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Original poster

to take 5yo ds to see a 12A film?

337 replies

LittleLionMansMummy · 16/12/2015 12:02

The film being the new Star Wars one. I know I'm officially 'allowed' to, but would usually check film content (by watching it) before making a decision about whether it's appropriate for him. He loves Star Wars and has asked specifically to see it at the cinema.

OP posts:
RiverTam · 16/12/2015 20:52

It's not just about whether it's frightening, though, is it? If the plot and the issues of the film are beyond the comprehension of a young child then it's a bit pointless, isn't it?

This is why I am always Shock at young children watching the later Harry Potters. It's not black and white, here are the goodies, here are the baddies, any more by that point. There's loads going on that must go right over the heads (or completely confuse) younger kids.

megletthesecond · 16/12/2015 21:01

I'm fascinated by all these 5/6 yr old that sit through films Envy.

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 16/12/2015 21:04

Regenerationfez: I think the 12A certificate was a horrible mistake. It's really stunted the production of anything other than bloody 12A films. Because children can (if their parents take them) go to see a 12A in the cinema the producers just decide to make everything a 12A.

It was much better when they had to decide whether they wanted everyone to see it, or whether they were go for an older audience only. Now all they do is fudge everything as a 12A (because that'll make them the most money). Well everything that's not animated, those are generally U (and occasionally PG).

Star Wars should have been a PG. The 12A puts parents of small people who are obsessed with Star Wars in a crap situation: you can disappoint your 6 year old who has been looking forward to it since it was announced (especially as most of his friends will have seen it) or you can ride him getting upset or scared by something unsuitable in the cinema. It's completely shit of Disney to market something so heavily at little kids but release a film they know isn't suitable for them. Absolute fuckers.

Tamponlady · 16/12/2015 21:09

Poin5 is they don't it's wishful thinking they chatter ask to go wee, ask yto go home ask what's going on usually because they have no clue because ITS A ADULT FILM MENT FOR OLDER TEENS OR ADULTS

there are no 5 year olds that have a 2 hour attention span of your has your either lieing or need to contact the child development experts so they can be studied

RiverTam · 16/12/2015 21:09

Is it marketed at little kids particularly? Or just kids?

Tamponlady · 16/12/2015 21:11

poster StepAwayFromTheThesa

I was with yu all the way until you last bit it's not anyone's job to parent for you it doesn't put you in a crap position ypu just say your 6 and I will take you to see snoopy end of its they hype and all the other kids saying they seen a grown up film

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 16/12/2015 21:13

Well it's marketed at bloody everyone. You can have Star Wars branded anything really if you go to the shops.

But it has been explicitly marketed at younger children too. I was looking at a Star Wars toothbrush for children who still have baby teeth earlier, for example. The amount of stuff aimed at children much younger than 12 is ridiculous, and even more so if the film isn't suitable for everyone to see.

atticusclaw2 · 16/12/2015 21:14

Tamponlady I disagree entirely with anyone who is taking a young child to see the film. However my DSs are by no means child geniuses and were quite capable of sitting through an exciting film at age 5.

TaliZorah · 16/12/2015 21:15

there are no 5 year olds that have a 2 hour attention span of your has your either lieing or need to contact the child development experts so they can be studied

Bollocks when I was that age I went to the theatre with my parents and I sat through the whole thing, every single show.

If the child is INTERESTED they will, if not they won't

Tamponlady · 16/12/2015 21:15

River tam

Family guy has toys dosent mean a 5 year old should be watching it

Game of thrones has toys and I wouldn't be letting a 4-5 year watch it it's not about who is aimed at

It's about being a grown up and realising it's not for kids though from this thread I can see it's pretty much parents dragging there children along and hyping them up my 3 year old knows nothing about Star Wars and i asked her four year old cousin what it was just to test the waters and she said in the sky starts her exact answer funny her mum dosent like Star Wars

Tamponlady · 16/12/2015 21:17

Normal Attention Span by Age: Children ages 5-6 years old typically can attend to one activity that is of interest to them for around 10-15 minutes at a time and should generally be able to filter out small distractions occurring simultaneously in the environment.21 Oct 2013

Holstein · 16/12/2015 21:19

You're wrong tamponlady. Of course there are 5yo that have 2 hour attention spans. What a ridiculous, facile comment!
My children have been able to sit through whole (age appropriate) films since before they were 5. They know we don't talk in cinemas, and they know to go to the loo beforehand.

atticusclaw2 · 16/12/2015 21:19

Ah ok so maybe my children are geniuses after all Grin Hmm

That's bollocks, sorry. There are plenty of children who rightly or wrongly will sit in front of a screen for hours at age 5/6.

