To ask if you'd let your children watch horror movies?

[LiteraryDevil1]

DDs tell me they have been watching horror movies at their dad's. Stbexh's gf watches 18 rated horror films with her ds who is 7. "He doesn't find them scary as he knows they aren't real." They watched Poltergeist at ages 8 and 10 with his gf. I'm unimpressed and don't think it's appropriate at all.

I should add my DDs are 11 and 9.

I have ten year olds and no, I don’t.

I wouldn't but my sister and I watched Poltergeist at similar ages and used to rent horror films from the video shop including newer ones like 'Scream' (at the time) so I know that makes me hypocritical.

I do think all children are different and some won't be phased by horror movies, some will. Just the same as adults. But..I think it doesn't matter what other people do. If you aren't comfortable with it you have the right to ask that they not be exposed to these movies when they're at their dads. Although, that being said, if he still lets them do it then you can be upset about it but not sure that there's really any actions you can take.

By the end of year 7 half of my class had watched Scream (or they were lying) but me and my friends certainly had when we were 11.

MY DC are 11 and 13 and I found out a few months back that they've been watching horrors at a friend's house (they go quite often for sleepovers) for over a year. I probably wouldn't have let them watch them, but now that they have, I can report that there don't seem to be any negative effects.

I think the old horrors just make them laugh because of the old style special effects, and they seem to prefer the comedy type like Scream.

I watched Jaws when I was 7 in 1981. And I loved the old black and white horrors. I was 8 when I saw Halloween.

Don't think it did me any harm. Although my prison psychiatrist thinks otherwise.

No way. They're 18 for a reason.

No, I wouldn't allow this. They may not find them scary but things from them will stick in their subconscious. They are rated 18 for a reason.

I loved ghost stories and I was shown poltergeist at age 9 by my parents. I was mesmerised and I still love it.

Now, my 14 year old nephew has nightmares over normal tele things, so he wouldn’t have had the constitution to see it age 9 and not now!

We are all different

I feel it’s not worth the risk - it might be fine but what if something in the film really upsets them/traumatises them and gives them nightmares etc?

I think we all remember scary things we saw from tv/films as kids that stay with us now!

I would. Nothing very disturbing such as 'A Serbian Film' but slasher stuff like 'Scream' I would be fine with at that age

Nope. I accidentally had a glimpse of a horror film being shown in a hotel when I was a kid and it really upset me.

Something age appropriate with a bit of chill/thrill factor is okay depending on the child, but there is literally no good reason for young children to watch 18 rated horror films.

No, but then I couldn't even watch Dr Who as a child! So I can't imagine letting my children watch an 18 Horror.

No I wouldn't. I think they can cause sleep problems later, even if they don't surface that night.

@polkadotpixie

I wouldn't even recommend that adults watch "A Serbian film". I certainly wish I hadn't! and I love horror movies! That was just sick.

No no no!!

Horror films and porn are just hideous. Keep children away as long as possible.

Blimey! These responses are a bit different to the Love Island question! For the record, both are inappropriate for kids of that age, they are 18 rated for a reason.

@ShatnersWig

I wouldn't, no

I watched The Omen when I was about 8 at a neighbours house her older brothers put it on. I don't think it did me lasting damage though I hate horror films and never watch them now.

But I wouldn't let my young children watch them.

Uh no and the situation you’re describing is a safeguarding issue.

I think age ratings are there for a reason but each child matures differently and so it may be okay to allow a child to view something a year or two early than advised.

Really think it is not okay though for anyone under the age of 12 to be watching anything 18 rated though that's for sure!

I watched my first horror film when I was 11 but then again it was only The Others so hardly terrifying

I had a thing for horrors when I was 12 but never watched an 18, just 15s. The age ranges seem more lax now. There's a lot more swearing, sex and violence in films rated younger than 18 than used to be in a 15 back in the late 80s.
I still remember poltergeist and how scared I was and the memories still freak me out.
Indiana Jones and the temple of doom was quite traumatic at around age 8 too.

I am still scared after watching them when I was young! I’m a firm no! Why risk it?