Do I let my 5yr old watch Jaws?

[Bananamama1213]

Would you?

He currently watches all of the superhero (iron man, Spider-Man, ant man, guardians of the galaxy, captain America, avengers, Thor) and the villains don't scare him in those.

I got him a Jaws top from Next and he wants to see the film.

I don't know whether I'd be concerned Smell and I'm pretty sure this alone wouldn't be prompting me to recommend a psych referral, I just think surely, SURELY there's an element of not connecting what she's seeing with reality - and I think that's a GOOD thing!

But like i say, I'm mega sensitive so perhaps most people (even children) really are far hardier than me... But looking at the other responses on this thread I think those kids that could watch jaws, understand it, and NOT have nightmares for weeks would definitely be in a very small minority!

I also said she wanted to find out more about sharks after watching the film so we watched some nature programs and got her a book. So what do you think?
Shark attacks are hardly common, especially on land. It's not really a point I need to hammer home, she's hardly going to meet one on the street and try and pet it!

12A doesn't mean it's suitable for anyone under 12. It was PG initially because there was no rating in between that and 15, as I recall. 12A is a better rating for it.

Again, I'm in that alternate universe where Jaws is a great film for educating children about sharks and is not an adult film, it's a family film. It's just a bit Halloween-ey in places!

I don't like any of your film choices tbh they are all full of violence and things that a child his age will not be able to make full sense of.
Children often try to emulate things they see.
As for jaws??! Why the fuck would you put those horrors into your child's head?
It may look like quite a boring film now as special effects are so advanced now. But to your child,who has no experience of the world yet, it is just fucking horrific.

12A is different from a 12, a child under 12 can be taken to the cinema to watch a 12A film if accompanied by an adult who should be aware of the content and decide if it is appropriate for that specific child on an individual basis. Which is exactly what I said up thread. It depends on the child.

The problem is that adults are not being appropriate and are making poor decisions when deciding for their children.

SURELY there's an element of not connecting what she's seeing with reality
Yes that is what I said, she recognises it's a story and no one was hurt.

Desensitising children to violence and horror is not a good idea.

Wow, I'm surprised people let their 5 year-olds watch the superhero movies, let alone Jaws. Aren't most of them 12 rated? Why let them watch? There's loads of age appropriate stuff for them to watch.

Thanks Weebo !

Agree with assinated - it's always been viewed as a family film here, not an adult horror. My kids are quite happy in the understanding that it's not real, and they are certainly less traumatised by it than I was by ET as a child!!

I watched jaws 3 when I was 10 and it ruined a summer holiday for me as it so freaked me out and jaws 3 is far sillier than jaws which is really disturbing in places
All this 'sharks are misunderstood' is slightly ott as most shark attacks are in really shallow water when the shark practically throws themselves on to the shore to bite
Jaws is and shd be bloody scary- top predator and all that?!?
I'd be freaked if my 5 year old happily watched a film of children and women being eaten alive

BeyondDrink, I was being sarcastic... it's not a family film! 12A means that under 12s can see the film, accompanied by an adult, if the adult is happy the child can cope with the content. I highly doubt that the BBFC thinks it's totally cool for a 5 yr old to see Jaws. The 12A rating is intended more for situations like an emotionally mature 10yr old seeing a 12A film with the rest of their family.

Oh God - ET.

It was The Lion King for me. I wailed until my mum turned it off.

On another note - I watched Stardust last night and was very surprised it's a PG. I didn't remember it being so dark in some bits.

DD did cry at ET actually! I always cry at films and am a complete wimp at horror movies. Hate them. Jaws is my limit so she won't be seeing anything scarier until she is old enough to watch without me.

MH services, especially for children, are overstretched enough userwhatever without people requesting referrals because their child likes Jaws

I would consider this case to be fairly urgent, something is clearly very seriously amiss

No user you are just OTT
Child happily watches 12A film... Get her to the Dr!
Get a grip.

ET didn't upset me, it terrified me. Still does

Ah bloody lack of tone in text! My elder child doesn't like jaws btw, so it's only watched when he isn't there. It doesn't scare him, just doesn't interest him at all. I think it being an 'old' film makes a difference to me, it's less realistic than an equal rated film would be today.

What do you think the issue could be, User?

Do you think they are in danger of growing up to be oceanic predators?

I was younger than 5 when I first watched it and it put me off swimming for ages. I wouldn't let my 5yo DD watch it. That being said, I watched Pet Sematary when I was 8 and wasn't fazed. It kind of went downhill from there and I quite like scary stuff now (as long as it has a good plot). The other films you list aren't really horror, IYSWIM.

A 5yr old is 7 years younger than the age recommendation. Do people genuinely think that many 5 year olds are as capable emotionally as children more than twice their age? That they'll be able to cope with the scenes of real human death, injury, terror, panic, horror, bereavement etc etc. I wouldn't risk it when there's thousands of other things to watch.

Do you think they are in danger of growing up to be oceanic predators?

Desensitising children to violence and horror is not a good idea.

It's odd. I was afraid to swim in the sea and kept getting out and checking the swimming pool for years after watching Jaws and the bond film where the shark was in the pool.

Now people say it's ok for their kids because their kids aren't bothered. Their kids should be bothered!!

I still remember wanting to watch Seven when I was 12 (massive Brad Pitt crush/obsession), only for the video rental shop employee to tell my mom not to rent it for me. I gave that woman evils. I ended up watching it not long after and wondering what the big deal was. I still love that film.

The five year old I look after loves learning about creatures under the sea, he watches Octonauts which is a whole lot more age appropriate than Jaws!