AIBU not to let my three-year-old watch Frozen yet?

[Colourfulrainbowunicorns]

A discussion came up with a bunch of mum friends and I was definitely in the minority. I thought I would post here to see if I am being unreasonable. It's fine if I am.

My DD is 3. She has become aware of the character of Elsa from Frozen at nursery and loves this character. I am not bothered by this and happily got her an 'Elsa' dress when asked. I also allow the songs.

I will not however let her watch the full film.

She gets a bit invested in programs and is easily upset. She also likes to properly understand 'why'. I think there is a LOT of explanation and unpacking needed in Frozen and that she can wait a year or so.

On a practical note she doesn't have the concentration to watch a full length film like that.

It’s a made up film….for children!

Not for 3 year olds. No film is made for a 3 year old.

Curious what it is you don’t want to explain? Or do you mean you feel you’ll be answering questions throughout, and that’ll be a ballache?!

There are some
books and movies we delayed not because the content was too mature, but because the child would enjoy them more if the first experience was a bit older. This becomes the difference between intentionally not permitting and just not prioritizing. There are so many things to choose from.

If your daughter feels deprived by not watching, I would not deny her. If she doesn’t really care, then waiting a bit for her to really enjoy the story does no harm.

I wouldn't say you're unreasonable, but perhaps she's missing out? My kids have always had very limited screen time, my DD is 8 and we still don't own a tablet and only have one TV in our house. But she absolutely loved frozen when she was 3. Could happily sit through the whole thing, knew everything about Elsa, as did all of the other preschool girls. My DS is about to turn 4 and absolutely doesn't have the concentration to sit through a film so has never seen it in its entirety. But he's the sort of kid who will question absolutely everything and I don't think there's anything in there he couldn't get his head round.

If she's interested and has asked to watch it, I'd give it a go personally.

This is really weird. Like you can’t be bothered to answer my question she may have so it’s easier to avoid it. Not sure why she needs to have a level of concentration to watch the whole thing either, it’s just a film, if she gets bored you are allowed to put it off.

Are you jotting down notes for an actual post you're intending to complete at some point?

Well yes you are right to wonder. The vast majority of research is showing that the large rise in anxiety in children is in direct correlation with the rise in screen time for children.

But do you not think shes asking why elsa is sad in songs because shes not watched the film to explain why?

You don't want to explain emotions to a young child?

Boy oh boy parenting is gonna be tough for ya 😅

Explaining stuff like that is literally your job as a parent. YABU.

Of course there are, don't be ridiculous. The Peppa Pig movie, Paw Patrol, Bob the Builder movies. There's loads.

Massively overthinking

She’s asking because she can’t understand it from the song alone. The story explains it.

I was exactly the same thinking as you, along with other popular TV programs for kids.

Then I had a second kid and chilled out.

This is very wise but I do think these convictions fade after a few more kids... When you're on child #3 and the whole house has norovirus, Disney is your lord and saviour. 😂

Are you staying away from discussing negative emotions in general? Labelling and discussing emotions is a really healthy thing to do with DC.

I think the @Longtimelurker1980 means just because they exist, doesn't mean they should be watched by 3yos. 3yos should be active, crafting, using imagination, playing in mud, role play, playdoh etc etc. Not sedentary for that length of time. Ideally anyway. Easier said than done especially when there's more than 1 kid.

It’s a kids film. Aimed at kids. My 4 year old still struggles to sit through a whole film and I don’t expect her to understand the full storyline, she just likes it for the characters and songs. I think you’re overthinking. She is literally the target audience.

Fast forward through the ship wreck, her accidentally hitting Anna, her doing that again and Hans trapping her. Or just go with the shorts where Olaf is doing funny silly things.

I recommend Watership Down instead.

A nice, feel-good film about bunnies on a hill.

Wow! You are way overthinking this.

Its actually a great opener for conversations ‘age appropriate’ to discuss feelings.

TBH the best way is let her watch and tell you her thoughts and you step in after to ‘parent’ anything that needs it.

It is pretty self-explanatory

You could get her a book of the story and read it together? My daughter has one and loves looking at the pictures. That allows her to process the story with you before maybe one day when she's older watching the film.

Well, I’d wait a while to show her The Lion King, if you can’t answer questions about Elsa.