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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let my seven year old watch The Goblet of Fire onwards yet?

38 replies

Marianne1234 · 27/12/2021 01:52

My seven year old daughter is a huge fan of Harry Potter, as are her pals. Her Christmas presents were all HP-themed. I’m also a huge fan so I am absolutely loving this. We have read the first three books, and seen the first three films.

Obviously she is desperate to see the fourth one (Goblet of Fire) - basically she wants to see it through. Of course she does. But it seems very dark from there onwards for a seven year old.

I’m thinking things like Cedric Diggory being killed by Voldemort. Harry bringing back his body and his dad’s reaction etc. I’m just not sure she’s ready for that.

I grew up with HP. I was older than she is when the goblet of
Fire came out. So to be honest I hadn’t really thought about it when we started watching it.

I just wondered what others do.

OP posts:
PurpleFire · 27/12/2021 01:58

www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/harry-potter-age-by-age-guide
We’ve always stuck pretty much by this.

ImustLearn2Cook · 27/12/2021 02:24

My 7 year old dd has seen the first three movies and we’ve finished reading the first book. I agree with you . Goblet of Fire and the rest of the movies are rated M (mature audience) in Australia so we are waiting until she is old enough to handle those scenes.

ImustLearn2Cook · 27/12/2021 02:27

@PurpleFire Thx for sharing the link

sunflowerroses · 27/12/2021 03:15

We read them and then watch film straight away so they are aware of the more scary bits before they happen on screen. We have done up to goblet of fire with 6&8 year olds but not further yet.

GnusSitOnCanoes · 27/12/2021 03:27

I’ve just finished the last book with 7-yr-old DS and then watched the final two films. It’s dependent on your child, I think. We read all the books first together and then watch the films - this means we’re able to talk through any tricky or distressing parts. The films are also much less detailed - great chunks of the storyline has been removed for time.

halloweenie13 · 27/12/2021 03:48

It's your choice and I agree 7 is a tad young. I went with both my parents at 7 to watch it at the cinema (obviously my parents weren't expecting it) and it was so sad but I understood what was happening and still loved the movie, every child is different. I only remember this because of the shark scene which scared me more than the death and I googled the year to realise I was only 7. Ironically I developed a fear of dying a few years later, but it wasn't because of that, it was because of the jacqueline wilson book 'my sister jodie' and another book by her where the mum had passed away in her sleep.

CakesOfVersailles · 27/12/2021 04:17

How is her independent reading? She is quite young. Could you start her on the fourth book (reading it on her own) wit ha plan for her to watch it when she's finished reading and see how she goes? If her reading isn't that great it might take her quite a while!

RainbowMum11 · 27/12/2021 05:04

My DD watched them after she had read the books/listened to the audiobooks - that way she got the context and the detail and also knew what the plot was so she wasn't too scared

endlesslystandingonlego · 27/12/2021 06:42

We watched Goblet of Fire this weekend with 6&8 yr old dc. We've read each book to them before letting them watch the corresponding film, and talked about the story.

Original poster
Marianne1234 · 27/12/2021 14:57

Thanks all. That link is really helpful purplefire so thank you for that. I think we will read the book and see how she gets on but not sure she’s ready for the film yet

OP posts:
SoniaFouler · 27/12/2021 15:14

@ImustLearn2Cook

My 7 year old dd has seen the first three movies and we’ve finished reading the first book. I agree with you . Goblet of Fire and the rest of the movies are rated M (mature audience) in Australia so we are waiting until she is old enough to handle those scenes.
Is there not a rating in between PG and Mature in Australia? That seems very stark. Does that mean Harry Potter (from the Goblet of Fire onwards) is on par with, for example, The Exorcist?
BryanAdamsLeftAnkle · 27/12/2021 15:18

Dependant on your child. Mine is 7 and he loves the films. He loves a good dragon and yes there are a couple of bits in the film that are definitely scary, but my son watches avengers films and doesn't blink. We have had a chat about reality and story telling

TempName01 · 27/12/2021 15:29

Mine is 7 and has watched them all and loved them, I warned her about a couple of scenes such as the snake jumping out so she hid behind a cushion. There wasn’t anything that really scared her and she can be quite a wuss with certain things.

TappThatJazz · 27/12/2021 18:42

My 7 year old has seen all of the films and we're currently working our way through the books (on no.3 at the mo). She watched them all when she was 6. She didn't love the graveyard scene but didn't have nightmares/worries about it. I was like you and didn't want her watching from the 4th film onwards but honestly she found the 4th scarier than 5-8.

DockOTheBay · 27/12/2021 18:46

I wouldn't read or watch goblet of fire onwards to a 7 year old. Even POA is pushing it to be honest...

DockOTheBay · 27/12/2021 18:48

Even if they're not frightened by it, it is a waste to show it to them. They won't understand it all properly and then they've seen it. Save it and they will enjoy it so much more in a few years.

GreenPumpkins · 27/12/2021 18:51

I'm reading the 6th book to my 7 year old at the moment. We read the books and then watch the film so at the moment he's seen films 1-5 and can watch them again whenever he wants. I actually think 7 is too young for the later ones but as his classmates are busily spoiling the books for him we're reading them now! He already knows (from school) what happens at the end of the 6th one. Its would appear a lot of his classmates have seen all the films already. I never actually realised how much is missed out in the films until we started watching them straight after reading. I wish they'd film them all again but as a series.

minipie · 27/12/2021 18:53

I think it depends on personality tbh. My 6 yr old and 9 yr old have watched Goblet of Fire today (as it happens!)

Of the two it is the 9 yr old who is far more likely to be scared and have nightmares from it. She has a very over active imagination whereas 6 yr old is much more blasé about such things.

Shmithecat2 · 27/12/2021 18:56

We haven't read the books together, but DS has seen all the films. He's 6yo. Didn't seem too bothered by any of them.

Whinge · 27/12/2021 18:59

@DockOTheBay

Even if they're not frightened by it, it is a waste to show it to them. They won't understand it all properly and then they've seen it. Save it and they will enjoy it so much more in a few years.
I agree. It's so much nicer to introduce them slowly alongside the books, rather than rushing through the films.
DigitalGhost · 27/12/2021 19:05

My DD loves the first 2 & she's 4. Definitely wouldn't let her watch beyond that until she's about 6/7. I'd probably let her watch them all by then though. Suppose it depends on your kid. My DD doesn't really get scared by films but yet is terrified of loud noises in real life so odd lol Confused

TinyTroubleMaker · 27/12/2021 19:08

My daughter has been watching the whole lot on repeat play since she was about 5 and can't see any harm done. She is '8 going on 18' in character so might be a bit different depending on the child.

BerthaBlythe · 27/12/2021 19:11

It would be a firm no from me.

purpleme12 · 27/12/2021 19:12

I go by the film certificates so no you're not unreasonable
And yes I also like to look at that Common Sense Media although it's shit how they've started making you pay for it to see the details of the reviews now
It used to be free
Just cos other people let their kids watch things don't feel bad for not letting yours

Mylittlecoconuts · 27/12/2021 19:16

I watched them all with my then 7 year old. We hadn't seen any or read the books so didn't know what to expect. She was fine and she's normally scared of everything!

I'd let your dc watch and if it seems like it's getting a bit much, leave it for when she's a bit older.