The attention span of the child is not the issue anyway. The issue is whether the film is appropriate for them.

TaliZorah · 16/12/2015 21:21

Tampon that doesn't mean there are no kids that will watch a film. There's nothing abnormal about a child who can do that.

Where is that from anyway?

RiverTam · 16/12/2015 21:21

Tampon have you read or understood all of my posts? I don't think Star Wars is suitable for a 5yo.

DD has been able to fit through films without shifting from age 3. Longest she's watched is probably Mary Poppins which is perhaps 90 mins? This is a fact as I sit with her. My niece couldn't but then she has ASD.

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 16/12/2015 21:22

I don't agree that I'm asking them to parent for me. I'm going to see the film first and then decide whether to disappoint DS2 or take him, but it certainly hasn't made me any keener on bloody Disney than I was before.

It is putting parents in a crap position when you purposefully create a huge marketing monster much if which is absolutely aimed at getting 6 year olds really hyped up about a film but then not delivering a film suitable for those children.

If the alcohol industry, for example, were doing everything they could to create pester power for primary school age children to nag their parents to buy them booze, I'd be within my rights to feel pissed off at them. And they would be putting parents in a crap position. Obviously I'd say no, but I'd be very angry for bring put in the suitation.

Disney are doing something similar, and they're a bunch of total arse holes for it. Don't market to children if you aren't going to deliver something child friendly. Corporations shouldn't be let off the hook because it's each parent's job to parent their own children.

atticusclaw2 · 16/12/2015 21:22

I really think the attention span thing is a red herring. The fact is the film is rated 12 and as such is completely inappropriate for a 5 year old.

RiverTam · 16/12/2015 21:22

Fit? Sit!

thegiddylimit · 16/12/2015 21:23

I'd think twice before taking a 5 year old to see a PG, never mind a 12, and always check a (PG) film before letting the kids see it. My kids haven't seen Coraline yet for that reason. No way are mine (8, a very sensitive 6, and 3) seeing Star Wars. They didn't like Paddington because it was too scary!

TaliZorah · 16/12/2015 21:24

atticus I really don't think it's that clear cut, all kids are different. I certainly wouldn't be concerned about a young child watching it.

PresidentUnderwood · 16/12/2015 21:25

DS who's 5, is totally capable of sitting, unmoving in front of TV for 2 hours if I was crazy enough to let him.

He's watched Star Wars (original) but I fast forwarded through scary bits. I'd have to watch new one before I decide if suitable for DS.

StepAwayFromTheThesaurus · 16/12/2015 21:25

Family guy toys aren't actually aimed at small children though. Nor are the game of thrones figures. Not all toys are marketed at children.

Star Wars shit is most certainly aimed at small children. There are loads of preschool Star Wars toys. And the marketing is absolutely designed to appeal to children. There's a huge difference.

atticusclaw2 · 16/12/2015 21:26

talizorah with all due respect you haven't actually seen it. How can you possibly know its appropriate for a five year old?

RiverTam · 16/12/2015 21:27

Step DD lives in a house chockful of Star Wars and LOTR/Hobbit stuff - she could name all 13 dwarves at one point and regularly plays with Hobbit and Star Wars action figures. But she's never seen any of the films. We've told her she can when she's older. She knows we're going to Star Wars. It's simply not an issue for us, she's not going to see it, that's that. I'm sorry it's harder for you but that's not Disney's fault.

atticusclaw2 · 16/12/2015 21:27

Presumably your lack of concern talizorah is purely due to the fact that you believe all 12 rated film certifications are incorrect. Would you let your five year old watch the Hunger Games?