Would you take your four year old to see Harry Potter?

[OrangeElephant]

A friend of mine has said she is taking her 4 year old, pre-school ds to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix this weekend (Cert 12A). I was at this as I think it is way too young. Am I completely out of touch? - would never take my ds to see it (he is also 4).

No, the donkeys

Not taking ds7 - he gets freaked by HP films (think it was dementors that did it for him. He watches DR Who and all POC tho.

My dp was hiding his face at the spiders - dcs were ROFL!

I wouldn't take DS aged 4 until I had seen it first. Goblet of fire was pretty difficult in places. But at 4 she seems oblivious to some things that she will probably be scared of later iyswim

I would say that if a child can fully understand the concepts and is emotionally mature enough to handle the books then they are ready for the film. I can't think of many 4 yr olds who would grasp the books. I'm just reading the last one, and I know they get progressively older, but it is full of 'scary' images and a very complex plot.

I'm fairly shocked that so many of you are letting such little ones watch the films - they are full of disturbing images, particularly the later ones, and even if kid's seem okay and not bothered they still absorb absolutely everything they see. Is it worth the risk that they are internalising horrible frightening images of Dementers, giant spiders, Werewolves and such like? What's the rush with letting them see such things so young, they have plenty of older years to enjoy them - when they have that emotional maturity and also the full concept of what is real and what isn't.
Sorry have waffled on and on and on!!!

I would not take a 4 year old to see Harry Potter. This is a dark film and way to scary for little children. DH and I went to see it on Sunday there was a little girl of about 7 sitting next to us and she got scared in some parts of it. Mum had bought her with her older brothers.
It is a 12A so therefore woud not be suitable for childrn younger than about 8 or 9.

No. Scariness aside, my DCs at 4 would do this...

"what's that man doing?"
"who's she?"
"is that Harry is it?"
"where's Hedwig?"
"is that Harry is it?"
"can I have more popcorn?"
"what's that man doing?"
"why did he say aaarrgh?"
"i need the loo?"
"i don't like snakes?"
"who's that?"
"where's Hedwig?"

All the way through the bloody film.

definately, definately not!! - went to see it last night and scared me!

someone i know was talking aobuttaking her pre schooler too.
he is far too young i said.

i think most 4 year olds are too young for cinema anyhow. too costly as well.