CommonSenseMedia
Just wanted to share this useful website. I like that they rank movies and other media by age-appropriateness and they make it clear how and why they ranked it that way. You can see the average parent rankings and comments. (Kids can also review and rank movies and their opinions are separated from the parents'.) The website also gives ideas for how to discuss the movies with your kids. This is at least a way to have an idea about a movie before showing it to your kids.
For example, our neighbors recently gave Cora an extra copy of the movie "Cars". Check here for how details, but Common Sense Media actually ranks the movie as "On" for 5 years and up. Since Cora is four, I checked into why, since I've seen the movie a number of years ago and don't remember anything that I would find too inappropriate for her. It turns out that (I think) they made it 5 and up because they say "the movie is a little long and may be too long for younger kids". The average parents' ranking is 3 and up and after reading a few reviews by parents I decided that this would be a fine movie for Cora to watch.
Many people see that a movie is rated G for general audiences, but don't take into account the actual content and messages of the movie. G rated movies may be inappropriate for young children.
I'd like to hear from you: How do you decide what's appropriate for your children to watch? At what age did you start talking with them about the movies and tv shows they were watching and do you have any advice about that? How do you explain to your kids that some movies or shows are not fit for them to watch?
How about books, for the older kids reading chapter books? Do you preread their books or read the same book along with them?
We all know to look out for obviously inappropriate content of sexuality and violence, but how far do you take it? Is a scantily clad, volumptuous cartoon character who swoons over a man she doesn't even know, defies her father, and sells herself into slavery for an unlikely chance of getting the stranger to fall in love with her sound like a movie you would show to a 4 year old? It's a "sweet movie" and loved by many adults, has fun songs and a whimsical premise...but does that make it a great movie for young children?
Cora soaks up everything. I can't pretend that she's not going to absorb both the subtle and overt messages she's exposed to, even at this young age. I don't want her thinking that all of life is about the pursuit of romance, or that "true love's kiss" will solve all her problems. Isn't that what many movies targeted at young girls suggest?
Just something to think about....
Hey Kris - thanks so much for sharing that website! I've definitely got to bookmark this one. Funny thing is Owen (age 2) just got a copy of CARS from someone over the holidays (after seeing it once at Grandma's house and falling in love with Lightning McQueen!). This is the only full length movie we've let him watch yet - up until recently he'd only seen short episodes of Thomas, Bob the Builder, Curious George, etc... We thought CARS was appropriate for him - although he has yet to sit through the entire thing and I don't know how much of the story line he actually follows. But I've noticed already that he does imitate the characters (who he can name by heart after only watching the movie three times) with his matchbox cars and acts out different scenes already. He does this with the Thomas episodes he watches, too when he plays trains. It is amazing how much they soak in - not just from movies either. Owen remembers so much of what we read to him - it amazes me! Your post really got me thinking about how we're going to handle this whole issue of media as he gets older. I'm anxious to see if others comment here. Thanks for starting the dialogue!
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