To think The Matrix is not suitable viewing for a 2 year old?

[Servalan]

I'm genuinely not sure if I am being unreasonable here.

DH has been taking main looking-after duties for DD this morning. I came in the room to find him sat watching The Matrix whilst DD was playing in the room. Now and again she stopped playing to look at the screen.

I asked DH what rating the film had. He said 15. I expressed unhappiness with DD being in the room during a 15 rated film where there are guns etc.

DH is now grumping about the house. I've asked him to turn off other DVDs in the past where I've felt that they're not really suitable viewing for a 2 year old.

OK - so I know she isn't really watching it and she won't understand the connotations etc. Also DH works really hard in a stressful job during the week and wants to relax over the weekends.

I do tend to get a bit neurotic about things, and realise I could well be overreacting, so thought I'd come on here to see how other parents would feel about this...

Thanks

I agree it is not appropriate. Cool name Servalan!

I have the same view as you Servalan, don't think it is appropriate at all. I have the same opinion of computer games. There are ratings on them for a reason.

There is plenty of time to watch movies when your DD is in bed.

I'd say it's not appropriate viewing, yes she's only 2 so it would all go way over her head but it's still subjecting her to images that she can't possibly understand and that may have an effect.

I am fussy about these things though, I don't like the news being on if DS is in earshot.

YANBU

I think it's fine at 2, much older and I wouldn't be terribly happy. She won't have really taken it in I wouldn't have thought.

I think the current best advice is that small children shouldn't watch any telly at all, and that includes having a telly on in the room, even if they're not watching it properly. I couldn't quite manage that level of discipline, and did allow some rationed Cbeebies. But The Matrix? Good grief. Perhaps you could find some refs to this research and show to your DH? (My boys are now 5 and 7 and are allowed to watch CBBC. If they're really bad, then as a punishment we turn the telly off for up to a week. Their behaviour definitely improves. Would that I had the courage to get rid of it altogether...)

YANBU

Tell your DH to play a game with her instead of watching DVD's!

It's difficult tbh. I've definitely watched rated films with the Dcs in the room when they were babies, but what age do you decide that they're now 'too aware' to be present. My intial reaction was that 2 was fine and you were worrying too much, but thinking further I wouldn't be comfortable with a 3YO 'watching' so I'll have to go with YANBU.

Thanks for your thoughts folks.

I wonder the same serenity about what age children are 'too aware' to be present. I probably wouldn't have worried about this a year ago, but DD is picking up a lot now and I am much more stringent in my own TV viewing when she is up and about now.

I think maybe DH and I need to sit down when he's in a less 'huffy' mood and sort out some kind of TV and film policy. It makes it easier to have the conversation without worrying about whether I'm being daft!

Children are definitely aware under the age of two. We had DD (about 18 months) in the room with us when we were watching a film (one of the old 007s) and when someone was hit on the head she reacted. We felt awful and switched off immediately. DD still isn't 2 yet, and she will talk to me about things that she's seen on CBeebies too. There is no way that we'd watch any adult films in her presence any more.

YANBU. He was being lazy basically. Yes he works hard etc but he has also chosen to have a child! Weekend = relaxing...oooo probably in about ten years time. Till then he needs to look to her needs not his.

Not to hijack - but I did'nt see this thread and started one about age inappropriate films on the Development topic.

But in your case YANBU the matrix is quite dark and scary for children. Most adults I know dont understand it. So I imagine it totally confusing a child and being quite scary at the same time.

The Matrix is vile in places; I have to look away and I'm 25!

I let DS watch "age inappropriate" films in that right now we're watching Save The Last Dance 2 but it's got nothing "bad" in it and he loves the music/dancing - it's a 12 I think (DS is nearly 6)

But the Matrix; not on your nelly!

I don't think it's a problem at 2. At 4, yes I would think it unsuitable.

At 2 they don't understand that they are "meant" to be scared at things like spiders under the skin.