What age for Harry Potter?

[Itscurtainsforyou]

My 7yo has just read the first 2 books. He's also seen the two films.

We weren't sure about book/film 3 because of the dementers - a bit scary. We watched the film (without 7yo) last night and found it very dark, so we're pretty sure we're going to have a pause.

Would be interested to know what ages you've given the books too.

About the same age, really, but DD is a resilient child and doesn’t get freaked easily. We let her dictate but not as bedtime reading. She read them evenings and weekends. Bedtime was saved for more frothy offerings.

She’s now literally just 9, and has read them all. And enjoyed every minute. Most trauma we had was at the end and the desolation at having no more!!

Ds read them at 8 or 9 I think and I didn't stop him but when he got to the last one he stopped reading it a short way in because he was uneasy I think. He's 11 now and still hasn't read it.

DS started at 6 and had read them all by 8. He's not easily scared by books though. We rewatched all of the films before letting him see them and we held off on the final two till he was just turned 9 I think.

DS read the first four at age 6.5-7.

Strangely, he finds books two (Chamber of Secrets) the scariest.

Having talked to many children, I realised that kids tend to not find the dementors as scary as grown-ups do (not in the books, at least). The whole 'sucking all hope and love and joy out of your life' thing feels very dark to us, but for kids they are often 'just another monster' IYSWIM.
Also, in book three there is no Voldemort. And there are some really good things that happen to Harry (e.g. discovery of his godfather). So, overall it is not too bad.

I wish I'd held off on The Goblet of Fire for a while longer. This (book four) is where it really starts gettin dark, with the first death of a 'goodie', and a child to boot. Also, there are some more teen-relevant themes such as budding romance etc which just passes the younger readers by.

So I'd say, book one is fine at age 6, book two can be quite scary (basilisk, Voldemort trying to control people through Tom Marvolo Riddle's diary, persistently high level of threat, Harry being blamed for things, also topics such as 'mudbloods' - discrimination and hate crimes), book three is less scary for kids than for adults, but book four really steps it up with violence and senseless killing. After that (books 5-7) it gets darker and more grown-up by the chapter.

Birth. Indoctrinate them early, I say.

In seriousness, I got the first book for my 4th birthday and read it as soon as I was able to. I saw the movies as they were released in cinemas, also at a young age. I think it depends on the individual child. My neighbour and I were both the same age when the films were coming out and I was avid fan, but she got into it much later because she was scared by it.

Strangely, he finds books two (Chamber of Secrets) the scariest.

This was the one which I found most "scary" as a child too. The dementors didn't faze me, but the basilisk was a different story.

I read them from the age of 7 and I remember finding the 2nd one the most scary out of them all! The Chamber of Secrets. Gave me nightmares!! Its written very much as a thriller that one.

A lot of the themes in the later books that an adult would find 'dark' are actually quite subtle and would be lost on a child of 7. They get more conceptual as they go on. So I dont think you do need to worry about the books. As I said the scariest one as a child was the 2nd because it was quite obvious if you see what I mean. The later books are scary because of the themes about death, suffering and trust. These things are not actually as scary to a 7 year old as they are to an older child!

The films are different however because they show these things so id hesitate before showing a 7 year old them.

Thanks all
I've found it tricky as some of his school friends with older siblings have read/watched them all.

It's interesting what a few of you say about book 3 being less scary for children than adults. We have the first 3 books and I was only going to let him go up to book 2, but you've made me consider going to book 3.

Book 4 - with the death of one of the good guys might be worth holding back for a while though.

DS1 had read them all by the time he was 9 with no ill effects. Depends how sensitive they are.

The 3rd terrifies me even now in my 20s because of the werewolf - every other one I was fine with as a child.

Oh and the book was fine.