Toddlers - Disney movies - Please vote

[Frozenprincess]

NC for this - I am fuming!

So, I have a DS that goes to a gymnastics class for 3-4 year olds with parents present.

The instructor asked the kids last time who is the princess that likes snow and some kids replied “Elsa” . Then the instructor asked “And what Elsa does to things with the snow? They make them…” and then she expected the kids to say “Freeze”. She did all of that to teach them how to “freeze” and stop moving.

My point is that Frozen and many other Disney movies are not recommended by Disney to be watched by kids less than 5 years old and they should be watched with parental supervision up until 8 years old as there are some upsetting scenes.

For this reason our 3 year old DS has never watched Frozen, Moana etc. He just watched Peppa Pig, Bluey, Paw Patrol, Hollie & Ben etc.

Was it appropriate for the instructor to expect the 3 year olds kids to have watched Disney movies in order to participate in the class?

I honestly felt so sorry for our DS during the class! He is a very reserved and shy boy when in public and this whole thing just made it all even worse.

What do you all think?

YABU - Frozen is fine for 3 year olds
YANBU - Frozen is not fine until 5 year old as advised by Disney

Wow, I think I'm pretty strict around screentime for my nearly 2 year old (I don't let her watch anything on screens atm 😅) but I do intend to loosen up with this soon and when I do I think things like Disney films would be amongst the early things to watch

And if someone mentioned it in a class before she'd seen them I definitely wouldn't get upset 🙄

i sometimes feel parents get way too het up about screens on here

Agreed!!!!! So judgemental... Another classic "AIBU, OK but here's why you are all wrong and I'm not" snooty snob 🙄🤯

Don't come on here and judge people if you don't want to be judged right back.

Wow.

I teach a hobby to kids, and I use whatever references I think will help them understand and engage. The teacher came up with a good way for the kids to remember what the instruction means. If your son didn't understand, fine, I'm sure she had other ways of explaining it. For you to be angry with her is preposterous.

The more general debate around Disney films... well, come back when your whole household has been walloped with an illness that's left you all unable to move for days, with no family/friends/childcare support. Disney will be your best friend then 🙂

Nah nobody's having everyone laugh at you for being fat or not being able to ride a bike without stabilisers.

LOL this is way funnier than it should have been😂😂

You are fuming about this but let him watch Bluey? Have you seen the episode with the dead bird? 🤣

wait you let him watch peppa pissing pig but frozen is too far jesus christ

Getting cultural references doesn't mean you've actually watched the movies anyway. I bet a whole load of the kids in the class would be able to do a decent Batman/Ironman impression too - doesn't mean they've seen the films.

There's a first time for any child to encounter any cultural touchstone. With a sheltered upbringing and no older siblings this won't be the last time that he's the last child to know what Game of Thrones/Fast and Furious/I'm a Celebrity is about, but that's fine - hearing about things that are new to us is the definition of learning. At least as a March baby he won't usually be the youngest.

@Frozenprincess Your original post was ridiculous, and you know this because you quickly rowed back on your language. Most people responding aren’t reading your updates and are simply to responding to the tone and hyperbole of your OP.

Look on the bright side. You name changed and you (hopefully) haven’t said anything to anyone in real life. You can just chalk this up to one of those PFB moments of madness that should probably have stayed in your head.

Indeed. 4yo DS loves his Grogu T-shirt but has never watched an episode of the Mandalorian.

Do any other 80s babies remember how the Mogwai toys from Gremlins were marketed to very small children for about six months before the film actually came out and everyone realised it was a rather violent comedy-horror?!

You're asking a different question in your AIBU than you pose in your OP.

• Is the film 'Frozen' OK for a three-year-old - depends on the individual child.
• is it reasonable for the gym instructor to assume a class of children will all have the same set of cultural references (regardless of whether age-appropriate) - no, it is not.

Gizmo was all over my school when I was 11 Eventually saw the film on video a few years later. Apart from the kitchen scene, it's not really horror. IMO they should have cut or toned down that scene and made the film a PG. It's still a 15 now, I think, rather than a 12, on the strength of that kitchen scene.

Hmmm. My 4 year old won't watch Frozen because she's terrified of any kind of peril, so I don't necessarily think it's suitable for EVERY small child. On the other hand, she plays Frozen at nursery and knows Let It Go. I think you are being precious about the instructor. I think most film etc are very dependent on the individual child's response.

My children watched Disney films when they were toddlers and so have my grandchildren. I don't understand your fury at the dance teacher.

I think I must be a but younger than you as I remember very young primary children, age 5ish, having Gizmos!

My favourite nerdy Gremlins fact is that it was the main reason (along with Temple of Doom) for the creation of the PG-13 classification in the US. As you say, it’s a 15 in the UK.

Nowhere does it say the teacher assumed that, they just used a reference that is popular currently with children that age. Schools do this all the time, they don't assume everyone knows but try to use topical things to help kids to understand/remember things.

Waaaay overdramatic OP, and if you take anything from this thread, it should be to consider that if your DS is a shy and reserved child, your tendency to over-worry might be rubbing off on him.

In the Uk there are no age recommendations attached to U and PG films.

www.cbbfc.co.uk/rating/pg

It is up to parents to decide for their own child, as all children are different.

It's fine for you to not want your own child to watch such films. However, it's also perfectly normal for children, including younger children, to watch U and PG films.

Like a PP, I'd argue that I'd rather my child see Frozen than Peppa Pig!

Ah, I’ve just looked and although it was a 15 it was reclassified as a 12A with the theatrical re-release in 2012. https://www.bbfc.co.uk/education/case-studies/gremlins

I'm 49 - no doubt the younger children had them too! I remember pencil cases and calendars as well as the furry toys.

I was taken to see Watership Down (U rated at the time) at the cinema at the tender age of 5. It certainly made an impression on me! It was re-rated PG last year, which I think is a bit more appropriate.

Ooh, I'll read that, thank you. I love reading BBFC ratings info.

Also at this age, kids should not be exposed to screens more than an hour every day. This is the recommendation from WHO. Are you all against that too?

There wasn't a recommendation when dd was smaller so I did what most parents did, and the vast majority do now - I decided for myself. Some days she might have watched a full film and a bit of TV, some days nothing at all. It generally evens out and is fairly balanced in my experience. Dd loved Disney films for the music - most of her watching also involved her singing and dancing throughout too, so not even as if it was a totally passive activity. She's never been scared of films tbh, she was more likely to be emotionally involved with something sad or overly happy. But again not in a negative way for her. So, I used my own judgement to decide what to watch and when, and how much. 🤷‍♀️

I didn't worry too much about what other people choice to do.

iPads, etc weren't an issue as they didn't exist - but again, I'd make my own decisions.