Kids characters - what age?

[JustAMum35]

Humour me with this - I don’t necessarily believe there is a right or wrong here but it comes off the back of some strong opinions that a family member gave about our DC.

What ages/stages would you say it’s “normal” to like the following TV shows/movies/
characters:

• Peter Rabbit (animated series on Netflix and movie)
• Paddington (“The Adventures of…” animated series and the movies)
• Bluey
• Inside Out
• Cars/Lightning McQueen
• Roblox
• Minecraft
• Marvel films

I think it partly depends on families, I've got no interest in anything superhero related so I'm never going to be like "let's watch the latest Iron Man film". If they ask to see a Marvel film then I'll check to see what's suitable for them and go from there. Agree with PP that a lot of interest in Marvel comes from the clothing available (especially for boys) rather than actually seeing films.

Both of them liked Peter Rabbit/Bluey/Paddington from about 3, DD 5 watches cbeebies/milkshake so she still sees a lot of these type of shows.

DS7 was desperate to see Minecraft movie so he's watched that but he's not played the game yet. No chance of playing Roblox anytime soon if ever, I've read far too many awful stories about the content available.

@cardboard33 I have the same problems with boys clothes - I have a 6.5 year old too and he's not a 'gamer', we have a family Wii and I sometimes let him play Cbeebies games on an old tablet. That's it. He also found the Paddington films too scary! Tbh I've just bought a bundle of striped t-shirts off Vinted because I couldn't find anything in the shops I liked, but he doesn't like plain tops.

OP - your stepMIL is mad, don't worry. My 6.5 year old went to holiday club today with his Peter Rabbit backpack quite happily. Some of the children in his class with older siblings do play a lot of computer games and watch older stuff, but there doesn't seem to be any teasing about it if others don't. My son understands different families have different rules. Doubtless that changes as they get older, but not when they just start school.

Marvel films are definitely not for Reception children. I also like Common Sense Media as a guide, though I do take it with a pinch of salt as I think many of the reviews are a bit over the top (i.e. I don't mind mild rude language, and innuendo goes over kids heads). Just let him like what he likes, and he'll be introduced to new stuff by new friends as he grows up.

• Peter Rabbit (animated series on Netflix and movie) - age 2 to 4
• Paddington (“The Adventures of…” animated series and the movies) - 3 to 6
• Bluey - 2 to 7
• Inside Out - 4 to 8
• Cars/Lightning McQueen - 3 to 5
• Roblox - 5 to 13, people saying its really bad but my kids play it and with parental controls its very tame.
• Minecraft - 4 to whenever, you can get deep into coding eorlds for minecraft a bit like lego, it grows with you
• Marvel films - all ages but some are more adult and some are more kids so depends, husband just watched one on his own last night. My kids arent into them at all.

Mine are 11 and 7 and like most of those, some of which they've liked since they were much younger. Both DC used to "play" (aka dictate!) Minecraft with us when they were about 3 or 4, then started playing it independently a couple of years later. We all play together now, which is good fun. Not online with strangers, just our own worlds.

And we all love Bluey and regularly watch it as a family! One of the few shows everyone agrees on...

They've seen Peter Rabbit on Cbeebies but it wasn't one of their favourites. DD11 went through a Cars phase when she was about 4. Car-mad DS7 wasn't fussed! He loves Spidey & His Amazing Friends, hasn't seen any full Marvel movies but he knows some of the characters.

No Roblox. DD tried it once but didn't like it, and that's fine by me!

Your MIL is crackers. Your Ds absolutely won’t be bullied by other reception children for not having seen Marvel movies - they are for adults and teens. But you absolutely will be judged as chavvy and a lazy irresponsible mother by a certain cohort of other mums if your DS had his own iPad at age 4 and tells other kids he’s seen those movies!!!

Mine are 3 and 7.

Peter Rabbit - 7yo never really watched it when younger. 3yo now watches it sometimes and 7yo sometimes watches along as well.

Paddington - huge hit in our house with DC1 from age 3. DC2 has watched it from age 2. Both still happily watch it together.

Bluey - both 3yo and 7yo will watch it happily. As will 7yo's friends because "it's on for the little one".

