To let my 7 and almost 9 year old dd's watch this?

[justalittlelemondrizzle]

We're working through the Harry Potter films which they're loving so far. As am I. Next up is The Deathly Hallows p1. I haven't seen these ones but I hear they're much more grown up and dark than the others.
Would you reccommend I let the dd's watch this with me tonight or are they too young?

No way would I show that to a 6 year old.

My kids watched it at around that age, they're were grand about it, but they knew the story, had watched all the other films and we watched it together. Even now my 9 year old has at least one of the HP films/ books on some kind of loop every week. If it's too much or if they're not enjoying it you can turn it off and come back to it. I think with mine the worst that could happen in the Harry Potter story already happened before the books began ifykwim so everything else seemed less sad to them, they shed a bit of a tear at some of the deaths but then they asked for some sweets and bickered about which character was the best.

There's no way I'd let a 7 YO watch it.

We let DS2 (almost 10) watch part 1 last week. It was a mistake because we both sat there thinking it was too old (we'd both seen it and read the books but you forget the detail unless you're watching it for the purpose of checking it). We're delaying part 2 for another year or so. We'd have been better delaying both of them.

Mine watched them at that age, I let them after my eldest had finished reading all the books and knew what would happen. I watched them all myself first and warned them of all the characters who died so they weren't upset when it happened. My kids are fairly tough when it comes to viewing though, they're going towards 9 and 10 and I'm happy for them to watch most 12 certificate films.

Oh no too many spoilers. I said I hadn't seen it yet guys Argghh! Thanks for the advice I think I might have to give it a watch first

Hmm. I'm a big Harry Potter fan, but think Deathly Hallows may be too much for a 7 and a 9 year old.
You know your child though and how they will react.
There's a torture scene which could be scary for them, and Dobby will be found upsetting
A lot darker and scarier than the other ones in my opinion.

Oh come on Trifle not seeing a film even if they are HP fans will hardly "be torture". . Teaching your children to cope with delayed gratification is an excellent life skill.

I also think you underestimate the impact a scary/dark film can have on a child. It can preoccupy their thoughts for a long time. My kids are pretty robust, but even we have had sleepless nights through nightmares after seeing something scary.

I do think though it can be hard for adults to judge what a child will find upsetting after all we see nuances and cultural references in films that pass a child by. On the other hand sometimes kids find stuff distressing that we wouldn't have even thought of.

Our rule with HP is that you don't see the film until after you have read the book. My DC are 8yo and we've got as far as the Order of the Phoenix.

We might read the next book together as a Christmas treat.

Spoilers?! Blimey, I thought you'd at least have read the book and had a vague idea of the plotline!
Hope I was vague though, I didn't give away any proper information.
Hate spoilers.

Part 1 is so angsty I wanted to shake them

I wonder if the main issue for younger children with Deathly Hallows part one might be holding their interest. I seem to remember that there's an awful lot of travelling/ navel gazing/existential angst.

I can't remember how old our boys were when they watched them; but we did have a 'book first' rule.

Order of the Pheonix is our families favourite we watch the film often

Yea DHp1 is maybe a bit mature for younger kids they might get bored

Amelia: Obviously I am using the word 'torture' hyperbolically

But it would be really disappointing. Unless the film is totally unsuitable, I would always give it a go.

Hmmm I can't really remember what happens in it but I do know my DD1 watched DH at the cinema as they came out -she'd read the books by then - so for part 1 she would be 9.5yo. She's not a very sensitive child so I didn't even think about it... and she was fine.
However I let her watch the Woman in Black (was a 15 at cinema but a 12 on DVD) on her own two months before her 12th birthday and it was a mistake. She had nightmares, needed to sleep with the lights on etc for months afterwards. I watch it afterwards and it is really scary. Can't believe it is a 12
So now I watch anything that might be remotely questionable myself before for both DCs ...and make a decision of suitability based on that.

DS was 6 when he watched them all. As MrsJay said he did get bored with the later films which were a bit too serious, he went from cuddled up on the couch with me for the first few to half heartedly watching while playing with his Lego with the later ones. The more scarier bits did peak his interest but I have a strange child who loves that kind of stuff, poor kid is wishing his life away so he can be 14 and watch The Walking Dead! 🙄

Yes, Woman in Black is really scary. I wouldn't let mine watch that under 14-15.

Trifle yes I got the hyperbole thanks.

I don't generally make decisions based on what the kids will find disappointing. I make them on what's best for the child.

When we started reading the very first HP book when the DC were 5 yo I explained that we wouldn't be rushing through the series and that there would be gaps between each book. They are big fans, but they've managed to cope.

We've being going through them at slightly more than one a year. They enjoy the books far more than the films but I tend to use the films as a special treat around birthdays/Christmas/holidays.

There are loads of other books to read out there and some wonderful series. OP let me recommend Cressida Cowell's How to Train your dragon series if you haven't already discovered it. It's completely wonderful and the films aren't really based on the books.

Amelia, I think you need to unclench a bit. I am not suggesting letting your kids watch films uncritically, only that I believe - as I am entitled to - that age ratings should be taken with a pinch of salt. In my experience most children don't mind mild scares. I'm glad you have found suitable alternatives.

my girls are the same ages and HP mad. we have only let them watch the first 3 films, they have read the first 3 books. I will probably let them read the 4th book soon (as soon as I remember what on earth happens in it) but not letting them have the film yet. They do ask when they can see the other films (especially the younger one) but i have explained that they weren't written for their age group and that the films are too much for them at the moment and they accept that. they have friends who have seen them and some of them have been put off the whole HP stuff as a result of finding them too much. JK Rowling didn't write them for children that age, I am pretty sure I read something once where she said she was horrified when she found out young children were reading the later books and i personally found some of the later films dark and sinister so no in our house they won't be watching them for some time but all children are different and you know yours best.

My "Rule" was that they had to have read the book first.

I won't post spoilers but it is a 12 for a reason - it really isn't suitable for your average 7 year old!

Trifle The issue with HP is not about "mild scares" it's about dark and disturbing themes and content which can play on a child's mind for a long time afterwards.

Amelia: Sorry, I simply don't agree. I was a thick-skinned child myself, all my students (I am a teacher) enjoy scary themes except for one or two and I think it's easy to over-react. Hence the age ratings on films being advisory, not compulsory.

Trifle a child watching a film in a classroom with 20 other kids is not really not the same intensity as watching at home

I and the other parents on this thread are not "overreacting". We're making considered judgements for our children.

If in 5 years time you want to show your DC all 8 HP films in a row that's completely up to you but the OP was asking for considered opinions and that's what I was giving.

Amelia: Making considered judgements for our children is the only thing I am advocating. My personal view is that you were overreacting to my post, but you are absolutely entitled to think what you like about HP and the DH. I am too.