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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect the after-school club not to show Star Wars and Harry Potter to 5 year olds

26 replies

FairyBasslet · 30/09/2008 19:50

Genuine question - how would you feel if your 5 year old had been able to watch these films without your supervision?

DH picked up DS earlier and was a bit taken aback to find he'd watched a bit of Star Wars (not sure which one - I know some are U but some are PG). Okay for the older kids but surely what a 5 year old watches should be left up to the parents?

We're more concerned about him being able to watch something like Harry Potter to be honest as DS is already a bit of a nightmare at home, not wanting to be in a different room from anyone else - scares very easily. Really could do without him getting even more frightened of his own shadow.

What would your reaction be?

OP posts:
nickytwotimes · 30/09/2008 19:52

If the film is a 'U', I would have no issue. I'd be surprised if they showed a 'PG' though.
I take it the Harry Potter is hypothetical?

LuLuMacGloo · 30/09/2008 19:53

I would be ok about Starwars (more worried they'd be a bit bored than anything else - having said that DD (5) loves all the Starwars films) but not ok with Harry Potter which I think is a bit scary.

Would have thought the after school club would be doing something a bit more constructive that watching films but quite possibly I'm hopelessly out of touch.

psychomum5 · 30/09/2008 19:54

my personal reaction would be TBH, but then, my 6yr old has watched these filsm from being quite young, what with having older siblings about and a mum&dad that also like the films.

I would have been the same tho with DD1. I know many parents take great notice of certification on films but it is one thing that has never overly bothered me. bigger things out there in my mind to worry about.

having said that tho, I have kiddies that don;t scare easy with films as I am constantly telling them that it is all make-believe.

the news scares them more as it is real!

Smithagain · 30/09/2008 19:55

I'd be annoyed if there was no other option. DD1 is very easily frightened (she's 6) and does not like watching films full stop.

At her school, they show DVDs at wet play. Normally, they offer another option for those who don't want to see them, but we've had a few upsets where the option wasn't available and she was scared silly by something made by Disney!

Original poster
FairyBasslet · 30/09/2008 20:07

They do have plenty of other stuff to do - DS played with toys while other kids were in the TV room apparently, and I don't think we're overly precious as DS gets to watch plenty of films, but it's just the thought that he might be able to watch something fairly scary like Harry Potter (yes, some of the kids were watching this) without our say-so.

OP posts:
LuLuMacGloo · 30/09/2008 20:11

I think it would be unreasonable if they didn't have a choice. But as long as what the other kids are watching is remotely suitable and your DS can be doing something instead, then it might be no bad thing for your DS to be able to poke his head around the door and gradually acclimatize himself to 'big films'. If you don't want that to be an option then you should make your feelings clear to the workers - I'm sure they'll make sure that he is otherwise occupied. Personally though, I'd leave it.

Flamesparrow · 01/10/2008 10:34

They shouldn't be showing any films at afterschool club - innit against licensing? (remembers the reams and reams of t&c I had to photocopy about it all once)

But no, they shouldn't be showing anything other than a U - it isn't their call to make.

Cryptoprocta · 01/10/2008 11:25

@Flamesparrow -

The blurb at the start used to say Schools, Prisons, Oil Rigs and Coaches.

Always thought that would make a great album name

Flamesparrow · 01/10/2008 11:39

lol!

chloemegjess · 01/10/2008 11:41

They are only actually allowed to show films that are "u" rated. Thats what we got told anyway when I worked in an after school club.

EachPeachPearMum · 01/10/2008 12:42

Star Wars is U rated- it was the first film I saw in the cinema at age 3, with my father. Had a profound effect on me that's for sure... fancied Harrison Ford for most of my life!

The problem is that U rated films are not free of violence or bad language- there was a thread on here a while ago about infant school children watching Shrek, which had bad language in the first 30 minutes.

Ashantai · 01/10/2008 14:11

My 5 yr old has watched loads of Star Wars and Harry Potter films and it doesnt phase him.

He did get a little scared of that Dr Who episode with the weeping angels, (which i watched behind my cushion as well ), but he's a great fan of cybermen and daleks

Strangely enough when my daughter was around 3 she had nightmares about the bear coming to get her, which was only resolved when we were watching teletubbies and found out she was scared of the bear and lion chasing each other!!

Flamesparrow · 01/10/2008 14:20

Ooh so it is EPPM

I have no problems with the films themselves, but I am concerned about the whole licensing thing

southeastastra · 01/10/2008 14:21

pretty sure star wars is a PG as i remember being too young to see it in the first place.

maybe the club got a little confused with the rating. do they have a policy for films?

Flamesparrow · 01/10/2008 14:23

Checked the dvds - the 3rd/6th whatever one is a PG, the other 2 are U

Thomcat · 01/10/2008 14:24

I'd have no issues at all.
Just think they might be bored more than anything else.

FioFio · 01/10/2008 14:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

southeastastra · 01/10/2008 14:28

i was actually really peed off the my son's school showed them high school musical. don't want him watching that shite thank you

Turniphead1 · 01/10/2008 14:44

YANBU. I think Harry Potter is for slightly older children.

SaintRiven · 01/10/2008 14:46

Star wars should be compulosry in all schools from age d 5

bozza · 01/10/2008 15:00

You all seem to be talking about the original star wars. I am sure one of the new ones is a 12.

laweaselmys · 01/10/2008 15:22

I work at an afterschool club and I'm pretty sure the legal position is U's only.

If they are showing films rated higher than a U they will have your consent. However, the other day we turned off 101 dalmations (a U) because one of the little 'uns got scared.

I would expect the same from any other afterschool club.

SaintRiven · 01/10/2008 15:46

well yes. The new ones were pants.
I got fed up with Disney being shown at school. Disney makes me puke.

EachPeachPearMum · 01/10/2008 16:32

bozza what is this new Star Wars of which you speak?

SaintRiven · 01/10/2008 17:07

those terrible ones with Jar Jar Binks in