9yo watched JAWS on sleepover

[VikingBlonde]

I've just picked up my DD from a sleepover, she's just 9 and a gentle, fairly sensitive sort. First thing she says to me is "I really didn't like Jaws mummy!" And the dad is like "oh yeah that might not have been the best choice of movie ..."

I'm fewwwmin! Jaws is a horror film. I watched it recently and jumped out of my skin a few times. And I'm not bloody well 9. There's a shed load of claret and kids being eaten alive and realistic limbs being severed and we are - to cap it all off - going on our ONLY holiday of the whole year (cos we are skint) camping at the beach tomorrow. She's already told me she won't be getting in the water when she normally loves bodyboarding. CHEERS FOR THAT!!!

The kid who's house the sleepover happened at is a child who can't have sleepovers at anyone else's cos she gets anxious and stressed if she's away from her own home so how the effing chuff have they managed to show MY kid a horror movie while she's there!!!??? Grrrrrrrr

We have had a talk about there NOT being great whites around the UK and that the film is just pretend but she just recounted the part about the little boy getting eaten and burst into tears.


What would you do?

[ScrambledSmegs]

Poor kid . It doesn't matter whether someone else's child loved it/could see it was fake instantly etc, your DC was scared and I don't think it's a great film to show on a sleepover without checking with parents first.

Definitely have a chat with her about the unrealistic portrayal of great whites in this film.

[HoverParent]

Jaws is a great movie. It's not a horror movie, it's a Spielberg movie. You can get your kid into Spielberg in a big way after that. Our kid fell in love with the movie at age 7, and has seen most Spielberg movies now. It helps to understand a lot of American culture references, and in understanding most plot devices in modern American cinematography. You're gonna need a bigger boat!

[HoverParent]

I should add that our kid's entrance exam into a selective indie was to write a horror story! So it helps to have exposure to the scary genre in general, definitely helped us secure our spot!

[FranticallyPeaceful]

I remember my friend was the same, scared of really unscary films. it was shit because we couldn’t ever watch what we wanted to watch so eventually stopped inviting her to sleepovers. Her mum had the same kind of reaction as your post about it all too, which is likely where she got it from. A learned reaction.

Sleepovers were better without her.

[Vagndidit]

I would have no issue with my 10y.o. DS watching it at home, and he has, but seems a bit of a poor film choice for a group of children you don't really know well enough.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I was just coming on to say it’s been reclassified as a 12A.

I’m sure my dd (10) would be fine but that doesn’t mean I’d show it to her or any of her friends right now. Jurassic Park imo is a lot less graphic. Dd watched all or most of them maybe a year ago.

If their dd wasn’t claiming to be too scared to go away on a sleepover I’d probably say nothing. However, seeing as they are sensitive to her needs, they’re bloody stupid not to tend to those of others. Personally I’d be saying something to the parents.

[catsoup]

Show her the Keith Lemon and Paddy McGuiness version of it. Total pisstake about the special effects.

[Kingkiller]

Wow, that's not a very sympathetic attitude, Frantically. My dd (13) will watch anything, but has a friend who is easily scared by surprisingly mild things. I know the girl's mother well and she's not over-protective at all. Dd and her friends don't mind watching things the scared girl likes, because she's their friend!

[Twistella]

Jurassic World is a big step up in terms of violence compared to the others. ANd it's crap.

[HeresMeh]

I was taking to my husband last night about when I saw jaws for the first time around the same age and absolutely SHAT myself when the head (body?) comes out of the boat under water...

I hear you loud and clear OP! I wouldn't be happy either!

[goingonabearhunt1]

Obv I'm a wimp; I watched Jaws when I was 11/12ish and was scared! But kids now are probably unimpressed by it I imagine.

[hollyjollychristmas]

I watched this recently with my nine year old nephew, he was fine. I still find it scary but I would not think it was inappropriate.

[Headfullofdreams]

DS3 has watched it when he was 9 and laughed at it. Don't think it's that bad, not sure I'd class it as a horror movie.

[goingonabearhunt1]

But then again I didn't like anything remotely scary until I got to about 15 and developed a horror film obsession. I would have thought it's good to check with parents if the kids are 9 though but perhaps they just thought it'd be fine as it's a PG.

[SirVixofVixHall]

I also think that with other people’s children you have to allow for differences in temperament and imagation. Also regional variations, we live in a remote rural area. Dd2 is 11 Nd has just left primary and none of her friends have ‘phones yet for instance. Dd1 had her first one at 12. They’ve started watching Dr Who recently but found it far too frightening before now. I don’t understand why any other parent wouldn’t check with you before showing any scary film. Some children will be fine and others (mine) are nightmare prone.

[FranticallyPeaceful]

It may be unsympathetic @Kingkiller but it’s just how our younger brains worked unfortunately. If she’s making it less fun then chances are they will be reluctant to invite her to things. No kid wants a Buzz Killington mate

[bellinisurge]

Odd idea that showing your young kids films with severed heads popping unexpectedly out of a boat is somehow ok.
Twatty adult who thinks this was ok without knowing the kids.

[MissMisery]

Oh God I’d be right pissed off too. That film ruined sea swimming for me for life. My son loves surfing/ body boarding etc and if someone ruined that for him by showing him jaws I’d be proper stabby.
I should add that the fact that it’s so terrifying is testament to its brilliance tho...

[theredjellybean]

No one is saying its not a great movie. Great movies can be scary, just because they are great doesn't mean they are appropriate for children.
I am shocked at how many people let young children watch movies that I would think were too scary but like others have said it's individual children's reactions.
My dds aged 10 were watching Disney movies and pixar. I'd never ever have let them watch things like Jaws or jurassic Park with friends present.
This thread seems to be about how it's 'cool' to have your child watch scary movies.. And op and people like her are being stuffy and uncool.
I think she was entitled to be cross,

[theredjellybean]

@frantically.. I would have used it as an opportunity to teach my children empathy and friendship.. You don't drop some one because they get scared at frankly scary movies, I'd be making sure that they worked out more inclusive activities for their sleepovers.

[DanSullivan]

Ah, I love Jaws! It’s my favourite film. And anyone who says it hasn’t aged well can go away.
This will put me, since I know my sister is a MN regular, but I want to tell my Jaws story anyway. I watched it aged 5. We were going to Universal Studios, where they had one of the rubber shark props from the film hanging up and you could stand inside its mouth. My dad insisted that I needed to watch the film (it’s hus favourite too!) before the holiday! As a family we have been known to reenact the whole film. Usually on Boxing Day evening after a few sherries...

I wouldn’t show it at a kids’ sleepover though, at least not without checking with the other parents.

— RC, if you’re there, get your tea towel ready; “Shark! Shark!” —

[MaggieAndHopey]

I can't believe all the people saying Jaws isn't a horror movie! It absolutely is a horror movie, it's a classic of the genre. It might be a PG but it's absolutely terrifying.

[FASH84]

It's a PG and the shark looks like it's made from Papier mache YABU

[FranticallyPeaceful]

@theredjellybean then I guess myself and everyone I ever knew as a child all had shitty parents. Still though, didn’t care, just didn’t want boring people at sleepovers.
It’s all well and good looking back on it as an adult but it’s just not where our brains were at.

Too many kids wrapped up in cotton wool and hidden in uber bunker shelters these days

[ShatnersWig]

You can see how many people don't read the thread when two of us have corrected the current rating for the film but others still insisting it's a PG. Not any more!