Inside Out/Cars - never really popular here.

Minecraft - 7yo has been allowed to play in a limited way from age 6 and has seen the movie. 3yo likes Minecraft toys but obviously doesn't really get it.

Roblox - not yet allowed in our house.

The Marvel films - not really watched in our house.

3yo has recently discovered Paw Patrol, which is now having a little bit of a resurgence in our house. 7yo will happily watch it too, but only "for the little one". Likewise Thomas and Friends and the wooden train track.

I am pleased that having a younger sibling means my 7yo has an excuse not to be hurried out of their childhood.

Some parents love to push their children to 'older' films/games as they want to watch them too, or there are older siblings so it is easier or just because they want to show off that their child is 'so mature'.

These kids may then tell others that the 'age appropriate' things are babyish.

Do NOT introduce him to Roblox. At least not for 4 years!!

@Bitzee - she’s actually crackers 😂 Only other boy in the family is 12 years older but definitely has the parents who think it’s cool for their kids to be “mature” ie- doing things they shouldn’t be 🫠 and sMIL much prefers their way to mine 😂

As I said, it’s absolutely not anything I’m bothered about, I was just interested to hear others thoughts 😊
Absolutely no plans to introduce things unless he takes an interest, just as we have with everything so far 🤷🏻‍♀️ and he has absolutely no need for an iPad so that won’t be happening either 😂

Sounds completely normal 4yo watches Peter Rabbit, Paddington, Blaze and Peppa. His 7.5yo brother will also watch them with him sometimes.
The 4yo has no idea what Roblox or Minecraft are despite having a 7.5yo brother who knows both. We went to the cinema to see inside out (it was over a year ago) but the 4yo wouldn't know what inside out was if I asked and wouldn't recall any of the characters. He has a spiderman figure and water bottle but has never seen it on TV.

My 4yo has never seen Peter Rabbit because I think it's irritating, but he and all his friends aged 3-5 love Bluey. He quite enjoyed it from 2.5 but wasn't really understanding all of it, so it's more suitable now. He doesn't have the stamina for full-length movies yet, whether they're age-appropriate or not, and he doesn't enjoy anything that's scary or suspenseful. So he would probably like the idea of the Paddington movies but would get either bored or scared, depending on how early a scary bit came on!

I have a 10yo I still don't let watch the marvel films! He knows the characters tho and has done for several years. He's into Pokemon and Minecraft, has been since he was about 7/8. My 6yo is also into Pokemon and Minecraft but I think he's done this earlier due to his brother. We all love and still watch Bluey!

I think your approach seems sensible and perfectly normal and your stepMIL is crazy. We have family who take a different view to this than us. I just ignore them. My DN was given a Spiderman video game, rated 16+ at 8 years old and my SIL said to me that it's not any worse than the films so it's ok. We have very different approaches to parenting.

My Mum loves Paddington. She's 84. My children watch it to keep her company.

One child loved Lightning McQueen aged about 4 or 5.

Minecraft about 7+ but honestly would avoid as long as possible.

I think reception/KS1 children like superheroes and dressing up but shouldn't be watching Marvel versions which are aimed at 10+.

Children of different ages get different things from TV shows. Older children often rewatch because familiar shows give a sense of comfort and familiarity - they can soothe them and reduce anxiety. Worth remembering also that children with ADHD or otherwise ND are often behind their peers in terms of maturity and so it may be entirely appropriate/make sense from a developmental perspective for them to watch shows which many would think are aimed at a "younger" audience. I think a lot of harm is done from rushing kids through childhood and away from interests seen as immature or babyish.

Funnily enough I was thinking about this today but more in regards to kids clothes and bags. My child 4, doesn't watch any TV and neither do most of their friends so they only know of these things randomly. He likes Paddington and Bluey because he has books about them, and is now starting to be interested in SpiderMan but only due to other kids talking about it. He just got a Lego Minecraft set so now he knows about that, although not really but now it's a word that he knows. He's been given lots of Paw Patril things, including a back pack and likes that, although doesn't actually know what or who they are

Ha ha, this!