AIBU not letting 8 year watch 12 rated films?

[Potplant89]

Who else let’s their children watch older rated films or play older rated games?
I’m 28 myself and don’t want to be that strict person that doesn’t allow it when he comes home and tells me his friends at school play such and such and watch such and such. I know when I was his age, my parents let me watch things that were too old for me. I’m not scarred for life but I can say that a lot of the time, I ended up with nightmares over a 5 second scene. He has a very good understanding that it’s not that I’m being mean but I think it’s better that he waits. I do worry about peer pressure though. Specifically, he wants to watch Jurassic world, some of the marvel films and Godzilla vs Kong. Unfortunately it seems that while they target toys for younger age groups, the films are not appropriate.

Jarrassic World is a 12a according to Google.

Our 6 year olds have watched jurassic world and all the marvel films. The ratings on some films are stupid tbh.

I am the same as you OP and stick to the age ranges and IMDB parents guide.

Yanbu I always stuck to age limits for films.

Depends very much on the film, and what your child might find scary

I remember my Dd being terrified by the opening of one of the hobbit films when she was happily enjoying the later Harry Potter films.

Think there's some confusion. 12A and 12 have the exact same criteria. 12A is used for cinema releases and 12 is used for DVD releases. Same criteria to meet 12A as 12. No movie goes into cinema now as a '12'.

I won’t really let my 8 year old and 9 year old watch those or many 12’s. Theve watched one or 2 - one was the new Jurassic park one - I didn’t like it. It wasn’t the mild peril it was the constant swearing and saying shit all the time plus there was a sexy scene where a girl seduces men with dancing - it’s quite a long scene. Felt it was inappropriate and felt weird then watching it.
I know they know all the sweat words but in my opinion it a different world from knowing them but not repeating them to watching a film with your parents whilst it says shit multiple times.
Not at 8. 12 maybe but not 8

Swearing doesn't bother me at all, it's just never rubbed off on my kids they know they're adult words not to be repeated. I'm not too concerned about fantasy type violence (super heroes etc) again it's never really had any impact, never had an issue with aggression etc, I think they take it for what it is, it's sexual stuff that bothers me.

I don't mind implied violence, a bit of fake gore and swearing but I wouldn't let mine watch anything over a 12 because there's usually gratuitous brutality and/or sexual scenes which are just inappropriate for the age group.

My 9yo bloody loved Jaws (12) but cried at Monster House (U) 🤔

Isn't 12 usually 12a so kids can watch under supervision.

My son watched a 12 in year 5 at school - Apollo 13. We had to sign a form to give permission!

@Ceecee30

Isn't 12 usually 12a so kids can watch under supervision.

My son watched a 12 in year 5 at school - Apollo 13. We had to sign a form to give permission!

Saying that google says Apollo 13 is a pg so that was strange of the school!

A PG is 'parental guidance', a 12 means age 12.

I think Jurassic Park and the Marvels are fine for a year 8.

A year 8 is 12 or 13 so obviously is fine to watch a 12 but the OPs son is 8 (so year 3 or year 4).

Depends on the film and the child (we let our 8yo watch scarier stuff than our 10yo as elder DD hates stuff like that and would give her nightmares). 8yo loved Cruella for example.

No 12A doesnt mean 12 - it means it is advisory and that parents can make up their own minds - partly I guess based on knowing their child.

It means that you can send 12 years old on their own to watch a movie but not under. Hence for The Eternals movie DD (12) went to a 13th birthday party where they hired a small dbox for the party with no adults there. DS (9) watched it with us.

Marvel IMO is fine and an 8 year old is well within the guidelines if he watches it with an adult

Most (possibly not all) 12 films are actually 12a which means under 12a should not watch without an adult.

My 6 and 8 yos have seen Jurassic Park and almost all the Marvels (except Deadpool which I think is either 15 or 18)

Yabu if you are actually referring to films with the certification 12a.

DD hasn't fully forgiven us for letting her watch Jurassic Park (PG) at age 8 - she thought it was much too frightening. (We did say we could stop watching, but she didn't take us up on that.)

She was allowed to watch some 12s under 12, but only if she'd already read the book.

I personally wouldn't have a problem with an 8 year old watching any of the film's you mention.

Previous poster is correct about 12a being a Cinema thing and 12 being dvd. I think on disney plus they come up as 12a. Regardless they are the same film so if in one format they are suitable for under 12s with an adult then surely they are on dvd/streaming too.

At the end of the day it is parental choice and depends on the kid. IMO Marvels are fairly tame.

8 is still pretty young, there is no rush.

I have never once made a parenting decision because other parents let their kids to do x/y/z. A lot of other parents are dickheads anyway

We always check on common sense media website rather than trust ratings.

My 10 year old has seen a lot of 12a movies but a few like Jurassic park for example I know he’s be terrified of so he hasn’t.
My 13 year old watches some 15s, again depends.

Common sense media is really helpful

Yanbu I always stuck to age limits for films.

It’s only guidance anyway. They’re only limits when it comes to the cinema or purchasing DVDs etc. At home it’s very much common sense, my 6 year old will watch some 12 rated films as long as I’ve seen them first and deem them suitable.

Watch them first. Except Godzilla vs Kong as it’s been hacked to bits and now makes now sense.

Information from the bbfc. The recommendation are as follows, the ages are much more the minimum suitable age than many on here seem to think. Just because Marvel and DC make toys associated with their films does not make those films suitable for young children, it just means they are trying to extract as much money out of consumers as possible.

PG General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.

12(A) Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12 to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child. To help them decide, we recommend that they check the Ratings Info for that film in advance. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video work.

I'm quite strict when it comes to letting my DD watch films, I think it's because I was allowed to watch anything and I had awful nightmares. The films that you have mentioned, Jurassic World for example, wouldn't bother me though.

Personally it depends on the child and the film. My kids are 13, 6 and 7 and all of them have seen all of the films you mention in your OP.
They also play some games aimed at older children but only if I've played them first so I know what the content is like.

You know your kid and you know if he'd cope with the content in them.