Is PG=13 movie suitable for toddlers? *Movie Spoiler Alert*

[Shwa Girl]

We went to see Iron Man 3. It's rated PG-13. In front of us was a toddler, and two others about 4 and 5. At one scene, there was a shooting (execution-style) that was broadcast on the TV. The toddler- Mom was covering his eyes.

I am so confused - why would a parent do this? If it is PG-13, why take a toddler? Why expose a little one to something so violent???

What do you think.

[K8's Fate]

PG-13 — Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13.

A PG-13 rating is a sterner warning by the Rating Board to parents to determine whether their children under age 13 should view the motion picture, as some material might not be suited for them. A PG-13 motion picture may go beyond the PG rating in theme, violence, nudity, sensuality, language, adult activities or other elements, but does not reach the restricted R category. The theme of the motion picture by itself will not result in a rating greater than PG-13, although depictions of activities related to a mature theme may result in a restricted rating for the motion picture. Any drug use will initially require at least a PG-13 rating. More than brief nudity will require at least a PG-13 rating, but such nudity in a PG-13 rated motion picture generally will not be sexually oriented. There may be depictions of violence in a PG-13 movie, but generally not both realistic and extreme or persistent violence. A motion picture’s single use of one of the harsher sexually-derived words, though only as an expletive, initially requires at least a PG-13 rating. More than one such expletive requires an R rating, as must even one of those words used in a sexual context. The Rating Board nevertheless may rate such a motion picture PG-13 if, based on a special vote by a two-thirds majority, the Raters feel that most American parents would believe that a PG-13 rating is appropriate because of the context or manner in which the words are used or because the use of those words in the motion picture is inconspicuous.

It is up to the parents to determine what to expose their children to. I however, would personally not bring a toddler to that movie.

[Darth Penguin]

Personally..I think it's selfish of the parents to take a small child to see such a potentially violent and/or with one with sexual content. The child doesn't understand and may easily be freaked causing the loss of enjoyment to people who are there sans children.

If you can't find or afford a sitter, then stay at home and wait until it's out on DVD and watch it home. There's a reason it's rated that way. I wish that cinemas would man up and not sell these people tickets.

[Chantel]

If it was a horror movie, I'd feel you. But it's Iron Man, and I'm betting that toddler was a little boy who LOVED Iron Man and wanted to see it, rather than just a parent with no babysitter. A lot of these movies have trailers on TV and kids see them and want to go see it. I don't necessarily think that's a parenting mistake to take them.

I would probably take a younger child to a movie like that. I don't worry too much about violence when it's superhero movies. The idea is for the heroes and bad guys to fight. If there's guts and brains spilled all over, maybe not a kid-friendly movie, but just bad guys and good guys fighting doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me.

Gauge by every individual child, some can handle certain things and others cannot. I watched "Stand By Me" (R) at age 7 or 8 along with my little sister who was 4-5. Barely even NOTICED the swearing and there was a lot of it. Did nothing to me, and I wasn't a frequent watcher of adult tv or movies.

All in all though, if I were taking my kid to that movie it'd be on a weekday during the day, so we didn't disturb the masses.

[bargain_hunter_lola]

When we saw the newest GI:Joe there was a 3-4 year old girl there. I was stunned! No way I'd let my 4 year old watch that!

Once they hit an older age (9-10) and depending on the movie I *might* let them watch a PG-13 but 3,4,5? H to the ELLS NO!!!!

[Shwa Girl]

If it was a horror movie, I'd feel you. But it's Iron Man, and I'm betting that toddler was a little boy who LOVED Iron Man and wanted to see it, rather than just a parent with no babysitter. A lot of these movies have trailers on TV and kids see them and want to go see it. I don't necessarily think that's a parenting mistake to take them.

Little girl. She was wondering around - hard for her to sit still for that long.

[Chantel]

They do run kinda long. In that case if you know your kid fidgets a lot or can't sit for a while I'd wait for the dvd. Regardless of movie content that's not fair to the child.

[Darth Penguin]

It's not fair to other paying customers either...If I go to a movie I want to watch that and not be interuupted by a small child out of his/her comfort zone..whether I go to a midnight movie special or a cheapie matinee.

