a big defence of GoT rounded off with "apparently nobody is allowed to watch challenging stuff any more"

It's right up there ^^^ you can't miss it

Stop trying to justify letting young children watch inappropriate trash by pretending it's highbrow. At least get them on to Nabokov or something. I'm not as sure about films, my film studies friends all went on about one called Martyrs, no idea what it's about though.

I think it depends on lots of factors. I have a 10 year old who's allowed to watch Marvel superhero 12a but wouldn't cope with other 12a like The Hunger Games so he doesn't watch those.

His 13 year old sibling is a horror movie fan. I'm happy for her to watch an 18 but not "torture porn" like Human Centipede. She doesn't like nudity/sex so she mainly watches 15 rated movies that I've already watched so she knows that it won't involve rape/sex/nudity.

Computer games - I suspect that online games automatically attract a higher rating PEGI 12 because of the online/social feature. The 10 year old is allowed to play 12 rated games as the console is in the living room, he mutes other people's mics and doesn't accept friend requests from randoms. This has worked for many years.

Buggerismyoldboot

I didn't say GoT was challenging though. That part of the sentence was about anything that features graphic sex or violence.

And again, you come out with the editorialising. My children are 15 in two weeks, that's not young. In 12 months they can quite legally go and get married in Scotland if they want to.

Why do you have to call things you don't like trash? I don't like Poldark, but I don't call it trash and say anyone who watches it is watching trash. I'm also not trying to justify myself to anyone, I couldn't give a flying fuck about what people think about my choices. As I said, we see a social worker about twice a year due to us adopting our sons, and she has never once had any cause for concern. In her words "You're actually up there with the best adoptive parents I've ever dealt with and your kids are a credit to you and your family"

I know my kids better than you do. GoT is not inappropriate trash and the one son who watches it enjoys it. DS2 watched 20 minutes of an episode and was bored by it. So he doesn't watch it. I personally do not understand why DS2 will watch every waking minute of Agents of SHIELD, but I don't think it's trash or inappropriate just because I don't like it.

My DT are 14 and i go off my own judgement with films. Usually they can watch up to 15 IF it doesn't have too much violence or graphic sexual content.

Games wise I am more laid back. They have GTA and a few similar games. I personally think some people get a bit hysterical about that game. I have played it and much of it is ironic. Of course a much younger child is different but teens I would guess it is ok it's just a game. You can run people over in lego games. Although I admit I am not keen on the prostitute and stripper side of it.

Just to add for visiting children I always check with the parents if it is anything other than a PG/12. Including games like GTA.

BertrandRussell

Why don't you just bugger off instead of patronising me? You're not better than me, you're not better than any of us.

No, I'm not better than you or anyone else. You just remind me of my teenagers, that's all.

Why do you think I don't like things I call trash? I love a bit of trashy TV now and again, I just don't feel the need to show it to children. As for GoT, I have enjoyed some of it. I'm friends with some of the cast, and I got to see quite a bit of "behind the scenes" during the first series - there's a lot of creative talent in that show

Age 15 or so, fine, but there was a previous poster who was letting her primary aged daughter watch GoT. Is that OK then? It's fairly obvious that there's a grey area over all sorts of things during the middle teenage years, but I don't think 12 year old children- and they are children, despite what you think - need access to films/shows that have been created for an adult audience

Bowie you've been patronising anyone who disagrees with you since the start of the thread! You said the world I lived in was laughable, so it's a bit hypocritical ironic that you're getting irritated about being patronised.

Yes, the world you live in where social services get involved for a child playing a game at a higher age rating is a laughable world, sorry.

Real social services have more important things to do.

I said fuck all about me involving social services, I said that its policy if a primary age child says it at school then child protection proceedings kick in. Read my posts before you sneer at me.

For the record, I wouldn't involve social services, I'd just think their parents were shit.

I think the age restrictions are appropriate. My kids might watch something a year early and I'm happy with that.

The key thing for me is that I don't want to desensitise my kids and get them used to films/games that are too old for them. Unsettling things can't be unseen and I'd much rather my kids found their fun more creatively and not on COD or whatever.

Why did you start the thread Bowie?

I was just wondering about everyone's stance on music. I used to look after 2 girls occasionally who I thought were incredibly young for their age (9 and 11) to be honest I wouldn't of dreamed of showing them even a PG because I do not think either of them could have handled some of those! That being said I assumed their parents were quite strict about movies and games due to this. What I did not expect and was quite shocked at althoughalsoimmenselyfunny-- was when I took them for a trip in the car and they brought their new Katy Perry CD to listen to. I haven't really listened to her since her kissed a girl days and although it had 'explicit lyrics' on the front, their DM had got it for them so didn't even think about it. Cue 15 minutes later to me switching it off as they were both in the back loudly singing along to the lyrics - "let me see your peacock, cock, cock. Your peacock, cock!" I have to admit though, I thought it was very funny but did at least hide this fact whilst giggling to myself in the front.
Just wondering how people handle this with kids I know a lot of songs are modified for radio etc but I am unaware if you can actually buy the modified versions on cd

Rose I'd bet 75% of people never listen to lyrics but my husband loves his music and got our kids into bands who sing songs with wildly inappropriate lyrics which I then filter because they ask me what things mean. DS1 was asking about lyrics about teen suicide and depression when he was 8... DH had never properly listened to the lyrics.

You make a good point - for pre teens parents should be paying attention to music too!

I remember being about 10 and begging my mum for the new Eminem album! She said no and I was devastated. Now I look back and think I was a proper twat to her about a bloody cd! Haha I'm kind of ashamed of my child self sometimes!
I love music and the lyrics to me are the best part If I'm honest. But some can be more inappropriate than films for kids (that lily Allen song about the wet patch springs to mind!)

Oh god! Suicide and depression at 8!! Have fun with than convo 5moreminutes!!! Hahaha just wait till he asks how one smacks his bitch up (sorry totally laughing at this and probably shouldn't be )

With music, i once made a grave mistake to take my then 5yo DS2 to a festival where The Wurzels were performing. "I am a cider drinker" became his favourite tune

I would look at the "Parents Guide" on IMDB. Or www.kids-in-mind.com

My younger sister has been watching Jurassic Park since she was around 6, whereas I still find them jumpy!

It was me who said my dd watches GoT with me. I don't think she is more intelligent or mature than anyone elses child, she certainly doesn't go to school telling other kids they are 'babyish' (she'd have a job convincing them she was more mature when she likes to sit and watch Peppa Pig too!). She just came in once when I was watching it on catch up and was fascinated by the costumes and the dragons. She just doesn't scare easily, that's all, she knows its not real and it just doesn't bother her. I'm not justifying it to anyone. I'm perfectly happy with my choices and I wouldn't dream of letting anyone elses child watch a cert film they weren't happy with.

8 y o DS is an avid Star Wars fan. He has the original trilogy which is U. He could see 3 of the prequels which are U and PG but the Force Awakens and Revenge of the Sith are 12A,

He seems to have matured a lot in recent months but still I am wary of showing him violent stuff.

Of course all his friends have apparently seen all the movies...

What would other people do?

herecomes. Star Wars, i would think is fine assuming he isn't going to act it out. I assume not at his age. Dd isn't in to Star Wars. She's watched some of the Harry Potters and parts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Both have certain 12A certs. She's 8. For her it's just entertainment but she's not that interested and usually goes off to play. Only you know your child.