Do you let your children watch Rated R movies?

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Well my opinion of sexual content may be different from someone else's. To me the sex scene in Twilight Breaking Dawn part 2 was not that bad. I was sitting in the living room watching it with my kids and when the sex scene started they looked away from the TV.

The sex scenes they have in True Blood where ppl are buck naked and some guy is pounding a girl from behind and pulling her hair is not something I will ever intentionally expose my kids to.

Sex may be natural but so is taking a dump. That doesn't mean we should show kids movies about it.

I know from personal experience that being exposed to adult sexual content at a young age does nothing to further someone's sexual education. It can be very disgusting and confusing for kids. Especially kids under the age of 10. I also agree with a PP that it may also further their curiosity of sex during hormonal teen times.

I don't think letting them watch violence in movies will cause them to be violent. It will teach them a lesson that in real life if you shoot someone or blow them up, they will die. I also don't think M rated video games are bad.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Well my opinion of sexual content may be different from someone else's. To me the sex scene in Twilight Breaking Dawn part 2 was not that bad. I was sitting in the living room watching it with my kids and when the sex scene started they looked away from the TV.

The sex scenes they have in True Blood where ppl are buck naked and some guy is pounding a girl from behind and pulling her hair is not something I will ever intentionally expose my kids to.

Sex may be natural but so is taking a dump. That doesn't mean we should show kids movies about it.

I know from personal experience that being exposed to adult sexual content at a young age does nothing to further someone's sexual education. It can be very disgusting and confusing for kids. Especially kids under the age of 10. I also agree with a PP that it may also further their curiosity of sex during hormonal teen times.

Yes, but it can be much more pleasant, depending on your age, I guess.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I screen movies for sexual content. I don't mind if the kids see ppl being shot or blown up and I don't mind language. But I am of the belief that you don't expose children to ADULT sexual situations. I don't think I will ever let my kids (while they are still young and living with me) watch a movie with strong sex scenes or graphic sexual talk. I think that is taking away too much innocence and the kids have the rest of their lives to watch that kind of stuff if they choose to.

At what age will you let your child watch rated R movies?

I would much rather expose a child to sexual situations and keep them away from violence. De-sensitizing a young brain to violence frightens me!

Depends on the movie.

 

[nathalee81]

Yes, but it can be much more pleasant, depending on your age, I guess.

 

[Zandy595]

I always went by the ratings. DS didn't see PG-13 movies until he was 13. We never took him to an R rated movie, but now that he's 17, if he wants to go to one he can. However, I probably won't be seeing any R movies with him. I usually stick to PG-13 myself.

 

[mom2travel]

DS17 currently has no restrictions. We trust his judgment, and at this point we can just know that we have shared our value system with him and he can make his own decisions. When he was younger, we would certainly say no to seeing certain movies in the theatre. Particularly violent, scary movies that would have given him nightmares! There have also been times where we watched a movie first to screen it, PG & up.

We also use DS as part of our screening system for whether DD13 can see certain movies. He is more likely to have seen or heard about different movies than we are. And he knows what we judge as appropriate or not.

We try to use situations in movies and tv shows as discussion points. Drinking, drugs, sex, violence - all opportunities to both share our values and to see what the kids think about different situations

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I don't think letting them watch violence in movies will cause them to be violent. It will teach them a lesson that in real life if you shoot someone or blow them up, they will die. I also don't think M rated video games are bad.

Please research some of the studies about kids brains and exposure to violence. You may change your mind - or at least be a little more aware.

 

[Micca]

When our DDs were growing up we'd watch movies on Sunday nights, many of them were rated R. Not sure what age they started, but if they were interested in the movie we'd let 'em watch. They're all grown up now & seemed to be unaffected by any movies they saw over 10 years ago.

 

[scrapquitler]

I am curious at what age do you let your child start watching rated R movies and do you watch the movie first before you let the child watch it?

Do you screen more for (if you screen) violence, language or sexual content?

I personally use a website called Common Sense Media that lets you read what the content of a movie is and it describes the level of violence, language and sexual content.

