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.

If you’re set

then great. End of discussion

Agree, both of my sons LOVED Frozen from around 3 years onwards. And then Lion King, Toy Story, Disney Planes etc… just always made an effort to watch the films with them so those conversations could be had.

not all children will have the ability to sit through films, but others definitely will. Mine loved films from a young age and a way of focussing on something longer than 5-10 minutes (as so many programmes aimed at toddlers are).

I think that shows your daughter could develop excellent emotional intelligence and to me if you dont want her to watch it because you dont want to explain it thats a bit shit. It shouldnt be a hardship to have those kind of convos with your little one. Its an awesome chance for her to learn how to recognise and manage feelings and build comfort in confiding them in you.

Your reasons for not letting her see it would be reasons for me to encourage watching it

You’re the parent, so you get to decide. Every child is different. One of my DCs used to wake up with night terrors about things like Disney villains, so we had to monitor what was watched to avoid the upsetting nightmares. Do what’s best for your individual DC.

YABU, its made for her age range and if she doesnt watch it all she'll watch parts of it. My son doesnt sit still to watch stuff and hes 19 months but i still put disney films on for him, its all innocent at their ages and they wont get the adult jokes.

My DC was fully into Frozen aged about 4 and a half. He isn't sensitive about films etc but just wouldn't have had the concentration aged 3.

Children are all different though. Some kids go to the panto aged 3 - mine would not have sat and watched the 3 hour show until about aged 5.

My toddler is like this with Moana. Calls it Maui 😂

I agree with you OP. I have a 3yo and an 8yo and it is fantastic watching films with my 8yo for the first time. It's so tempting to watch them when they're young, but the stories are so much better when they're older. Saying that, I did watch Frozen with my 3yo yesterday 😅 but only because we're going to Disneyland in August. He was sometimes interested, sometimes wandered off. I encouraged him to watch the songs and some of the more magical or entertaining parts.

I will quite often check Common Sense Media for age recommendations. It's slightly conservative, but really helpful. Frozen is recommended as 5+, which I would agree would be a much better experience of the film for a child.

We're not letting my 8yo watch the Spiderman, Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park, etc. I know they will be amazing to watch together when he is older. No need to push them into every viewing experience.

Why not?

Moana is another favourite of his. He also loves Maui! He does call that one Moana though. 😅

Better avoid lots of things as she gets older

The Lion king - Dad dies
Bambi - Mum Does
Dumbo - Locked in a cage
Up - Death
Big hero 6 - Brother dies
Toy story - Foegotten toys
Inside out - Loss, panic attack
Lilo & Stitch - Taken by social worker
Guardiand of the galaxy - Mum dies
Encanto - Murder
Mulan - The refection scene
Hunchback of notre Dame - No friends

Sure i have missed many more

I'm glad I never fell victim to this modern trend of hand wringing and overanalysing every single thing their kids do.

It's your kid, do what you want. It is ridiculous though.

I have never heard of the show so Googled it. AI supports you OP.

Platforms like Common Sense Media recommend it for ages 5 and up, while networks like the Raising Children Network advise against it for kids under 5.

My kids never made it past the first 3mins of Finding Nemo until they were 7 or 8 - utterly distraught at the mum and baby siblings being gobbled up. Had to prescreen all films to look for those flash points.

Tbh, I think it depends on the child/level of understanding and from what you’ve said she may be too young. CommonSenseMedia suggests 5 and over, so I would hold it back but play the songs/clips if you can access those to quench her interest and just explain that when she is older she can watch the whole film.

Oh god my daughter was about 5 when she watched it (she’s 15 now) and when it came to the bit when it’s heavily suggested the parents died at sea and they put a shroud over the painting of them, I assumed it would be too subtle for her to understand, ot if she did, she might be upset. I just sat there watching the screen and she turned to me and in the dryest voice, said ‘they are dead.’ Then carried on watching! Little savage.

Top tip; don’t watch Big Hero 6. The brother burns to death in a fire. The Ben I thought that was brutal.

Unclench OP

Its a kids film and your DD will be fine sitting watching an entire movie.

What do you think is going to happen?

Chances are she’ll get bored and play with her toys/do colouring and not be watching it properly anyway.

I always put a film on whilst I was braiding my DDs hair.
She’d usually love the songs but not grasp the other concepts.
Then I’d leave it playing whilst she went on to her drawing or Lego etc

Your DD is going to really struggle if you need to have so much control.

If she really wants to watch it, I'd start it and about 15 mins in get out some toys she really enjoys and expect her to be distracted because most three year olds can't concentrate for the length of a film. I don't think this is a good hill to die on.

If you look it up the minimum suggested age is 5 as some parts are too intense. They might like the music though. Maybe you could pick some particular scenes for them to watch.

I am genuinely baffled by op and some responses.

I cried and got upset at Disney films as a kid, heck I still cry now. My parents didn't then decide I could never watch a kids film in case it upset me.

Watership down would never be released these days.

@Colourfulrainbowunicorns Young children routinely watch films like Terminator, Rambo, and Robocop, and you're worried about Frozen?

Sounds a bit crazy, OP.

I honestly can't understand why some people over-think and over-complicate everything with young children, it must be exhausting.

Pg is any age the parents choose

You can’t seriously believe your 3yo will recognise loneliness, deceit, ambition, manipulation of others and herd mentality within the Disney Pixar film with the girl singing the nice song in a pretty dress - edited to add you also don’t need to explain those themes in such depth. I honestly can’t believe what I read sometimes on MN…..

You are the parent and it's entirely up to you! You know your daughter and this is your choice. Who cares what anybody else thinks?!