Hello!

We have a 4 year old son and I am lenient with letting him watch M rated movies. Never really bad ones just movies like Maleficent, Pirates of the Caribbean, Van Helsing and Clash of the Titans but during that one he fell asleep. But my partner and I have been having arguments lately about it and my partner wants to let him watch some movies and TV shows that are MA and R like Blood Sport which I have never seen not really liking Van Dam as an actor but also wants to let him watch The Walking Dead! Now this is a TV series I am very familiar with having been watching every episode myself and have absolutely no intention letting my 4 year old son watch it! My partner says there is no difference between the movies I let him watch and the movie he wants to let him watch and I am like… HELLO?? Are you serious?!! There is a big difference between fantasy movies with little violence and Zombies eating off peoples faces!! But his argument is that we just keep telling him that everything he sees is fake and it will never really happen and it’s not real. Obviously I win the argument as my partner gives up because I am too stubborn and won’t let go but he’s got me thinking… Am I being unreasonable? Am I getting in the way of father/son bonding time watching fighting movies and horror movies? Or am I right to protect my son’s innocence from this type of violence? What are other mummies and daddies thoughts on this subject?


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  • Movies come out with classification guides, but it is up to the parents to make the final decision. The guides are there to protect children’s minds whilst they develop. Ones in m+ category may have violence or other scenes that could affect the way the child’s brain processes those scenes and could be traumatic. I’d be looking at changes in child’s behaviour after watching the movies.


  • They have ratings on movies, so you know which ones are age appropriate fir a four year old. The ratings are there for a reason. M rating is not suitable for a four year old


  • At age four, my kids would only be watching movies with a PG rating. While the movies you’re letting him watch might seem harmless and having no effect, they could still be damaging him. No way would I let your partner get his way, what is he thinking?!


  • At four years of age stick to Disney movies.


  • I think you’re absolutely right to say a 4 year old shouldn’t watch these. He doesn’t have the maturity to process it.


  • Even on pain of death I would not let my child watch something like TWD or anything violent for that matter. He’s got all of his adult life to pursue those things if he wants to so why not keep his innocence intact (and nightmares at bay) for as long as possible?
    Of course, that is just my opinion and what others do is none of my business.


  • nope stick to the safe ones. don’t need to expose the kids to things that they don’t understand.


  • I’m very careful in what I let my kids watch but in today’s technological revolution kids always seem to get exposed to fighting and gory stuff through to, iPads, iPhones, YouTube, so I think as long an adult is with him and you feel comfortable then it’s ok.


  • im sure all moms hve their own opinions but in my case, there are movies that are rated for a particular reason. my son is 9 is now watching M rated movies with an adult so he can watch transformers,star wars and harry potter which is pretty much it otherwise hes watching PG rated. I always watch my children’s behaviour towards to movies. 15 mins of watching Jurassic Park the first movie PG, I noticed my son had the volume really quiet and I realised that noise was making him scared so I turned the movie off. funny that we were going out that night and my son wouldn’t open the front door…my son at age 5 was watching pg star wars with my husband. I picked it up that it was the movie that was causing his nitemares. some pg movies are ok depending on ur child how they pick it up. my daughter age 6 that time didn’t like the wolves in the frozen movie and was scared, once we skip that bit she was fine….I will not let my children watch M rated until I watch it first and think about it. from there if you think its ok then its your choice but again they are rated for a reason.
    I even had to ask parents for permission regarding on a M rated movie for my son’s bday party as he was having a movie nite.


  • I’m with you, no way would I let my four year old watch the kind of shows your hubby wants him to watch. No way known. I’m more for Disney movies, they’re entertaining and non violent


  • My partners mum used to let him watch whatever they we’re watching and it’s caused a fair bit of anxiety in him as an adult, not to mention nightmares about what they’re watching etc.
    Each child is different, just like each movie/ tv show is different- go with your gut Mummy!


  • Depending on the movie and if he is watching them with you then some M movies are OK. Definitely would not let him watch MA movies. To be honest a majority of the movies he should be watching should be family movies like Disney Pixar etc.


  • We only let ours watch movies rated for age. Disagree with young kids watching m rated movies. Ratings are set for good reason.


  • M is suitable if he is watching them with you which he is however I would not let him watch anything over this – my son has only just turned 11 and he has only just started watching some MA movies only after his dad or I have watched them and ensured there isn’t anything too extreme.


  • I think that 4 years old is way too young to see too mature movies. I understand your point of view.


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