Do you let Your kids watch "R" rated movies

[disykat]

Another conservative family here - movie wise anyway. Our kids have always gone by the age ratings unless there's some reason we're willing to make an exception. My 12year old has watched quite a few PG13 movies, but with our permission. We haven't had a reason yet to let my 15 year old son watch an R movie. He's never even asked. When he's 17, he can watch R without my permission so he can can walk into any theater to see one.

DH and I are in our 40's and don't watch them either! I can't even think of the last movie we watched that might have been rated R. I'm sure there have been some, but I can't think of one. We go to maybe 1 movie a year int he theater, and watch probably less than a dozen at home though.

Heck, I figure if Hollywood, where most people are probably a lot more liberal than I am, stamps an R on it, there's a reason! I don't really want to see it, so I don't know why I'd let my kids!

 

[thewishfire]

I'm 20 and have been watching R movies for quite a long time - I'm sure longer than my parents would have wanted! They were mostly concerned about sex scenes, not so much violence or gore but I don't believe they ever pre-screened what I watched. I know I've been seeing R movies in the theater with friends alone since around 8th grade and I think I turned out all right.

I don't have kids, but if I did, I'd let them watch R rated movies when I thought they could handle them, independant of age... not that children listen to their parents all the time anyway. They aren't going to see anything that that wouldn't hear about from the other kids, and if they really want to find a way to see something, they will.

 

[TwinsinCA]

At some point I stopped paying close attention to what movies are rated. I do keep it either G or PG for the kids (they are 7). I assume with most Disney/Pixar/Dreamworks movies we'll be pretty safe, and that is mostly what types of movies we see with the kids.

I don't know when we'll start phasing in the PG-13 and R movies. It will depend on the movie.

 

[Acklander]

DS8 may have seen R rated movies, he and dh are big fans of spy/espionage type movies (re: James Bond etc...), I'm not sure what the ratings are, but I suspect some of them are rated R. He doesn't watch horror flicks, he would have nightmares. I don't mind sexual content, as long as it's part of the plot - not just sex for the sake of sex type thing.
I can't imagine tying R rated movies in with chores though - chores are done because we all live together as a family and contribute to the care of the family home together. I think it's helpful that many times we're all working on chores together at the same time, so it helps foster the feeling that we all pitch in together.

 

[NMAmy]

I've let dd watch R movies for quite a while. I'm the opposite of a lot of people on this thread, though--I'd more comfortable with her watching a scene with sex than with violence.

When she was younger, I'd always watch the movie before she did. Then we'd watch it together--I'd warn her as to what would happen and have her cover her eyes during parts she didn't want to see.

It's funny--she's 17 now and I don't pre-watch her movies anymore. Occasionally, at the movie theater she'll lean over and ask me, "Mom, what's going to happen next?" Ummm...I got here the same time you did, kid.

 

[Pixiedust34]

Our kids (11 & 9) haven't seen R rated movies.

 

[Tanuki]

I love the concept of letting them do chores in order to see an "R".

My teenager said he'd clean the gutters for porn

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I don't really want to debate, but there are quite a few Disney movies that IMO are a bit disturbing. They may be rated G but I still find them to be a bit much for kids. Even the Disney channel has cartoons on that I won't let my kids watch. I don't go by movie ratings. I go by the actual movie. My kids have seen the Spiderman and Batman movies. They love Rent. They love POTC (especially my 2 year old who truly thinks he is Jack Sparrow!). I personally think you have to look at the content of a movie rather than the letter it is given. JMHO.

 

[Cindy B]

It depends on the movie. I may occasionally let my 13 year old watch one but I will not let my 10 year old watch one.

I will usually let my older one watch older rated r's sometimes. DH was in a rated R movie (as an extra) so they are allowed to watch that. James Bond movies are ok, some sci fi is ok --but Aliens creeped him out, original Die hards, non edited is ok, and a few others.

Thinks like Superbad, no.

 

[Karel]

My oldest two are 15 and 16 and up to this point, we have not allowed them to see R rated movies. They are blocked on our tv. Now, could they have watched them at other people's house? Maybe. I know my oldest opts out of going with his friends to the theater when his friends go to see something he knows I don't approve.

Last month, recognizing the fact that my oldest is soon to turn 17, we rented Hot Fuzz to watch. My daughter (14) was upstairs watching something of her own choice ( and she would not willing choose to watch it...) I was uncomfortable with the violence - I'm not sure why any human being would find that entertaining.

I think the rating system is there for a reason and I use it, especially when they were younger with PG 13 movies. It's more than letting a stranger tell me what to do with my kids. I take the advice of thousands of people a year. I make my own opinions and do what's best for our family. I don't see any reason for a 10 year old to see an R rated movie. And it has nothing to do with 'I turned out just fine'.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

Yes, I let them watch. I've never monitored what they watch. They have their own preferences and usually choose musicals and chick flicks. As a family we all love horror movies though. I have no doubt that my girls will all grow up to be upstanding citizens even though they've some blood, gore, and nudity. It's all in the maturity of the child. If it is something they aren't comfortable with, they don't watch it. I don't have to tell them not to.

 

[Magpie]

I had to ask my son, !

You see, we choose their movies and shows based on content, not on rating. My ten year old (who notices these things) says that "Hot Fuzz" had an R-rating on the back. And also a 14+ rating. I have no idea why, I thought it was perfectly appropriate for my kids.

My 11yo daughter rarely sits through an entire movie, so it's hardly an issue with her. She'd rather read.

