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?

Also, your attitude that your kids will be OK 'cause they're supposedly "wiser" and "intelligent" than everyone else's is both naive and patronising.

The parent also said the ratings should be enforced. I felt so sorry for that kid who completely missed out on such an important film because of their parent being homophobic and unable to actually believe that a teacher might know better than them about the suitability of a film

So you think that you know better than the people who rate films for a living?

I do take your point about the parent being homophobic but the rating is still what it is. Some year 8s have only just turned 12. I have not seen the film though so happy to accept that you may be right that it's fine.

I thought that some films had different versions for use in school - eg Schindlers List.

not saying other parents don't know their kids, just that if a kid does watch something and is scared by it, I'm more able to break down something so they can see that it's fiction.

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But there are many many people out there just as capable of doing this. Not just English teachers. There are many intelligent sensible parents who can do the same. Some of those may still decide not to allow their children to watch films with higher age ratings. For a whole host of reasons.

Of course I am fully aware what is in the game. Why would I comment on it otherwise? I don't agree with the content of the game. I certainly don't agree with kids playing it.

This is such a bizarre thread. OP I didn't suggest your family was incapable of free thought etc. So your 'don't you dare' is a bit odd to say the least. There is no point to your thread as you just want to tell people they are wrong and you have all the answers.

I only have the one 12 year old so I DO have time to watch or play before saying yes or no. Sometimes it is yes for a 15 sometimes no, though we all tend to watch films of this nature together and have turned off if DS is getting uncomfortable with the content. He is our child and only his dad and I and now he is older DS himself know what he is able to cope with or not. IMO ratings are a guidance not law. Games are the same.

myfavouritecolourispurple

I was one of those people until a couple of years ago. Excellent job but all of us were pretty aware at how ridiculous the boundaries were. We lobbied hard for certain films (we managed to pass The King's Speech at a 12A) but sometimes we just couldn't.

Everyone I worked with had other jobs, which is why I quite like the BBFC, but as I said, we were all aware that the categories just aren't fit for purpose. There's no one size fits all kind of thing.

0urKid

You sound controlling and abusive. To snap a game in two? Really? And to say your future adult DC can't choose what content they consume? Sorry, but that is absolutely disgusting and you should be ashamed. You may disagree with something but you have no right to tell an adult what they are and aren't allowed to do.

I just remember being incredibly relieved that I didn't let DS1, who was probably about 6 at the time, watch "Four Weddings And A Funeral" with me. For those that don't remember, the 1st 6 words are all the same and not one I would have wanted a 6 year old to repeat.

My kids are younger but I've just let my 7yo watch her first 12A. She's also allowed to play the Sims. I think we'll be a bit stricter on 15s and 18s though, as a PP said I really can't be bothered to prewatch everything and see if it's suitable so will wait until they're around the right age. I was allowed to watch 15s and 18s at the age of 10, some were quite disturbing tbh and I was too young for the sexual stuff.

I'm a bit of a cinema fan and so generally see most films before DC do. It's why I let them watch Deadpool - I'd seen it, loved it and knew they could handle it. As predicted, it has become a firm favourite. 18s are on an approval basis. I didn't let them watch Hostel because I felt that was probably something not right for a 14 year old and was probably more suited to 16. Didn't let them watch Saw either, for similar reasons.

They've seen Alien, Friday the 13th, The Exorcist etc all of which are 18s, but I had to approve them first.

Really strict here, they're rated for a reason.

DDs are almost 14 and almost 16 - we have always just vetted things first and then decided, it works pretty well. When they were younger, they were sensitive and had nightmares so we stuck with younger stuff. Now they're older and can handle more so we have adapted. They aren't into violent games at all (still like MarioKart on the old Wii) and with films they go by what DH and I decide. We did take them to take Suicide Squad on our local USAF base where the rating meant DD2 was allowed to see it (US rating PG-13) and we all enjoyed it as a family. I think you have to go by what you know about your own children.

