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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To let my nearly 3 year old watch jurassic Park?

167 replies

Roundandround1 · 26/10/2023 23:09

Dino mad at the moment and doesn't scare easily (not that he's watched lots of scary things!).

DH thinks he'll be fine with the first film, I'm on the fence.

What's the general consensus? I watched them myself as a kid and absolutely loved them but I'm not sure how old I was, definitely young primary at least I think.

I'm minded to let him and just skip over a few of the "scarier" bits (first couple of mins, kitchen scene, T Tex & toilet etc..)

OP posts:

Choccyoclocky · 27/10/2023 16:00

DS5 has been watching JP since he was 2. He has never been scared of them and is obsessed with dinosaurs. He happily watches them alone before bed. He wanted to go to the Odeon to see it recently but we missed it!

Older DC watched them from 3 & 4, they started with Jurassic World and I warned them any scary bits. They didn't seem bothered either.

But when me and DH were younger, we were both terrified and cried when we watched it.

GettingSickOfYourNonsense · 27/10/2023 16:13

It's not suitable for a kid who isn't even 3! For his 5th birthday, perhaps you could let him watch Robocop 🙄

Kwasi · 27/10/2023 16:35

DS is five and been watching them all since he was two. We typically watch one of the new ones once a month and the older ones once or twice a year.

pinkspeakers · 27/10/2023 16:36

YABU it's really scary!

Snowpaw · 27/10/2023 16:37

I showed my 3 year old the scene from that film where they arrive at the park and they see all the diplodocuses in the lake and get the big view of the park. That was the only part I showed her - she loved it.

Ididivfama · 27/10/2023 16:41

There are so many dinosaur related kids things. Why show him something that is clearly marketed at a much older age group - children this age struggle with imaginary vs reality. He might get scared or he might get desensitised to horrible things.

Killingmytime · 27/10/2023 17:00

I was 5 or 6 when i watched. Saw it 4 times.

noworklifebalance · 27/10/2023 17:06

Roundandround1 · 26/10/2023 23:09

Dino mad at the moment and doesn't scare easily (not that he's watched lots of scary things!).

DH thinks he'll be fine with the first film, I'm on the fence.

What's the general consensus? I watched them myself as a kid and absolutely loved them but I'm not sure how old I was, definitely young primary at least I think.

I'm minded to let him and just skip over a few of the "scarier" bits (first couple of mins, kitchen scene, T Tex & toilet etc..)

Mine watched it around this age and loved it. He wasn’t scared at all, which I think is because they haven’t developed empathy yet. I can understand how older children maybe scared when they watch it for the first time.
He is a teen now and still loves the film.

MargaretThursday · 27/10/2023 17:17

Children are different. You know your ds, and whether it might throw him.

Dd1 and ds would have watched it fine. They both were quite good at separating what they saw on screen and their real life.
Mind you, ds' favourite video at that age was the investigation into the Concorde crash, followed fairly swiftly second by a History Channel documentary of the sinking of the Bismarck (WWII).

Dd2 was traumatised by "Finding Nemo" at age 5yo, and I don't think ever watched "Jurassic Park" because she knew it was "scary". She'd have nightmares over things you wouldn't even realise might be scary.
Although, I'm on her side, having to be carried out of the cinema watching "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" at 3yo, and I still rarely choose to watch anything worse than a PG. Dh still laughs about me hiding my face at the cinema watching "Chicken Run".

If you decide against it, then try the Walking With Dinosaur series (you can get them on DVD). That was another ds was transfixed by at about that age.

lanthanum · 27/10/2023 17:20

Mine was about 9 when she saw it, and regretted it. She was horrified that it wasn't rated higher (I think it was PG then, before 12A existed). I think she's forgiven us, but not the film classification people!

Obviously all kids are different, and I agree that it MAY be less scary to a younger child.

Nonplusultra · 27/10/2023 19:09

@SpadeAndBucket I had one of those kinds of toddlers too. He watched JP at 13 and laughed his way through all the gruesome bits while I considered cowering behind the sofa.

SpadeAndBucket · 27/10/2023 19:53

@Nonplusultra Ah I'm glad they grow out of it at some point!!

Escaperoom · 27/10/2023 21:51

Not Jurassic Park , but DH let our DS watch Predator with him when he was about 5. I was convinced he would have nightmares but he didn't.

Loub55 · 27/10/2023 21:55

I second Camp Cretaceous if he hasn't watched it. My DD watched that at 4 or 5. My DH really wants to show her the first Jurassic Park but we've talked about it and I think he's waiting til she's 8 ish (6.5 now)

Loub55 · 27/10/2023 21:56

Escaperoom · 27/10/2023 21:51

Not Jurassic Park , but DH let our DS watch Predator with him when he was about 5. I was convinced he would have nightmares but he didn't.

Wow I'd have thought that would be scarier. Although I know my nephew saw it at 5 or 6. My DH would not show DD that for along while yet even tho it's one of his faves

HomeatRoseCottage · 27/10/2023 21:58

Absolutely not - genuinely unthinkable.

there are so many age appropriate dinosaur programmes he could watch.

FSGirl · 27/10/2023 22:01

No…I watched Jurassic park when I was about 9 and I still remember the nightmares I had after watching it! I acted cool throughout but distinctly remember being scared a TRex would walk past my window any minute and I shouldn’t move so it wouldn’t spot me.
This was the first one, so the second one where the dinosaurs were actually outside peoples windows only confirmed my fears 😂
Theres a Jurassic park cartoon on Netflix so maybe give that ago, or the old Walking with Dinosaurs BBC series?

BadgeronaMoped · 27/10/2023 22:05

I honestly think that's a bit young, just in terms of following the story. It's a boring film for a 3 year old! That said, our neighbour's daughter's favourite film that age was Jurassic Park...
Andy's dinosaur adventures may be a better bet nobody getting eaten while they're on the toilet either!

nutsnutspistachionuts · 27/10/2023 22:09

Just watch Andy's Dinosaur Adventures, your toddler doesn't need to see Newman from Seinfeld get disembowelled!

HermioneWeasley · 27/10/2023 22:12

My Dd was about 2 when she first saw it and she cried whenever the T rex wasn’t on screen. “T Rex raaaar” she wailed

Loub55 · 27/10/2023 22:17

HermioneWeasley · 27/10/2023 22:12

My Dd was about 2 when she first saw it and she cried whenever the T rex wasn’t on screen. “T Rex raaaar” she wailed

See actually I feel that 2 year olds don't take it in as much to feel scared. I think a previous poster said that it would almost be better to show it to that age than older. My youngest DD is nearly 3 and starting to get more aware. I feel my 6 yo would think about it too much and have nightmares

jannier · 27/10/2023 22:21

Having a JP birthday party does not compare to watching the films unless it's an escape room with Dino's chasing people intending to eat them. Do you want endless sleepless nights? This has got to be a fake question

Original poster

Roundandround1 · 28/10/2023 10:03

jannier · 27/10/2023 22:21

I understand that. I meant it more in the sense that the child had likely seen the films already considering they were apparently JP obsessed and it was only their 3rd birthday.

OP posts:

feelingalittlehorse · 28/10/2023 10:18

I mean, it still gives me a few frights and I’m 33.

Doone22 · 28/10/2023 13:20

No way

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