AIBU to find it annoying that so many unsuitable films are marketed at children?

[redpickle]

My DS is 5 and keeps going on and on about the last Star Wars - The Force Awakens. He's asked to watch it so many times in the last year but it's really not suitable (12 rating). Yet, toys, lunch boxes, games etc for these films (Spider-Man is another one) all aimed at his age.

Not expecting anything to change but just wondered if it's just me? His Christmas list is full of this stuff - should I avoid the merchandise? Or hope it bridges the gap until he's old enough to watch it?

[Hamiltoes]

My DB who is 2 absolutely loves Star Wars although he's never seen the film, he just plays with the characters and costumes and makes it up as he goes along. I don't think it's U to have toys of things they can't yet watch, it doesn't all have to be about the films? My SF tells him stories.

But most of these things have a lego animated version anyway now don't they?

And 12As aren't just for over 12s. Some kids just genuinely don't get scared or worried about things on TV. My 6yo dd has a pretty solid grasp that its not real, but my 5 yo db would be terrified. Kids are different.

[RitaCrudgington]

12A was introduced at the time of the Tim Burton Batman to placate parents of 10 year olds desperate to watch slightly tough superhero movies - still very relevant. It's also become a licence for crap parenting by people who are too cheap to get a babysitter and therefore drag their three year old to SPECTRE.

The nadirs of unsuitable tie-in marketing are the Halo and Call of Durt Mega Bloks toys, based on series of games which are suitable for 16+ year olds.

[nancy75]

12a is for any age with an adult, I found this out yesterday when 2 five year olds totally ruined our enjoyment of the fantastic beasts film

[leccybill]

Inside Out confused me. It's very kid-friendly on a simple level, with Bing Bong etc... but the themes are quite deep.

[FeelingSmurfy]

It works the opposite way too, complex games and things aimed at older children but with characters they are long past at 3, it means they want it or someone buys it thinking it will be OK because it's teletubbies or whatever and they can't use it so get upset or frustrated.

I've even seen cards for 1&2yr olds with badges and a warning of not suitable for under 36 months!!!

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

We watched Kubo and the Two Strings at the weekend. It distressed one of my seven year olds much more than any of the films you mention. The adult themes of a parent dying and such like.

YANBU. My just turned five year old has seen all of those films and is fine with them, but I do agree they shouldn't be targeting little kids when the film is as 12a.

[Nataleejah]

YABU
Star wars, Harry Potter, most traditional superheroes -- its primary school-aged kids stuff.
If a child has NIGHTMARES after a children's film -- i'm afraid there are much deeper issues to worry about

[BonusNewt]

See for me it's not just about scary or not scary. People were saying to me oh, Force Awakens isn't scary, your six year old will be fine. It's more about is this appropriate material for a six year old? Do I want him to see an entire village being slaughtered even if he would be completely fine with it? Do I particularly want him to become so desensitised to violence?

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

This is not a new thing though. Mel Gibson's Signs (2002) is legendary in our house for scaring the shit out of our kids on family film night. DD(17) still refuses a re watch.

[Nataleejah]

But Signs was a 'proper horror' film

[Colby43443]

The first three movies (Harrison Ford) range from U to PG - maybe start him on those? The new Star Wars isn't any different really, just the ratings have gotten a bit harsher over the years.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Indeed Nataleejah. It was a 12A though, so we expected a few family friendly ET/Independence day type scares for the 10 year old to enjoy. Probably should have read some reviews

[redpickle]

Yes bonusnewt that's exactly it too maybe inappropriate is a better term, rather than scary! Let kids be kids. Plenty of time in life for dealing with gritty, horrible things. I am talking about a 5 year old not 10.

[Nataleejah]

The 12 rating is very misleading. An 11yo is under 12. So is a 5yo. It reminds me of various activities advertised for "over 50's" when they are really meant for 75+

[MrsMook]

12A is to the discretion and supervision of the parent. DS likes Star Wars having seen the original trilogy. He saw The Force Awakens soon after his 5th birthday near the end of its cinema run after we'd asked around various people to gauge its suitability. He hasn't seen episodes 2 or 3 as 2 is a bit dry for his age group and Anakin's fate is rather graphic.

Lots of things like superheros work on many levels. I liked the Adam West series of Batman (kerpow!), but can't bear to be in the room during The Dark Knight. There are adult versions and child friendly animations featuring the same characters (Lego Star Wars, Clone Wars animations). There is usually something pitched at the audience along with the merchandise.

[SortAllTheThings]

You can like the star wars toys and have no clue about the film (as an 8yo). You can also be almost completely unaware of the whole star wars spam fest. DS is clueless.

[redpickle]

When we went to see Spectre there was a little lad about 8yrs in the row in front of us - the bit where the guy gets his eyes pushed out was distressing for me and this boy started crying and was very upset so his dad took him out - it's a bit late though - you can't unsee that!

My Dad was always showing us inappropriate movies that he thought would be educational . I watched something about Mussolini and there was an awful scene where a cat was tied to a wall and head butted to death. I was about 9 and I can still remember it. Awful.

[SpiceAddict]

Goosebumps is a PG and it is horrible! There are some very sinister themes and characters in there, I couldn't believe that it wasn't at least a 12.

Some ratings make no sense

[redpickle]

That was absolutely nothing to do with my question about merchandise.. sorry bit of a tangent.

Thanks for the replies - really interesting responses.

[bumsexatthebingo]

I was surprised The Force Awakens got a 12a tbh. There is no realistic violence or gore in it. Lots of stormtroopers being shot with lasers but that's about it. No foul language I don't think either. The child being kidnapped in the BFG on the other hand or the parent deaths in most Disney films are likely to be much more distressing.

[Secondtimesally]

I think it very much depends on the child. We had movie afternoon on the sofa yesterday with DSs 5 and 2. 5 year old was scared of the main character in Despicable Me so we had to switch to Wallace and Gromit. About 6 months ago he was afraid of the fistfight in Toy Story (Woody vs Buzz). 2 year old fine with both!

[griffinsss]

Star Wars Rebels! That's it! Thanks BonusNewt

[Ledehe]

The woman in black is a 12.

Was so creepy I couldn't believe it wasn't a 15

[gillybeanz]

I just used to tell them they had to wait until they were old enough, they soon got the message.
In the end they knew better than to ask, but still enjoyed the toys.
I think it was xmen, ninja turtles and power rangers with them.
Then harry Potter et al.
If you make them wait until they are either old enough or mature enough they enjoy it all the more.
There are plenty of age appropriate films and merchandise for everyone.

[firawla]

The merchandise isn't just for the films though, most of these characters have cartoon versions and books etc etc and they don't even really need to watch the cartoon ones to enjoy the toys. My 5 year OK has quite a bit of Star Wars and marvel toys and figures but he hasn't seen any of the movies - it hasn't stopped his enjoyment of playing with them. I would have thought a lot of kids this age are in the same situation