DS is 10. I'll let him watch PG and 12a films and will let him watch 12 films / play 12 games once I've checked them out. I would not be happy with him playing most 15 games and would definitely not allow 18 games or films.

Off topic - thanks for recommending Pride. I've just watched the trailer and am about to buy it.

Stick The Human Centipede on as a birthday treat, I'm sure they will be able to "handle" it.

I stick to ratings because I am still scared of some stuff I saw as a child. The result being that ds is really bored of the films I will let him watch and prefers Youtube where he watches God knows what. I am the classically useless parent in this regard but I don't care - there is still a deep fear in my heart based on something I saw aged 11 on children's BBC. IMO the things that are too much to cope with aren't predictable and it's too late when you say 'hmm that was too scary'.

I wouldn't let a 13 year old watch alien or the exorcist

Ratings are there for a reason but there's also a case for using your own discretion. I wouldn't be happy letting my kids watch an over-age film I hadn't seen, but if I'd seen it I would be able to judge its suitability. Common Sense Media is a useful website where parents and kids give their views on what age a film is suitable for and why. I don't always agree with what they say but it's useful. For example I thought Back to the Future - oh really fun film, they'll love it. Checked Common Sense Media and it turned out I had completely forgotten there is actually a lot of swearing in it.

My kids are 6, 8 and 10, and mostly watch PG and U but have watched the new Star Wars which was 12A (basically same a PG).

The oldest watched Titanic (rated 15) aged 8 because she'd read a book about it at school and was fascinated. I was right in assuming the sex stuff in it would go completely over her head. The actual boat sinking/people drowning stuff was a bit scary but actually ok as we cuddled up.

10 year old has been asking to watch Grease, and we haven't let her because of all the stuff to do with sex in it. Funnily enough though if we'd let her watch it at the age of 4 or 5 (like some people I know), the sex stuff would have gone completely over her head. Now, she would know more what it was about and therefore it would be less appropriate now.

Sometimes ratings don't guide you. Years ago my then 11 year old cousin came to stay and said she wanted to watch Minority Report ("All my friends have seen it") which was a 12 so I thought, okay, close enough. We put it on, and after a short while she was terrified and begging me to switch off! In the end we watched Four Weddings and a funeral which is rated 15 for swearing and sex but was still much more appropriate for her than the 12 rated film she'd picked.

My parents were of the 'children know their limits' ilk and what a bloody stupid phrase to use and live by.

I can assure you I didn't know my limits when I was 12 and have been affected by what I watchedr back then my whole life.

Oh and 12 is a child. Saying 12 and 14 year old aren't children is ridiculous and makes what you say even more daft.

You can usually spot the kids that have been allowed to watch/play stuff that's definitely not appropriate - because it does affect them.

I cannot believe you called Ourkid controlling and abusive for snapping a game in half. It's a game, a cheap piece of plastic and the actions were not in the least shameful. The child won't be an adult for another 8 years being 10 at the time so I'm struggling to understand the logic behink the last sentence where you imply ourkid is dictating terms to an adult. Moreover, the game was given clandestinely. I would have been fuming at the person, who saw fit to dictate to me what my child was and wasn't allowed to do.

I'm not controlling or abusive. I have good boundaries. Initially I was on board with this thread because I do believe in parental discretion. Now not so much.

My Dd 5 likes superman and ghost busters 2 both 12 I think superhero films are better to judge. She wants to watch batman - Christian bale ones but I don't let her as i think the connotations and evil ones are to much for her. But like someone said you know your own children. To be honest I ban peppa pig as much as I can after DD started copying phrases and speaking to me incorrectly , I find peppas tone rude and patronising far more influential on her than Spider-Man . I am quite shocked about 10/11 year olds watching the walking dead it disturbs my sleep!!!! But each to their own!! We don't game in this house but I know many parents with 10/11/12 and GTA