Wanted: Opinions on kids and movies

R rated movies are inappropriate in my opinion!

As for scary movies, I think it really depends on the kid. My 10 yr old grandson loves scary movies and goes to them with my daughter or watches them at home with her. The other 2 kids, 6 and 8, do NOT like them and go to an alternate movie with their dad (who also does NOT like scary movies.)

Scarey as in G or R? R means no kid should be watching it.. here's a story.. Nick was little and wanted to watch a chucky movie.. he was visiting his dad.. dad thought it was okay.. to this date Nick is afraid of that movie and he's 27!!!!

I varies kid to kid.

hard to answer...
my mom gets on to me about Jasmine watching them and she is almost 13.
She got into the scary movies I'd say about a year ago....now that's about all she wants to watch. She didn't like them before because of nightmares.
In my own humble opinion...I don't thing ANYONE has any business watching those gory murder movies...I wish they didn't even make those!!

Unless you want your kid to be scarred for life, DON'T let him see scary movies at such an early age.. I remember being younger than 10, even after kindergarten and being allowed to watch Chucky movies (Child's Play), Stephen King adaptations, especially It and Misery... Those are classics, but I think the newest scary movies, with all the gore in them have a far greater impact on children..

It really does depend on the kid. Some kids can handle the scary movies, but others cannot. As for rated R movies, they usually are inappropriate for all kids, but there are some that are okay for some kids, but it really depends on what the kid can understand. Some kids are just more mature and/or more intelligent and can handle movies made for adults because they understand they are just movies.

As you already know, Danielle, I am an expert on children. The fact that I have none should in no way influence your ability to implement my vast knowledge base on this subject. In other words, I wouldn't have the slightest scrap of knowledge on the subject but am certainly willing to give you my opinion just the same. After all, I see this all the time on Gather so I should fit right in.

My youngest just turned 11 and watches them. However he watches them with me and if it is bothering him we turn it off and watch something else. Even when we do watch a horror movie we always watch a comedy afterward. That seems to eliminate nightmares for him (and me as well, since i dont like them very much.) He started watching them when he was about 9. Of course it is different for every child. My Oldest didnt start watching them for the most part until he was 11. I went to my first scary movie at 7 and then refused to see anymore until I was about 12.

I know as a parent our first inclination is to protect them but sometimes we have to let them find out for themselves and just step back and see what they can handle.

I think it's a personal decision for you as a parent. You can't go by what the other kids or doing or any of us tell you. You know your child best. Is he ready for them? Will they make him have nightmares? Will it hurt him if he doesn't see them? No.

it depeds on the maturaty of the child.

I think ten is too young for some pictures, regardless of their maturity. That being said, what do you consider scary? In my book, Harry Potter would be OK, but the Texas Chainsaw Massacre....

For Jon, I don't think Harry Potter would be okay. Esp, the newest one. Theres a scene when Harry has to help his teacher drink this drink that makes the teacher cry in pain and Harry reaches into the lake to get him water and dead bodies pull Harry into the lake and try dragging him to the bottom, just that scene alone my brother wouldn't be able to handle, let alone all the other scenes that could be questionable in the other HP movies. There are ratings for a reason, and these days ratings seem to become more and more lenient as time goes by. Ages limits mean something PG13 means you shouldnt be 8 and watching it. R means 17 and up so at the least 12 or 13. Yes, harry potter is rated PG but that means parental guidance. Isn't that new nickelodeon show that said prostitute rated PG? I think I agree with you mom. I wouldn't let him watch scary movies if I was his parent.

my kids grew up watching what ever I watch,, I never took them to the R movies yet if they were on tv, or dvd then so be it.. We had friday nites and acted like we were at the drive in,, sleeping bags in the front room, and two of their movies and one of mine,,, by the time I got to mine they were out for the count,,,,

I was allowed to watch R rated movies before I could talk. I grew up with a brother 6 years older than me and my mom didn't mind. I did have nightmares sometimes, but you grow out of it. I agree with you about your son. If he's already having nightmares and he hasn't been allowed to watch those types of movies yet, it's probably not a good idea. I'm 23 and I don't have kids yet, but I like your approach on things, so I'll probably wait until they get to be a certain age before they can watch certain things.

I agree with you that it depends on the child and also his family. I think I would watch a few with my child before letting him watch any alone. I think it also depends on what TYPE of scary movie. Some movies are just suspenseful or "ghost" scary. Others are more of the hatchet films...(which I hate).

It does depend on the child. I am an adult who does not scare easily yet some horror movies bother me.
Regarding R rated movies it would depend upon the content of the movie. Movies tend to get an R rating if they are violent, sexual, contain profanity or nudity. My biggest concern of all these is the violence. I would be more prone to allowing the viewing if it was done with a parent who could explain situations to the child.

I can't watch scarey, gorey or violent movies, so I can't tell you. LOL!

I started watching TV and movies at a very young age. Now today, I screen everything before I let my kids watch it. I rarely let them see a film with a hint of cussing, kissing. If it is a PG film, you best believe I've seen it first before they have. Also, I don't let them watch any R rated films.

My kids are 7, 6, and 3. I wish I had someone monitoring the things I watched at their ages. But as they say, the Devil's playing field is an idle mind. I think some movies and TV shows contribute to that idleness.

it depends on the child some kids are okay with scary long before others are. I worry most about the violence in movies
for example in the " Shaggy Dog " there's a part where the dog runs into an eldery lady with a walker ? That's not funny and I find it sad anyone would thiunk it was.

Like the others, I'd say it depends on the child. I used to screen movies before my son could watch them, then watch with him. Unfortunately, his dad didn't always do the same thing... He let our son watch "It" even though he knew our son already had a fear of clowns.

I haven't got a clue what age a child should watch scarey movies. I know many families who let their small children watch spooky movies and I know some families who do not. I don't like scarey movies so I still don't watch them if I know ahead of time that it has spooky things in it and I'm way older than 10. LOL

R rated moives are not appropriate; since children mature at different speeds, you may want to experiment, such as an old Boris Karloff movie - the key is to watch it with him and subtle monitor his reactions. --Joe