Is it OK for a 4 year old to watch Indiana Jones, Star Wars, etc?

[jodee]

Curious to know what others think - both these films are PG so can be watched unaccompanied but are most suitable for 8 years plus (according to BBFC) - my ds is 4.4 and plays with a friend slightly younger than him, and he was quizzing my ds on what he thought of Indiana Jones/Star Wars/Jurassic Park. DS just looked at him blankly, as he is still at the Nick Jr/Toy Story/Finding Nemo stage. (DS loves dinosaurs but even I quiver when watching Jurassic Park!)

DS isn't a particlarly sensitive child, but the other boy can be a bit 'rough', so it got me wondering if the type of films he watches were influencing his play?

I don't really think it does - DSs (6 and 4) like Scooby Doo, Spiderman, Star Wars etc and they are the softest kids ever. They were scared of Jurassic Park, although they liked it, but DS1 actually refused to see Finding Nemo (and still hides if I put it on!) because of the sharks!

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both my older son when 4/5 years old, and my younger son (nearly 5 years old) enjoy action films like star wars. But they also love 'Finding Nemo'. The youngest still likes Thomas the Tank, Stuart Little and even Pingu.

I wouldn't be happy if my 4 year old was only watching loud, fast-paced PG films, but I don't think it hurts to watch them sometimes - in fact tonight we're watching 'Return of the Jedi' which we've just rented out on video.

My sons are lively and can play rough but I think this is more to do with their personality, not the odd action film. I also think 4 year olds can find excuses for rough playfighting in almost anything they watch if they are so inclined. After all they are past the baby type videos mostly. Buzz lighyear in Toy Story is hardly a passive role model - all that flying around and crashing - and even Thomas the Tank stories seem to have huge amounts of disaster situations in them.

But in the end you have to be guilded by your child, so if you feel there's a direct link betweeen action films and his behaviour, then don't let him see them yet. He'll still enjoy them them later on anyway.

dd was glued to star wars (dp was watching it) at 25 months. She kept saying "oh dear" when things were shot.

What bad parents we are!

The original 3 Star Wars are only U classifications; the new ones and Indiana Jones PG. Depends on your own children and what you think it suitable for them and their nature.

I'm not sure such films influence play particularly. My boys can both be fairly rough at times, but didn't watch these sort of films at this age - because they found them too scary, plots too complex, or too exciting. DS1 suddenly turned a corner at about age 5.5, when he could cope with more scary films (like Lion King and Toy Story!) and he rapidly progressed onto Jurasic Park and Star Wars. DS2 (just 5) hasn't got there yet and was still traumatised by Finding Nemo!

I'm well aware that other children cope fine with such material at aged 3 or 4; mine were just rather sensitive little souls at this stage.

I agree with tigermoth Jodee, and yes, IMO it depends on your child but I don't think they're particularly influenced in a bad way by the likes of Star Wars. Lots of good moralising going on in these films too mostly! Jurassic Park scares the life out of me too but ds didn't turn a hair at 4+ and laughs at me jumping out of my skin when the T Rex appears!

well.. I wouldn't let my kids watch Star Wars, Indy & co - firstly because I think they are a bit 'full on' for little ones, but also because it is such a waste - they're cracking films and when the children are 6/7/8 and able to watch them for the first time they will appreciate them so much more and actually understand them properly.

just reporting back after an evening spent watching 'Return of the Jedi' with my 10 year old and nearly 5 year old.

My 10 year old saw this film many times when we had the video. He was into Star Wars around age 4 and this was his favourite Star Wars episode. He knew the names of all the minor characters etc. Sorry to contradict you geekgirl, but in his case, he was really eager to see the film again, chose the video from the shop, and watched it with great enjoyment, despite knowing it well from years ago. However he is still a big Star Wars fan.

The nearly 5 year old enjoyed it too, but his attention did wander in parts. I think he would have enjoyed a quieter film like Stuart Little just as much.

Interesting views - thanks ... I guess as you say, it all depends on the individual. Tigermoth, I know what you mean re. Buzz/Thomas; when ds (at 3) first saw the huge scary boulder chasing the trains, he was terrified, but the next time, loved it.

Maybe my concern is that I seem to get mixed signals from ds. For example, he loves Toy Story 2, knows all the plot, but then he will wake crying because he has had a bad dream about Emperor Zurg!

Also, the Cbeebies website has a lot to answer for - ds found the fairy stories and was watching/listening to Jack and the Beanstalk - seemed to enjoy it as he played it over and over. He then went from having a bad dream about a giant being after him in the bedroom, to pretending he was the giant himself and he actually bit another child very hard on the chest (no malice involved, he never bites, but it shocked us all).

So, whilst he may appear to enjoy something (I thought I was safe with Cbeebies!), his subconscious may take it to another level.

(Essbee, hi - I've been thinking about you and following your other threads, glad you are feeling a little as though you are back to your old self.)

Jodee - my nearly 5 year old had a phase a few months ago when he didn't want us to read Jack and the Beanstalk to him because he was scared of the giant. He's quite happy watching the Spiderman animated series on tv though (with all its scary villains). You can't always predict what will be a problem, can you?