Now I don’t want to sound like I’m bad mouthing how other people parent. If something works for you and as long as it isn’t damaging to your child’s health and wellbeing then go on and do it. I’ve got enough worries about MY PARENTING SKILLS to worry about other people’s. Then there are times I see or hear something and I think, “Woah.”
Our computer has a TV card which means we can access free to air television. I will allow my children to watch various children’s shows (ABC kids type of shows) and the occasional episode of Mythbusters (my 6 year old’s favourite) and now husband has my boys hooked on Knight Rider (OMG! THE SHAME!). They LOVE Kim Possible -even I have a soft spot for this cartoon. We watched The Princess Bride with them (after skipping the too violent bits) and have yet to show them The NeverEnding Story (because THAT is one scary movie). They’ve seen Over the Hedge, Open Season – you know all those CGI kiddy movies. And before I go on please let me say that Happy Feet? – biggest waste of time ever. Such a waste of time I will not even link to it.
Now bear in mind my boys are 6 years old, 3 years old and 17 months. Is it normal for a 6 year old to enjoy all these shows or is it a little bit too “babyish”? I ask because this morning, one of my 6 year old’s classmates said he watched a couple of movies over the holidays:
Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man’s Chest
What?
But here’s the clincher. He tells my son with confidence that 300 is still way better than PoTC.
What the hell?
300?
So what I want to know is which one should I watch first? is it a normal thing these days for children of this age to be watching these kind of movies? Am I supposed to be as shocked as I am or am I just being an overprotective mollycoddling mother?
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that’s shocking! 6 yr olds watching this stuff?
the other day my eight yr old cousin googling bums on google images! God! H is staying far away from him.
what are kids these day coming to?! i wouldn’t watch 300 myself, much less let a child watch it.
:/
I can’t say I’m totally surprised. Kids get away with wayyy too much these days. What you are dong is right, 6 year olds should NOT be watching PoTC, let alone 300.
BTW, mythbusters…one cool show. We don’t get that channel so I only get to watch it at the inlaws. And Knight Rider?!?! I sometimes watch it and think…what was I thinking when I liked it?…hahaa….kinda like A-Team
My six year old did watch PoTC. Personally, I would have preferred if he hadn’t. I didn’t actually watch it, but my husband was okay with him watching it. We usually don’t let them watch anything that isn’t for kids. We wait until the kids are in bed to watch movies.
my 2 and a half yr old isnt intersted in tv as such.but i will not want him to get addicted to it aswell.n yes i totally agree with u n saying it loud.happy feet was a complete waste of time n sucks big time
Alright! I’ve got to watch all these movies first
We don’t have cable and don’t watch TV at all. I don’t think you are over-protective. You are perfect for your kids because you know what they want and need better than anyone else in this whole world. And if they don’t need 300, they don’t need it. You know best.
300?!?! Are they MAD??
That film is rated MA15+.
Which is the last rating before R. R!!
Holy moly, people.
Letting a 6 year old kid see a film THAT horrifically violent is pretty concerning. I know I sound quite anal and sanctimonious, but I really feel that a film that full-on is not appropriate for a 6 year old. Can a 6 year old really process that sort of stuff properly?
PS re: your washing post, I have to add: ironing hijabs is the worst. Without a doubt. Worse than shirts! Just thought I’d add that
PPS still no baby!!! being induced this friday. please say dua!
What kinda of movie is 300? My kids censor my TV /movie watching. I can only watch what they watch (while I cook in the open kitchen). I havent seen happy feet yet but family (dh) went TWICE with son!
Salaams
Have a read of the book “4 arguments for the elimination of television” by Jerry Mander (yes this is his real name). I haven’t read it myself but I plan to as soon I can find a cheap copy on ebay (ahh these cheap flaming khatris). Apparently a very good read.
Was-Salaam
abdulkhaliq
You are an overprotective mollycoddling mother, and I hope you stay that way
Ya Haqq!
I hope you stay that way too, ya Irving!
My in-laws were watching some hideous fake pro-wrestling on cable and ignoring all my comments that it’s totally inappropriate for the children (and in my view ANYONE) to watch this stuff. So revoltingly gratuitously violent. How is it funny? Some people are totally negligent when it comes to censoring their kids tv intake, sometimes I think they are just too stupid to realize why it’s necessary.
I agree that Happy Feet was a colossal waste of time. Bunch of over-hyped CGI crud.
You’re right with the way you think about movies and appropriateness for children. Children are beautiful flowers that should never be corrupted. It’s obscene the way some parents simply exploit their child’s innocence and expect them to understand adult concepts at such an early age.
Sure, kids will learn about war and violence and fighting and the birds and the bees eventually.. but for now, let them find nemo instead.
I watched 300 (not knowing there would be many many nekid bodies sprawled across the screen) through my fingers. The graphics were good but the nekid bodies and the gory fighting bits were disturbing.
And I’m 24.
Quite appalling to let a 6 year old watch such movies. But then, nowadays its hard to keep track of what they are watching unless you monitor them constantly.
They might say they’re going to the cinema to watch ‘Mr Bean’ when in truth they went to watch some MA rated movie instead.
What happened to good old disney cartoons like ‘Robin Hood’ or ‘The Sword in the Stone’? I show them to my little brother and he asked me ‘Who watches this stuff?’
