Children watching horror/ scary films!!

k.o.d

jamespir wrote: »

depends on the game really i know he has watched grandtheftauto as my parnters brother plays it and he sees it when hes at the grandparents and it hasnt scared him or prompted him to rob cars

Please tell me you are winding me up, do you not think there are age ratings for a reason?
At 5 he is a little young to rob cars, but he may well progress on if you are lucky :cool:

dizziblonde

Oh god now we're onto the hysterical "all computer games are evil" thing. They're not - they're situational and some of them are stupidly violent - but don't ever tar everyone who's a gamer with the same brush please. I'm a gamer, I play video games and have for years - I also don't live with my parents, am a professional woman with a string of qualifications, and manage to contribute quite finely to society thank you very much. Oh and the kid in the Jo Frost programme wasn't hooked on violent games - it was World of Warcraft - and MMORPG - completely different genre, just one that relies on a monthly subscription and therefore is pitched to be pretty addicitve to keep you paying and playing.

Sorry but stereotyping and scorning gamers really really gets up my nose - I play games, you choose to veg out in front of the TV on a night - does that really make you a better person than me? I hate sitting passively in front of the TV, it winds me up no end - hence I play games.

As for the horror films. Sounds like you're going to get naff all joy out of him - stop the nightmares the way my mum did with me at that age (was Dr Who that set me off) - get them some information about how costume effects etc are done - killed my worries straight away once the mystique of it all was done. She also taught me to laugh at the more absurd bits of horror films and mickey take the plot - again worked and stopped me fretting.

k.o.d

dizziblonde wrote: »

Oh god now we're onto the hysterical "all computer games are evil" thing. They're not - they're situational and some of them are stupidly violent - but don't ever tar everyone who's a gamer with the same brush please. I'm a gamer, I play video games and have for years - I also don't live with my parents, am a professional woman with a string of qualifications, and manage to contribute quite finely to society thank you very much. Oh and the kid in the Jo Frost programme wasn't hooked on violent games - it was World of Warcraft - and MMORPG - completely different genre, just one that relies on a monthly subscription and therefore is pitched to be pretty addicitve to keep you paying and playing.

Sorry but stereotyping and scorning gamers really really gets up my nose - I play games, you choose to veg out in front of the TV on a night - does that really make you a better person than me? I hate sitting passively in front of the TV, it winds me up no end - hence I play games.

As for the horror films. Sounds like you're going to get naff all joy out of him - stop the nightmares the way my mum did with me at that age (was Dr Who that set me off) - get them some information about how costume effects etc are done - killed my worries straight away once the mystique of it all was done. She also taught me to laugh at the more absurd bits of horror films and mickey take the plot - again worked and stopped me fretting.

Actually looking back. where is the video games are evil bit in any of this? There are laws for age restrictions and they are being broken, I don't think games are inherently evil, but I think some people are inherently stupid, and this causes the backlash for gamers like yourself
So no, actually am not stereotyping gamers, games are there to be played and enjoyed, but allowing your 5 year old to play and watch GTA or any of the gory combat games, do you really think that is the actions of a responsible parent?
The games are there for you, and that bit I have no problem with, but when a child is having nightmares from either a video or a game, do you not think that maybe the situation is too much for them to handle?

jamespir

k.o.d wrote: »

No, actually am not stereotyping gamers, games are there to be played and enjoyed, but allowing your 5 year old to play and watch GTA or any of the gory combat games, do you really think that is the actions of a responsible parent?
The games are there for you, and that bit I have no problem with, but when a child is having nightmares from either a video or a game, do you not think that maybe the situation is too much for them to handle?

hes wathced it not palyed it and only the car bits theres no guts or gore in it either

jamespir

k.o.d wrote: »

Please tell me you are winding me up, do you not think there are age ratings for a reason?
At 5 he is a little young to rob cars, but he may well progress on if you are lucky :cool:

not if i have anyhting to do with it he wont

k.o.d

jamespir wrote: »

not if i have anyhting to do with it he wont

But you condone allowing him to play age restricted games?

k.o.d

jamespir wrote: »

hes wathced it not palyed it and only the car bits theres no guts or gore in it either

Whether he has watched it or played it makes no difference, is he supposed to be watching age restricted games?

k.o.d

Maybe we are too restrictive about the age limits (but I won't change my mind) but as they get out and about and have an active life on the rugby pitch or the karate dojo or the gym hall, then I really would rather them be doing that.

bylromarha

bugbabe1970 wrote: »

Im sorry to be so blunt and go off topic, but you really do not have any understanding about the way children develop.

children of 3 years and over are able to distinguish animation from real life, not so sure about the horror movies though!

Children develop differently - I had no nightmares about aliens in my stomach or a burnt man with knives for fingers haunting my dreams. At the age of 4, I knew what I was watching wasn't real.

I did have nightmares around the age of 9 about being in a concentration camp and being chased by Nazis after reading Anne Frank.

I also had nightmares that Shakin Stevens didn't love me any more around the age of 6, but it's not really relevant to this thread

My 5 year old enjoys Star Wars, knowing that the Force doesn't exist. He loved the Never Ending story and announced he wished he could ride a Falkor one day, but knew he never would as they made him up. The understanding is the same as mine was at that age. Stories on TV aren't real.

ALIBOBSY

In some respects it can depend on the child. Unless a film or Tv programme is an obvious "U" type programme I prefer to watch it myself first before letting them see it.
The only time they have watched something above their age range is if the specifically asked and I or OH have watched it first to see how disturbing the content is.
To be honest my eldest has watched 15 an a very few 18 rated films, but not until recently (he is 12). He is very matter of fact and knows its all faked up. He actually says the news is more disturbing for him. He has a very adult head on him and we have had some long conversations about what I would consider to be quite adult topics such as life, death, war, sex, pergnancy and birth,natural disasters etc etc. I was the same at his age and did watch horror films, and on occasion slept with the light on overnight once or twice. I have always answered any questions he asked honestly and openly on any subject, but at the same time tried to talk to his level. But he doesn't watch films/play games every night and actually likes documentaries as well such as world at war, ray mears, bear griles, animal documentaries and top gear. He has also sat with his sisters and watched ice age,bolt, and those type of family films and enjoyed them as well. He goes out and plays alot, helps me in the garden and is I consider a well rounded individual. The only thing which really scares him is that weird bear thing off teletubbies it has terrified him since he was 2 and he still doesn't like to see it now, strange how some things scare us more than others.


My middles DD is nearly 7 and hasn't watched anything above her age range, but does love anything to do with hospitals or vet type documentaries. So I record them, watch them through first before I let her see them, but if I let her watch I watch along with her and explain as we go (she is adamant she is going to be a vet or doctor and is unfazed by blood and gore at all). As I am pregnant with our 4th she wanted to watch that "one born every min". I was unsure but watched it myself first and then let her. She enjoyed every min and said how lovely it was at the end when the mums had their babies there safe and sound.

Unfortunately its not like your ex decided to allow your kids to watch something because he assessed if they could cope with it. He simply didn't think which is worse.
Trouble is as other posters have said a softly softly approach is probably best initially.
If no joy then maybe it will have to change to day visits only without sleeping over.
ali x