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

[LittleLionMansMummy]

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.

I'm not in England.

They start full time at 3 in a school nursery class in this part of Wales.

With a qualified nursery teacher and TAs, not nursery nurses etc.

No she was at nursery at 3 not the same thing in this country children don't legally need to attend school until their 5th birthday hence under five service

Actually no child legally has to attend school full stop. You should perhaps check your facts before posting (and expand your horizons beyond England too).

DS is 4/5 and has watched the original 3 films at home a few times. He's very interested as he loves space (and Lego) and will get the videos out to play them.

We've withheld the prequels as the third is more graphic. I think The Phantom Menace would be fine, but then he'd want to watch the others, so it's easier to stick with the original set. I've had questions about "Dark Vader" so have answered with some of the plots from episodes 1-3.

He's certainly got the attention span for it (but is a risk for asking questions). He knows there's a new film because he's heard about it on the news on the radio (yesterday I was getting astronaut questions) He also knows that there's a grey area with action/ fantasy/ superheros where some versions are fine, and others are too rough.

I wish it was cut so it was suitable for a younger market rather than being such a grey area of judgment.

Me too meglet my two (boys, age 8 and 11) just get bored after an hour or so. The older one is getting more interested in films but compared to their friends, they'd rather be doing something else. Saying that, I never go to the cinema or watch films. What a waste of a babysitter for a start!

Don't know if anyone else has given this info but I find if you check IMDb, it gives very comprehensive information regarding what the film contains in the parents guide section this includes Sex/Nudity, Violence/Gore, Profanity, Alcohol/Drugs/Smoking, Frightening/Intense Scenes.

The news is pre watershed and that's much scarier than any of these films.

I let my dcs watch whatever films they want. They've never been distressed.

And how many five year olds watch the news?

lightbulb off

I don't think it's just the actual violence though, it's the pace, the effects, the overwhelmingness of it all. Not good for young kids.

Rivertam "Oh really? A 5yo thinks oh yeah, Luke's not a human even though he looks just like one so when Darth Vadar tortures him that's not going to hurt a bit? Pull the other one. If it looks like a human, sounds like a human and has feelings like a human, that's exactly what a child is going to think it is! That is the feeblest excuse for letting young kids watch this stuff I've ever heard."

Couldn't agree more.

Not RTFT but my 24 yr old DS is going tonight to see it, in fact he will be in the cinema now, and he will be quizzed about it as DS2 (10) wants to see it. Will post back when I have spoken to him tomorrow.

To your knowledge. A lot goes on in kids heads that parents never know about.

I have this thing with books. I have 1980's editions of classic fairytales (brothers Grimm, etc.). As a child i loved them and never found them scary. My DC like them too. But as an adult now, i honestly get an upset stomach reading them (about medieval torture scenes and things).

Depends on the chid.

I went to see the original as an 11 year old and was fine (and I went with friends so not a 12 of AA or whatever it would have been) but my cousin o the same age was scared by ....................... the cantina.

Not Han Solo killing a character, just the cantina itself.

Kids are bonkers

Too young. Wait till DVD and then you don't have noise and large screen and you can switch off.
A 12a is for children 12 and above and the adult part is to allow older children.
I'm letting 9 yr old go after checking reviews and content. I've also said he can now see SW3 which is 12a and he hasn't seen but must watch with adult all way through not in his own.
I've said no chance of 7 yr old being allowed and he won't get to see DVD either until older.

The thinking that small children couldn't follow Star Wars is laughable. My nearly 7yo DS is a walking talking Star Wars encyclopaedia. He knows EVERYTHING about it, and somehow he seems to have picked up loads of information about the new film.

I'm cross the new film is a 12A. The merchandise and marketing are clearly aimed a children. I never normally let DS watch 12A films. He's watched all Harry Potters bar the 12A ones, he's never seen Spiderman, Batman etc despite being a huge superhero fan. But this time I think I'm going to make an exception.

Follow yes. Sit through without fidgeting, commenting, running to toilet different story. Some can, some can't

Yes, sitting outside a film for over two hours in case your child gets distressed by it is the sensible option, because you can't say "No darling it's you're too young, it's not for you yet". Sounds like she was already distressed by episode 3 - the 'younglings' are small children that are murdered by Anakin. He is not dressed as Darth Vader at that point, the children are played by...well, children. I found it a bit much, and wasn't in keeping with the attempted redemption of Anakin in RoTJ.

My ds has seen Star Wars merchandise and heard the characters talked about, he wants to watch it. He thinks it's spaceships and furry creatures. But it is up to me, not him. It's basic parenting, it involves saying no a lot to things they want but aren't ready for.

Dh and I are going, he is staying with grandparents and probably watching Shaun the Sheep and Sarah and Duck, the mollycoddled little precious. We are being quiet about what we're doing, but he has learned to accept no, which is quite useful.

Well my 2 are 5 and 7 and do love the earlier Star Wars films. They haven't seen any that are 12s though. I won't take them this time even though they would love to go.

My 6 year old has seen all of the Star Wars films except Episode III - bit too violent. He loves them, and sits still through them and follows it. He has also enjoyed Iron Man and some of the other Marvel films. He is a sensitive soul though; we always. vet them first then make a judgement as we know our son. That's what we will be doing with Star Wars; we will see it first, then decide if it is suitable for him.

DD is plenty used to the word "no", probably to things your kids are allowed to do satsuki.

We took dd to see avatar when she was 6.. She was fine .. Depend on the child

I agree the 12a rating is just a massive marketing bollocks and has ruined many a good film. How do you know a film is suitable for your child if the range of 12a is so bloody massive? You have to do tons of research or go to see the film first, then go again with your child, at £8 a pop. It's destroyed proper adult films, and ruined the proper between 10-17 age group films.

I wouldn't take a 5 yr old if I still had one because I wouldn't want to ruin other people's evenings. I don't get the SW hype but I do understand that for a lot of adults, SW is very special. Apart from those taking their own kids, I doubt many of those people would jump for joy at finding themselves next to Junior.