ME. For one. Can’t beat the classics, dude.
Thanks for your input, everyone. I won\’t be censoring my children\’s viewing when they are older as I want them to form their own opinions but at the moment 6 years is too young for my children to decide what is age appropriate. Maybe other 6 year olds *are*actually mature enough to handle the violence?
Surviving – I haven\’t seen either of the movies but have been told that PoTC isn\’t too bad – not much in the way of gore or violence but apparently lots of fun so maybe I was being a bit harsh about that one.
Mona – I hope Safe Search was on. I have accidentally stumbled across some pretty dodgy sites when I\’ve been googling images. YES I SAID ACCIDENTALLY. DON\’T JUDGE ME!
Mousehunter – meet my husband http://www.fektasm.com you two have much to talk about -computer rubbish (oops I mean computer jargon) and Mythbusters. And oh gosh – have you started something by mentioning the A-team!
Umarah & Jaaved – I am so glad you agree with me. so many have told me that it was an excellent movie and that maybe I missed the plot or the theme or whatever. I was starting to question myself.
Suroor – I really admire your stance. I tried to implement the no TV at all rule in our house but I admit to using the TV to keep the children occupied while I surf the net for a while. SHAME SHAME SHAME!
Susan – oh hurry up and have the baby the suspense is just killing me! Notice how no matter the situation it all comes back to me me me? I am a blogger so what can you expect? After thinking about it for a while, I wonder if this particular child was maybe mature enough?
And ironing hijab? Who does that??? Crazy!
Umm Fi-Ard – I fixed the links on my post – go and have a look. It’s just full of violence. I don’t think your children will be asking to watch it any time soon. At lesat I hope not!
Abu Maymunah – You can always download an e-book and really save money. I am too scared to read that book.
Irving – Jazakhallah khair.
Asiya – My parents get a bit lax with what is on the TV when my children are around. With them though, I don’t think they realise what we censor from our children’s viewing. I try not to make a big deal of it, gently steering the kids from the TV or just say something in passing. They don’t always get the hint.
Anneesa – I can totally see that happening with children – especially the way the cinemas are set up here in Australia – once you’ve bought a ticket for a movie, you can enter any of the doors leading to ANY movie. And nobody checks who is going into which cinema.
Salamaat,
I don’t have a TV either; but my mom is back and has been dropping heavy hints on being bored and where are we getting our news et al (the irony!)
You are doing the right thing; as Irving said; it’s your motherly duty to molly coddle your kids dammit!
Jerry Mander’s book is a very good read. It really does highlight the dangers of TV, although the title is powerful and can put many people off, its worth the read.
I grew up watching TV, which was censored as a child but as I grew older I watched whatever I wanted in secret…very dangerous. My parents worked very hard to bring me up well, but looking back I feel that the TV undermined so much of the good and Islamic acts my parents taught me – a powerful force. I complied more to the teachings of the TV, than to that of my parents. Many Muslims I know end up leading a different life out of the home (based on TV) compared to how they are in front of their parents at home. Also their perception of right and wrong can become distorted and a big blur.
So I don’t think its being over-protective at all – Just sensible.
By the way, how do people who don’t have TV’s occupy their own time and their children’s free time…Just curious as many TV addicts have lost the ability to utilise free time.
I cringe when I heard my second graders talking about seeing the movie Saw. That is just NOT appropriate. Seriously, it’s just common sense. =/
Love the new blog design, by the way!
hell i wouldn’t watch 300! but She did; so what do i know? i have no desire to see blood flying everywhere in slow motion.
PoTC though….very funny stuff. rent it today! watch it repeatedly.
LoA.
Maliha – LOL! I think it’s rather cute your mum is hounding you for television
Aly – I was thinking about that movie just recently and wondering if there were any kids who saw that one. I found it deeply disturbing.
LoA – I will take your review on board
I will organise a night to stay in and watch with a nice hot cup of tea.
Medic – I’m so sorry! You comment got lost in my moderation black hole. I managed to save it
Welcome. Yes, I really need to get that book but you’re right – goodness how am I ever going to occupy mine and my children’s time without that black box?
Its a difficult book to get hold of. It was written in the 70′s and so went out of print years ago. I ordered mine from amazon, it took close to 2 months to arrive and it was USED to say the least
I think its more powerful as it comes from someone whose researched the topic from a non-Muslim perspective.
I was wondering where my comment had gone…i thought i’d said something inappropriate, lol
Nice blog.
Salaams,
When I was in primary school, there was this kid that used to get to watch all the cool shows: X Files, American Gothic all the scary one
.
Ironically, he is now on parole for threatening someone with “gut you like a pig” and a 12 inch bowie knife (among other things).
This is probably completely unsubstantiated, but there may be a possible link here.I completely think a six year old kid watching 300 or Saw is very foolish on the part of the parents. How will he understand in true context what he is seeing (300 has rude bits and saw has graphic realistic violence)?
It is also the same with video games… parents assume they are made for young children… the majority of video games are targetted at teenagers and adults… that is why the carry a rating (MA 15+).
[/EndRant]
MB
Wasalaam
American Gothic? Woah that was a bad one. Couldn’t even manage that one as an ADULT.