 

[Acklander]

I don't see any reason for a 10 year old to see an R rated movie. And it has nothing to do with 'I turned out just fine'.

There are some really spectacular movies out there, that are rated R, which is why I don't just put blinders on and say "never would I allow....." A pp mentioned "A Color Purple" and now that I think about it when DS was 7 we watched "Schindler's List" together. That's rated R, but I know DS, and it was a subject that interested him, and by watching it together I was able to explain the disturbing parts, and we were able to talk about the horror of the whole situation together as a family.
You're right - it has nothing to do with "I turned out just fine" - It has to do with you know your child, and you know your child's interests, and you know what your child can and can't handle.
Yes, the ratings are there for a reason - it's a guidance. If something is rated G or PG then I can go WITH my child to the movies without worry. If it's rated PG13 or R then it's my job as a parent to research why it got the rating it did and make a decision accordingly.

 

[familyS]

I have a DD 14 and DS 11.

They can watch R rated movies and play video games that are not rated E for everyone if I approve. I always check why the movie or game received the rating and decide from there.

 

[Magpie]

My DD14 (almost 15) is not allowed to see R rated movies. Period, no discussion. I'm a firm believer in filth in, filth out - you can't pour vinegar into a pitcher & expect to pour water back out. If people/children weren't affected by what they see & hear then there would be no point in commercials - which is 30 seconds of trying to sell you something by what you see & hear.

I'm sure my opinion isn't going to be popular among other parents, but it is what it is - my opinion.

We watch as a family, and do not consider a movie "filth" based on someone else's rating. We don't let someone else decide for us what's right and wrong. We judge for ourselves.

And - not to brag - but my 10yo boy is extremely ethical and moral and an overall great kid. He got the highest possible marks in class for his "conflict resolution skills" - based on the teacher's observations of his interactions with his classmates. He's honest to a fault. He's got a strong work ethic, and he's kind to others. He likes documentaries but he had to leave the room when we watched "Jesus Camp" (rated PG 13). We stopped the movie and talked to him. He was distressed by what he was seeing as real intolerance and cruelty in the world. He hated seeing adults making kids cry over things like reading Harry Potter. He hated the fierce judgment of others. He couldn't handle seeing adults yelling at kids and telling them they were going to hell.

Our church isn't like that, you see. Our youth group doesn't function like that! We're all about social action and charity. It was shocking for him to learn that there are churches out there with a different focus.

But he loved Hot Fuzz (rated R) and thought it was very funny. He's got a fine sense of the difference between right and wrong, real and imaginary. I feel very good about the kind of man he's becoming.

 

[luvflorida]

... it has nothing to do with "I turned out just fine" - It has to do with you know your child, and you know your child's interests, and you know what your child can and can't handle.
Yes, the ratings are there for a reason - it's a guidance. If something is rated G or PG then I can go WITH my child to the movies without worry. If it's rated PG13 or R then it's my job as a parent to research why it got the rating it did and make a decision accordingly.

TOTALLY AGREE!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jen0610]

DD10 and DS12 have been watching R rated movies for a couple of years now. BUT, we know what they can and can't handle. R movies that are for sexual content and situations, no they don't watch those. R rated action movies, yes they watch those. R movies for gore, it all depends. The original Halloween, Sleepy Hallow, all 3 Resident Evils, yes they have seen these. DD has her own copy of Sleepy Hallow, she about wore the first one we had out. Hostel and Saw type movies - no they don't watch those. DH and I don't watch them. We watch the 1st Saw, but have not wanted to needed to see the others. There are too many other movies we want to see.

 

[Aidensmom]

I don't go by movie ratings. I go by the actual movie. My kids have seen the Spiderman and Batman movies. They love Rent. They love POTC (especially my 2 year old who truly thinks he is Jack Sparrow!). I personally think you have to look at the content of a movie rather than the letter it is given. JMHO.

I agree with this, and my 6 year old has seen select PG-13 movies (like POTC), though he has not seen any R movies. There are movies played on regular television on Saturday afternoons that we will DVR for later because I don't find them appropriate for a child to see/hear.

 

[Feralpeg]

Oddly, little things can give a movie an R rating vs. a PG-13 rating. I recently purchase the DVD of "Live Free, Die Hard". On the CD is the PG-13 version that was shown in theaters and a not rated version as the movie was originally shot. In special features commentary, the director talked about what they had to do to achieve the PG-13 rating instead of the R rating.

For instance, when someone got shot, they could show them getting shot. They could show blood on the person, but they could not show a blood splatter. They also had to reduce the sound made by the guns. Those little things turned what would most likely have been an R rated movie into a PG-13 movie. The content was the same in both versions. The violence was there, just a little bit of the graphic element was removed. Of course, there are much more graphic movies than the Die Hard movies, but I found it very interesting.

What concerns me more than the movies kids watch is the video games they are allowed to play. I know parents who watch movies very closely and will not let their kids watch anything that is above PG, yet they let their kids play games like Halo and Resident Evil. In fact, the school where I worked would not allow teachers to show a movie that did not have a PG rating without special permission, yet they allowed the kids to play Halo.

Now, I'm not saying Halo is a bad game, but the whole premise is to kill. How is this okay when violent movies aren't?

 

[donald&daisy]

I love the concept of letting them do chores in order to see an "R".

My teenager said he'd clean the gutters for porn

That's hilarious!!! I almost spewed my coffee.