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.

I also think that I just don't like full length films at this age.

I must say that I don’t really understand that out of you - to my mind, the problem these days it that so many older kids can’t concentrate on anything longer than 3 minutes (all too used to watching YouTube!). Being able to concentrate on a story for 90 minutes or so is a great skill to develop.

I take your point about the content being aimed at older kids - but, as others have said, you can tailor your explanation to her age and stage and understanding. I’ve never been a huge fan of Disney and certainly didn’t push those films on my kids as the “best thing ever” - but I let them watch the ones they wanted to and explained any issues that arose.

But explaining stuff to a child is kind of your job as a parent. That’s your child learns. If you can never be bothered to talk with her about these things, how is she going to learn and understand feelings? Understanding things and feelings through age-appropriate stories (whether in books or films), and also learning the difference between what’s real and what’s pretend, is how children learn and develop. Of course you’re going to have to have conversations with her about things like that.

Let it go op

at least you will avoid the sound of that!

Because they might enjoy it? They can do all the other stuff like crafting, reading, running outside
and watch a film.

At 3 my daughter adored Finding Nemo. There were some questions at first but mostly the ‘peril’ went over her head. Also Monsters Inc and Toy Story. My son was more into Despicable Me at that age (and still watches them age 9).

it’s a nice activity for some kids to sit cuddled on the settee watching a film- especially after a busy day or when not feeling well.

I think you know your own child best and how she will take it.

My DD is upset by anything even slightly challenging. She’s still the same aged 7. She’s a confident child, fine at school, lots of friends but she is upset very easily by films.

We did watch Frozen when she was almost 3 but I would skip over the wolves and some of the snowman. Then gradually as she got to know the film really well she was happy to watch those bits. I wouldn’t worry so much about the concepts! But that’s her.

But ultimately your DD 3 so she really doesn’t need to watch a film if you don’t think she’s ready.

I didn’t think my DD was ready for KPop Demon Hunters so we just watch a compilation extracts of the songs on You Tube and that has worked fine. You could try that as an alternative.

My DD was 4 when Frozen came out and was just a magical time....we went 3 x to the cinema (with my 7 year old Ds as well) , had the music on all the time, Frozen themed birthday party, the dress, Elsa doll, Disneyland Paris nust as Elsa joined the parade. We were lucky enough to see the musical.just before it closed and my daughter said she wished she could have watched it as her 4 year old self....my emo slightly gothy guitar music loving daughter still adores Frozen and it brings back some great memories. Don't think watching films did her or her brother any harm (it's even bringing us to Shakespeare as we're.going to see Jonathan Groff (Kristoff) at the RSC in October. But then that may be to do with us being huge Hamilton and Glee fans as well!

Yeah Frozen has loads of happy memories for us as a family. My daughter and I still put on the songs and will belt them out in the car. She was 4 but I would have let her watch it at 3.

My 3 year old doesn't call it Frozen, he calls it Olaf. 😂

We’re a musical theatre family - I was on satge when 6 months pregnant and I took DD down to a dress rehearsal (because I wouldn’t be able to get to the actual show) when she was about a month old. She’s watched full length shows and films ever since. I think it depends whether your child has the concentration span, but I think developing that is a good thing - like @WimpoleHat i think the main danger of screens is in shortening attention span with short form content. It’s perfectly fine to watch a film in segments too.
If she loves the songs - which are part of the storytelling - I’d let her try the whole thing myself.

Yep.

I took my daughter to watch the musical in the west end for her fourth birthday and it was honestly magical. We went again when she was 5 and it was lovely, but not the same as seeing it when she was in her peak frozen era. She's 8 now and adores theatre, and I genuinely think it all stems from going to see frozen the musical that first time.

How did she take the theory of Schrodinger's Cat?

Good grief 😂

I’m struggling to see why this is an issue?!
Wait until you’re having to navigate secondary school and everything that comes with puberty and adolescence.

She’s going to be asking questions growing up that are a hell of a lot harder to answer than why Elsa is sad.

I have two sons 4 and 6. They honestly watch the majority of their TV in either care clubs or nursery. We put the television on for 30 mins a week max.

Obviously everyone does right for their family. We have a limited amount of TV time and the kids use their imaginations to fill the rest of the time. If they watch a film it literally takes us a month to get through it 🤣

I think you’re definitely overthinking the plot of Frozen and her questions but equally don’t feel that it’s necessary for kids of that age to watch a full film. There is plenty of time for them to fall in love with Disney.

We are in the minority on this though (along with a lot of other things !) and that’s fine. We do what suits us.

Like omg does that apply to all Disney films? My 2 year old watches it!

Yes, you're being unreasonable.

There is far too much hype in the media about how bad screen time is and the content available to minors. Yes, if you're going to give your child unfiltered access to the internet, they're probably going to encounter dodgy stuff. However almost all millenials grew up watching TV for large parts of their childhood. Boomers grew up watching western movies where plenty of people were shot or blown up.

If you make something unavailable to someone you also make them want something more and more. Give someone a better alternative and they tire of what you're restricting from them. My 3yo watches YouTube videos occasionally but for no mote than an hour a dya simply because he's more interested in doing other creative things either with me or others - not because I take it from him and tell him he can't watch it.

If it helps, when my girl asked what happens to the parents, I just said they went away to learn more about Elsa’s magic and she hasn’t questioned further.

we try to limit her screen time, (always under 1 hour a day) and films are usually reserved for if it is too hot to play outside or when I was in desperate need of help when 9months pregnant with her sibling. She loves it, and loves acting it out, and it’s become a very loved film, and kind of like that sisterly love wins over romantic love?

I actually found her behaviour wasn’t too affected by frozen, but we had to ban trolls and Toy Story did send her a little manic, so I tend to keep to safe films or low stimulating tv shows.

Hope that helps?

Totally agree

My daughters are two and four , if it’s a day we’re staying at home such as a rainy day I’ll put on a random Disney movie in the background whilst we do activities at home, they won’t sit and watch them but they like the music and will sing along. I don’t think there is anything wrong with waiting , my four year old still hasn’t sat through a whole movie , I find myself fast forwarding to the songs instead! 😂

I fully believe that if kids are old enough to ask the question then they’re old enough to know the answrt
y mum did this with me and it brought a great amount of trust and I do it with my kids.

Not all screen time is the same though. YouTube? Silly short cartoons? I can see it. A narrative with music and discussion with a parent? Pretty sure that’s not what was found to be damaging.

Wait till they start asking what a blow Jon is as soon as secondary school starts…..

My 4 year old recently came home from preschool asking to watch frozen and so we did. She is highly sensitive and gets very emotionally invested and although she loved it she did get very upset a few times. So although I seem to be in the minority I totally get you OP.

Why don't you want to explain it. Watching films and explaining afterwards why people behave in a certain way is very good for children.
I don't think there is anything inappropriate in Frozen for a three year old