I screen movies for sexual content. I don't mind if the kids see ppl being shot or blown up and I don't mind language. But I am of the belief that you don't expose children to ADULT sexual situations. I don't think I will ever let my kids (while they are still young and living with me) watch a movie with strong sex scenes or graphic sexual talk. I think that is taking away too much innocence and the kids have the rest of their lives to watch that kind of stuff if they choose to.

But I have also talked to other ppl before in my life that said they don't mind their kids seeing two adults having sex on the TV or movie but they would screen for violence and language.

My kids are 12, 13 and a stepson who is 14 (and his mother lets him watch whatever he wants to) and a DS28.

At what age will you let your child watch rated R movies?

It depends on the movie. I don't monitor the 16 year olds movie choices very much. She is a huge horror movie fan and watches a lot if them, we have no issue with that. My 10 year old has seen a few rated r movies I think, more like the superhero ones and disaster movies, some of the ones he's seen I'm not really even sure if they were PG 13 or R, and honestly I think a bunch if PG 13 are trashier than R. With him, we tend to monitor more for sex than violence or language.

 

[Katy Belle]

In the theater, we have never taken our kids to an R movie. I did allow DS15 to go to The Campaign, with a friend because he LOVES Will Ferrell and I knew he would love the movie. I regret it, because then he fought me to allow him to go to all rated R movies. I think the ratings are there for a reason, you can go when you are 17. Have not budged since.

At home we have watched a few, but not many. Always something I've seen.

I'm also the fuddy duddy parent that doesn't allow M games. I just don't see the value in those games.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

If you are interested, you should watch the documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated. It's about the MPAA rating board.

 

[kimblebee]

I let my daughter (12) watch R movies and have for a few years. There are only 3 movies that I own that I don't want her watching yet...The Hangover, Boogie Nights, and Knocked Up.

She has been asking a lot lately to watch The Hangover and I am considering letting her watch it with me. I mainly said no for the brief nudity but then I let her watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall, totally forgetting about the major nudity in that one LOL

I have asked her if she uses swear words when I'm not around and she was honest and said yes. I am ok with it as long as she doesn't swear around adults, children, or relatives. That pretty much just leaves her friends

 

[horseshowmom]

Honestly, I don't watch rated R movies myself. I don't want to watch other people having sex, don't have any interest in listening to expletives, and don't like gory violence. I would never have even considered it for my daughter. At 25, she's probably seen one, but she tends to be pretty conservative herself so I doubt she has watched many. To each their own, but not my thing.

 

[momto3gr8boys]

Please research some of the studies about kids brains and exposure to violence. You may change your mind - or at least be a little more aware.

 

[Aliceacc]

My almost 15 year old son has seen Saving Private Ryan, which is rated R for violence.

I think it's good for him to see that real life isn't X-Box-- that shooting someone isn't the nice, clean event that's portrayed on the video games. And I think it's an incredibly well made movie.

In general, it depends on the kid and on why the movie is rated R.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Honestly, I don't watch rated R movies myself. I don't want to watch other people having sex, don't have any interest in listening to expletives, and don't like gory violence. I would never have even considered it for my daughter. At 25, she's probably seen one, but she tends to be pretty conservative herself so I doubt she has watched many. To each their own, but not my thing.

You're missing some great movies, then. The King's Speech is one that immediately comes to mind.

 

[superme80]

I was pretty sheltered growing up. I will do the same with my kids.

 

[nathalee81]

You're missing some great movies, then. The King's Speech is one that immediately comes to mind.

I had no idea that was rated R?!! I guess because of the bad language he uses? I can't believe that!

That is a superb movie, I loved it! And, Colin Firth, who wouldn't love him !

 

[HelenePA]

They can watch just about anything they want. One of my 10 yr olds favorites shows is the first 48. My 7 yr old will be going to see GI Joe with his dad on Friday (no clue what its rated)

 

[horseshowmom]

You're missing some great movies, then. The King's Speech is one that immediately comes to mind.

I was actually interested in that particular movie and did check into it. Wound up deciding against it. While I understand that many people don't find the use of some of the words to be offensive, I would never use those particular words and don't like listening to them (much less paying to do so! LOL). Truthfully, I don't spend a lot of time at the movies anyway so it's not much of an inconvenience. I do love old movies though.