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’m not trying to change your mind OP, but just wanted to let you know that my son who loved frozen and watched it multiple times from age 3 or 4 only worked out when he was around 7 that the parents were dead. (At the same age he was traumatised by mild peril in other films and was very upset by the mums death in bloody Ice Age which was a big mistake for us to watch with him.) The parents death in Frozen is quite subtly done and if the cues don’t mean anything to kids, they pass over their heads.

I think you may be overthinking it! Just let her watch little bits of it, it's divided into quite defined scenes so easy to do. Thousands of kids grew up watching it, my daughters just sort of half watched it when they were really little and would watch a bit while they were playing with toys etc. and really enjoyed the songs and dressing up and singing along with it! Dont leave it too long or you'll miss that aspect

Mine turned 4 yesterday and really watched it properly a couple of weeks ago. They’re obsessed. My advice, let it go

I guess that's most other Disney movies out then as well. Given the high percentage of orphaned and/or abused protagonists.

Cinderella, Snow White, Bambi, Dumbo, The Lion King, Tangled etc etc

I avoided Frozen for as long as possible, I think it was around 4.

She just became Elsa obsessed and the merch was pricey ha.

Do you not think she’s going to ask “why” in a years time?? She’s going to be asking why for many more years, you just keep it short and sweet, why is Elsa sad?? U answer “ she will be ok by the end, just wait and see” she will forget why Elsa is sad, my grand daughter loved frozen when she was 3, she’s 11 now and there’s no lasting damage, she wants to interact with her nursery friends and not feel at a disadvantage because she can’t watch it

I reckon that's how disney adults are created. All those adults who weren't allowed to watch Disney as kids are now blocking children's view at Disney parades with their massive fucking mouse ears.

Exactly

You are really thinking too much into this. You can tell her anything. One day she will watch Mary Poppins - are you going to explain the emotionally distant or absent parents leading to the children’s poor behaviour OR just let her enjoy the songs? It really doesn’t need to be that deep for a child.

Hope you don’t teach your daughter nursery rhymes too - they can be violent. Think of Humpty Dumpty, Tom, Tom the piper’s son and poor Jack and Jill, just to name a few!

I don't see the issue with full length films... With mine I feel that it's a good way to train them to focus on a longer story (with a proper character development and beginning middle and end) as watching lots of little fast short things doesn't really improve focus just gives them the dopamine effect. Things like tick tock videos being a good example where kids (and adults) will lose hours just watching lots of 2 minute videos. My kids are 11 and 8 and can focus really nicely to draw for hours etc and can sit and enjoy feature films really well.
Id rather they soak in some adult themes through Disney films to prepare them for the atrocities they'll hear on the news later on.
Just maybe let her watch bits with you and forward through the funeral scene (it's very short)

She's got literally the rest of her childhood to watch Frozen - and a gazillion other films to watch in the meantime, or tv, or books, she will hardly be bored or her life ruined from not watching Frozen at the age of 3. There is absolutely no rush whatsoever, just put it on for her when you think the time is right. I waited until my dd could understand things properly before she watched them and as a result she enjoyed them more and got more out of them.

You think Frozen is hard to explain to a 3 year old? My Mum's friend was faced with trying to explain Lily Allen's Its Not Fair to her 9 year old.

We’ve not watched frozen (or any film) yet and my eldest is 4.5. I don’t think she really has the attention span. But I don’t shy away from tricky questions. This is a great way to explore things with children and help them learn. Please don’t think not talking about things helps your child.

She doesnt need to watch any TV at all, let alone a film /I dont know the film/.
You are perfectly reasonable. The TV and screen culture is ridiculous.

What?

She is asking because 3 is the age where children learn to understand the emotions of others. YABU. Your reasoning doesn't make sense.

Made? Who by? People who know OPs daughter better than herself?

@Colourfulrainbowunicorns Mine are young adults now but, FWIW, I don’t think Frozen is intended for 3 year olds. Not that it will hurt her but it’s very long for a small child to sit through.

I think these movies are a great way for kids, even 3 year olds, to engage in music. The songs mean much more to them than the storyline. My 6 year old granddaughter knows pretty much every song from all the Disney films. And she sings them constantly. They definitely gave her a strong interest in music. Frozen is absolutely fine for a 3 year old.

Learn about the world? Disney films? Are you serious?

Yabvu my preschoolers loved frozen. The music is brilliant and you can get lots of frozen merch for them to dress up in.

At that age they don’t need to watch it all, they can dip in and out.

I think it’s important not to shield children from any potential form of upset….not that this film is scary. It helps them learn.

Rude

If you want to pick and choose the nicer bits, why don’t you bring up particular scenes on You Tube and show her those? Our DN wasn’t at all interested in princesses and wouldn’t have sat through three quarters of the film, but he was interested in Olaf and the reindeer, so I showed him those bits and he loved them. I did the same for Slimer driving the bus and the Marshmallow man from Ghostbusters and the three kids in the walking bath from the Nightmare Before Christmas. Nothing scary, he loves all of those characters now and he’s not seen anything that’s bored him, is unsuitable or will give him nightmares.

The best… my toddler is 20 months old and was at a baby group where there was an Elsa.. she has no screen time at all but is absolutely love struck with the the dress the tiara etc. we are not anti screen, we just don’t have the time and she isn’t that interested so we have let it go.. if she shows an interest we will watch it…each to their own.