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Original poster

7-year-olds watching cert 12 DVD: did I over-react?

65 replies

juliab · 23/02/2006 10:20

Just wondering what you all think. Yesterday, went to a friends house with ds1 (7), ds2 (6) and ds3 (2). A few other mums went too with their kids - none of them over 7. After tea, the host mum's child (also 7) took them all upstairs to watch a DVD.
I went up to check on ds3 and found they were all watching a Cert 12 film. I hadn't seen it so didn't know what was in it but wasn't very happy about it, so asked the host mum's child if he had any other DVDs that were more suitable for younger ones. He refused to change it.
I took ds3 away (amid much tantrumming!) and said to host mum: 'Sorry for all the screaming but I can't let him watch a cert-12 film.' She said, 'Ok but you'll have to keep him down here because I don't want to spoil the others' fun.'
I was at this: I'd never let a bunch of under-7s watch something like that. But none of the other mums seemed at all worried. Does that mean I'm an uptight old bag?

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NotQuiteCockney · 23/02/2006 10:21

Hmm, DS1 is only 4, so I don't let him watch any 12-cert stuff. But I expect there's some 12-cert stuff I'd be ok with him watching when he's a bit older. I'd want to know what it was, though, and why it was a 12-cert.

spursmum · 23/02/2006 10:23

All depends on what the film is I find. I thought a 12cert was changed to 12A which meant that they could watch it with an adult present.
My ds will watch an occasional older film if I know what it is and whats in it. He loves Moulin Rouge and thats a 12.

spacedonkey · 23/02/2006 10:23

What was the film?

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Original poster

juliab · 23/02/2006 10:24

It was Pirates of the Caribbean.

OP posts:

fairyfly · 23/02/2006 10:25

yes you did

NotQuiteCockney · 23/02/2006 10:26

Hmmm, I'd probably be ok with a 7-year-old seeing that, depending on the 7-year-old. It might give nightmares, depending on the kid.

I wouldn't want a 2-year-old watching it, though, that's for sure. I hadn't read your question properly, thought you'd dragged your 7-year-old away. I certainly understand dragging a 2-year-old off!

zippitippitoes · 23/02/2006 10:26

I thought that was a family film

lunavix · 23/02/2006 10:27

A boy I know of 6 frequently watches older stuff. I'm not sure of all the ratings, but he watches Dr Who, Pirates of the Caribbean, Men in Black... he's quite mature for his age, and he watches these at home. He isn't your average 6 year old though (my friends 6 yo dd watches cinderella and sleeping beauty)

I caught him watching relic hunter which I'm sure is a 15 so turned it off. I suppose some parents are just different to others.
I know 8yo who watcghes little britain which I don't think is suitable for anyone at all.

The only thing I censor from ds who's 2 is sex. I don't mind a teeny bit of violence etc after sitting diwn and watching cartoon network some of the shows are truly awful.

lunavix · 23/02/2006 10:28

jujlia - see this boy, plus tons of other boys I know have seen that. My ds has too I'm sure.

jowen · 23/02/2006 10:29

I can understand you removing your 2 year old, but can also understand her not turning the film off. It's not a nasty film, and they were 7, not 3. I would agree with her not spoiling everyone's fun for the sake of one child being too young.

tiredemma · 23/02/2006 10:29

I would let my 5 yr old watch pirates of caribbean, in fact i would let my child watch any 12 rated film.

would obviously draw the line at 15 and 18 rated films.

Original poster

juliab · 23/02/2006 10:30

Sorry: original post not very clear. I took ds3 away from it - he's only 2 - and let the others stay. But did feel very uncomfortable about it - mainly cos I hadn't seen the film myself so had no idea what sort of stuff was in it.

OP posts:

fairyfly · 23/02/2006 10:31

What i think is.......... children aren't stupid, if they get scared they do something about it, walk out, hide behind the sofa, scream. I can't see what long term damage a 12 would do, i can see what long term damage preventing a child from seeing a 12 will do. It's the daily mail culture of thinking little ones can't be subjected to anything apart from fairy cakes, they'll all grow up to be mass murderers.

jowen · 23/02/2006 10:31

IMHO, a 12 cert film is suitable for any child over 5 who doesn't scare too easily. It's not going to have sex or violence or very strong language in.

Original poster

juliab · 23/02/2006 10:34

I'm glad I asked! Never really known what makes a film a 12, rather than a PG (must find out) so have always assumed under-12s shouldn't watch. Obviously will have to lighten up!

OP posts:

spacedonkey · 23/02/2006 10:35

completely agree with jowen on this

zippitippitoes · 23/02/2006 10:36

there are some films which i think 7 is quite young for

River Wild I watched with the chilkdren on tv and was shocked at it and it's I think it's a 12 but we carried on watching because we had started and thought it was worse to switch it off.

spursmum · 23/02/2006 10:37

Not neccessarily lighten up but trust your instincts. All depends on what the film is as they all vary, thank god. If in doubt remove them if you haven't seen it first.

NannyL · 23/02/2006 10:38

not quite the point ut did you realise "the snowman" (by Raymond Briggs.... walking in the air etc) is certificate PG?

I nearly died when i saw that! I wonder which bit stopped it being a U

spursmum · 23/02/2006 10:43

What threw me was when I realised that The Fifth Element (Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman sci-fi thing) was a PG.
With all the shooting, fighting etc I was a little shocked by it. I would have thought it would have been a 12.

WigWamBam · 23/02/2006 10:44

If you over-reacted then I would have done as well; I don't agree that a 12 certificate is suitable for any child over 5 and I wouldn't have let my dd watch it without having seen the film myself. My dd doesn't live in a world where she isn't subjected to anything other than fairy cakes, but I wouldn't have been happy with her watching a film with a 12 certificate if I didn't know what the content was, and why it had been given the 12 certificate.

fairyfly · 23/02/2006 11:06

What actually happens to a child that watches a 12 when they shouldn't? I'm actually curious to find out, never met anyone in my life that has said, sorry i'm completely fucked up because when i was 7 i was subjected to a 12 certificate film.

poppiesinaline · 23/02/2006 11:10

I can understand why you felt uncomfortable. I wouldn't let mine watch a 12 without checking it first. My DS when he was 8 had a sleep over at a friend's house and I later discovered they had watched a 15 rated DVD I was not pleased! But it hasn't seemed to have scarred DS much. That particular friend was the youngest child in a family of 4 kids. I think with your first you are more 'careful' what they watch IYSWIM. I know my DD (aged 5) watches things that I would never have allowed DS1 watch when he was her age!!

Beetroot · 23/02/2006 11:12

mine watch cet 12 stuff but I would noty let another child watch it. If we have other kids around allthe kids stick to the pg and under

WigWamBam · 23/02/2006 11:35

I don't think anyone said that watching a 12 certificate at a young age would f*ck someone up for life. But some 12 films are enough to give young children nightmares for a while - not something I would chose to inflict on my child by not checking the content of the film first.

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