And most superhero movies aren't for children anyway...people think comics= kids stuff..some are but many aren't. I had to stop P1 downloading some amine the other day because it is an 18+ series ( Bleach) rather than the Pokemon/Sailor Moon/ Pretty Cure style of amine she had been watching.

[Insane]

Little girl. She was wondering around - hard for her to sit still for that long.

That's what I was thinking...rating aside there is no way in heck my toddler would sit for such a long movie!

[Peachykeen2007]

I guess it really depends on the movie, I took my 5yr old son to see this movie and he loved it

[Midnightly]

It's not fair to other paying customers either...If I go to a movie I want to watch that and not be interuupted by a small child out of his/her comfort zone..whether I go to a midnight movie special or a cheapie matinee.

for the most part i 100% agree with you.. when i go to the movies i do not want to be disturbed by some kid sitting behind me kicking the seat, or some child crying.. though afternoon matinees i feel are more open for the child option, the theatre is often pretty quiet nearly empty (i've never gone to a week day matinee and saw it full) vrs a prime time ( movie starting between 7-9pm) timeslot.. i also do not like people bringing their children to late night movies (last showing of the night kinda thing) to me that's the time you go if you want to see a movie with no kids.

i don't think live action movies where people are getting blown up, shooting guns at other people are good for young kids to watch (though i'm also not a fan of kids watching wrestling) as for the ratings.. i think PG-13 is so broad labeling now a days (it's almost like they need to create a labeling that is above a PG 13 but below a R rating).. it's hard to compare some things really push the violence levels..and others would be ok, yes super hero movies are based off comic books.. but thats why they have cartoon versions of them to me the movies are not made for the young kids.. they are made for the teens/adults who enjoy it..


i don't want to seem like i'm anti-kid.. i do have a 5yr old i do take her to the movies.. BUT i take her to child friendly movies at a child time (mid afternoon showings, matinees, early showings) BUT i might be a little jaded.. a number of years ago i went to LOTR where they played the last two movies back to back with the last movie ending at something like 1am someone brought there young child(probably 5 or 6yrs old).. and the child spent a good chunk of the last movie kicking the back of the seat and listening to the mom snap at the kid, when the kid was obviously bored, tired and wanted to go home.. i have had popcorn thrown at me, had kids cry through adult movies constantly saying things like "i'm bored i'm bored, whats happening in the movie, i don't understand, i'm scared" and it's frustrating.. i go to the movies as an escape (and my movie annoyance does expand past just kids.. i hate people who constantly use their cell phones during movies, who put their feet up on the back of the chair beside me (really i don't want to see your stinky shoes in my face!) people who have nasty colds and think it's great go hack on the person sitting infront of them.. YES this has happened to me and sadly full theatre could not move )

to me Kids are young and innocent for such a small time and that bubble pops soo quickly with life and media.. why should we try and pop it early by purposely exposing them to violence

[Shwa Girl]

They do run kinda long. In that case if you know your kid fidgets a lot or can't sit for a while I'd wait for the dvd. Regardless of movie content that's not fair to the child.

This was not the only toddler. Another Mom took a 2-3 year old to the washroom 2 x during the movie (toilet training?). You KNOW the child did not want to stay for the whole ~ 2.5 hours.

[Shwa Girl]

I guess it really depends on the movie, I took my 5yr old son to see this movie and he loved it

What was your reaction when they took over the TV news and executed the guy? Was that o.k. for a 5 year old to see the guy getting shot in the head?

[lilo0003]

As others have said it is not about the kids, it is also about those of us that paid alot of money often including a sitter and we should not be subjected to toddlers in such a movie.
We took our boys to Jurassic Park (3D) on Friday night, they will soon turn 13 and 10 respectively and parts were a but scary. It was the boys that commented on the number of parents that brought very small children 3-5 yrs old to the movie & thought they should be in bed. It was 10:30 when the movie ended and these kids were so done.

[MaddensMomma]

I have been debating bringing my 4, almost 5, year old to see Iron Man. Because he loves Iron Man and has been begging to see the movie, NOT because we cannot afford a babysitter.

He also does really well at movies, glued to the screen and does not say a word. We take him to the bathroom before the movie starts and he does not leave need to leave the theatre while we are there.