Too young for Harry Potter?

[gmfizz]

Just wondering what others thoughts are on letting their kids watch the Harry Potter movies? From around the 4th film they seem to be rated a 12 and my 8 year old daughter is obsessed with wanting to watch them all because apparently all her friends have seen them. Is it just me or is letting 8 year olds watch 12 films not a great idea? Im a bit annoyed that so many in her class seem to be watching these, why do their parents thinks that’s ok?! She’s watched the first two but after that I find the HP books/films get scarier and more adult and just wanted others thoughts....

My DS watched them all by the time he was 8 and loved them. You don't have to let her watch them just because others do, but don't be annoyed with others for making decisions for their own kids.

I would say the first two would be fine (my DS has watched them with me aged 7) A million questions though!
From the third one they get more complicated as opposed to scary so we are waiting to watch any more for now.

I think they now would be rated as a 12A so fine to watch with an adult. My DS watched them aged 7 and was fine.

I personally wouldn’t let my 8 year old watch the later ones but I think I’m going to be in minority

he has been told he needs to read each book before he can watch the film but he got freaked half way through book 2 and lost interest

He’s watched some 12s - avengers movies, Spider-Man come to mind - he wants to watch jumanji which I’m fine with

DD (8) watched the first and was up in tears most of the night, I've said she can't watch the rest until she has read the books.

My 7yo has made her way through all the books during lockdown. We agonised over whether to let her watch the films—she was desperate to but I had the same concerns as you. In the end we did to (so far) no ill effect. I think it made a difference that she knew what was coming having already read them IYSWIM.

Plenty of time to watch them when she's older. Generally I don't think it's a good idea to make it a habit of letting children watch films/join SM sites/go to nightclubs that they are too young for.

My 9 year old found the first one scary, and I've only let her read up to book 4 as she got nightmares!
She is a sensitive soul though

my dc watched them around 9 years of age but after reading the book.

Children are different. My 9yo is particularly sensitive to films- she hasn't watched any. She has seen other 12s (where the rating is for things like language, not 'violence' or 'peril'). Her 7yo sister could probably watch them all without ill effect, but isn't interested yet. Personally I'm happy with the situation as theres masses of books aimed at their age group before they get to the latter HP books.

I’m in the same camp as you OP, my 7 year old DD has read the first three books, and watched the first movie. She hid behind a pillow for a part of it! So we haven’t allowed her to watch any more.
I guess it depends on your DC, my DD is quite ‘young’ Maybe a bit less emotionally mature compared with her classmates.

My 6 year old has seen them all. He’s halfway through re reading the 3rd book (I made him read each one then we watched the films together) you are never too young for Harry Potter!

My DD had seen all the films by the time she was 10 but she'd read all the books by 9.

Depends on the child imo. DS2 has always loved the books and films and had read and seen them all by 8. He was never scared of them, but used to hide on the stairs whenever Randall appeared in Monsters Inc .
There is mild bad language in the later ones. Although for years both DC thought Molly Weasley shouted "not my daughter you WITCH" at Bellatrix. They couldn't work out why witch was being used as an insult by witches

Make her read each book first, might delay it slightly. DS started watching 12 films from age 8 though. I think they're fine from that age with an adult as long as the child is not particularly sensitive. You know your child though so maybe look up the particular film to see what's in it?

My 10 year old has read all of the books and seen all of the films, and had done by his 9th birthday I think. He is a precocious reader and the youngest of 4, so is quite 'robust. Had he been my eldest and more sensitive, I probably would have waited. I think it depends on the child tbh.

Depends on the child. Reading the books would help. Hate seeing little kids with Harry Potter stuff. It's made for a 8 or 9 year old? If she reads the books and loved it and understands the plot line, let her watch it with you? If you think she's going to be scared wait till she's a bit older. Only you can decide because you know what she's like!

Another vote for reading the books first
I thought my sensitive 8 yr old would be upset about some of the later deaths but nope it was just me with tears in my eyes for the final deathly Hallows, even though I'd seen it before!

My 10 year old has read all of the books and seen all of the films, and had done by his 9th birthday I think. He is a precocious reader and the youngest of 4, so is quite 'robust. Had he been my eldest and more sensitive, I probably would have waited. I think it depends on the child tbh.

Sorry for multiple post - had connectivity problems half way through posting.

Eh in my view this falls straight into the ott protective parent pile

If they were released today they would most likely be 12a's so anyone could watch them

I think it's a bit over the top to say no to an 8 year old watching a children's film which is what they essentially are

DD is now 13, but we know from 'cinema birthday party' experience that children react very differently to movies (especially in a cinema).

I used to use a film review website to check films (I can't remember what it was called, but parents and children used to comment). I see that IMDB and Rottentomatoes and plenty of others now offer this.
I would chose a film that you can remember and see how families judged it to find your "trusted" review site.

I seem to remember we dithered a bit after the first few HP movies (but there were lots of other movies we'd not had time to see in the busy days of pre-covid life).

I've read the first three to my DS6 (we watched each film after each book - he spotted every difference and everything they left out!) and he loved them. I have stopped there for a bit though as the fourth one gets a bit deep (Cedric dying etc) which he's pretty happy with. I'd say 8 is fine!

Other parents can do what they like and it has nothing to do with you.
My 8 year old has seen them all more then once and loves them. Even the later movies.
I let her watch whatever film I see fit regardless if they are a 12 or not.

Our rule was the books had to be read first. DD was 8, DS is 6 and has just finished them. Because they knew the stories & what to expect they were fine with the films. I am quite strict generally about age ratings but Harry Potter is different!