Tweens watching R rated movies
Categories: Kids 8-11, Teens & tweens, Health & safety, In the news, Environment, Media
Lately, my seven-year-old has shown an interest in playing a rather bloody video game. It's not exactly violent, but involves a skateboarder who bleeds profusely whenever he wipes out. I refuse to let her play because I don't like the way the bright red blood oozes realistically across the pavement. Of course it isn't real, but I am uncomfortable with the idea that she will become desensitized to the sight of massive amounts of flowing blood.
Clearly there are many parents who have no such qualms when it comes to blood, gore and assorted acts of violence. According to the journal Pediatrics, an estimated 2.5 million kids ages 10 to 14 watch R rated movies, often with parental permission.
The researchers gave 6,522 kids a list of movies, 40 if them rated R and chosen for their extreme graphic violence. When asked to list which ones they had seen, an average of 12.5% indicated that they had seen each of the R rated movies. The researchers didn't ask where they saw the films, but did include a question about whether or not their parents allowed them to watch R rated movies. One third said their parents were okay with it "sometimes" or "all the time". 22.6% of those who weren't allowed still managed to see at least one anyway.
Studies have shown that exposure to violent media can increase aggression and desensitize a person to real violence. For that reason, the researchers believe that violent movies should have an explicit warning that they "should not be seen by young adolescents" and they encourage pediatricians to talk to parents about the risks involved.
Of course, there are those who see no harm in exposing children to horror. Gerard Jones, author of Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Superheroes and Make-Believe Violence, says these experiences are "a classic, vital part of teen culture." I think the key phrase in the sentence is "teen culture". A ten-year-old is not a teen.
Clearly there are many parents who have no such qualms when it comes to blood, gore and assorted acts of violence. According to the journal Pediatrics, an estimated 2.5 million kids ages 10 to 14 watch R rated movies, often with parental permission.
The researchers gave 6,522 kids a list of movies, 40 if them rated R and chosen for their extreme graphic violence. When asked to list which ones they had seen, an average of 12.5% indicated that they had seen each of the R rated movies. The researchers didn't ask where they saw the films, but did include a question about whether or not their parents allowed them to watch R rated movies. One third said their parents were okay with it "sometimes" or "all the time". 22.6% of those who weren't allowed still managed to see at least one anyway.
Studies have shown that exposure to violent media can increase aggression and desensitize a person to real violence. For that reason, the researchers believe that violent movies should have an explicit warning that they "should not be seen by young adolescents" and they encourage pediatricians to talk to parents about the risks involved.
Of course, there are those who see no harm in exposing children to horror. Gerard Jones, author of Killing Monsters: Why Children Need Fantasy, Superheroes and Make-Believe Violence, says these experiences are "a classic, vital part of teen culture." I think the key phrase in the sentence is "teen culture". A ten-year-old is not a teen.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ame s 8-07-2008 @ 3:25PM
Not mine! My 8 year old is hesitant to watch some PG13 movies if she thinks there may be intense scenes, though my 10 year old isn't as sensitive.
As far as R rated movies, that's a big NO for both of my kids. There are some things I just don't want them seeing or hearing. I want a little more time before I have to explain what the "F word" means, shudder!
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brokemom 8-07-2008 @ 3:28PM
My daughters are seven and a mature eleven. I have only very recently given the oldest permission to watch PG-13 movies without calling me and asking. It seemed that the ones she wanted to watch were all appropriate for her to handle, and I got tired of her calling me four times in a row at a friend's house, "Can I watch this one? Can I watch this one?" She knows that she has free reign on anything G, PG, and PG13. My seven year old was just given free reign on G and PG, and she still has to ask about anything over that. I have always monitered their tv/movie choices, and not just due to violence, but for other reasons such as sexual content, drug references, or just plain issues I don't want them dealing with yet. My exhusband took them to see 'What Happens in Vegas', which is still irritating me. I had to sit down and have a talk about how we don't go to Vegas (anywhere), get drunk and marry a stranger. This might sound silly to some, but I don't want my girls thinking its okay! In a world where their favorite tv stars are getting pregnant and married at 16 (they're not allowed to watch Zoey101 any longer either), they are too impressionable to watch just anything.
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bethanygd 8-08-2008 @ 4:37PM
seriously? you're one of those parents? *sigh* do you not let them watch hannah montanna because they might discover a new use for the digital camera? would you let them watch full house, when bob saget in reality is a foul mouthed comedian, jodie the real life drug addict, and mary kate or ashlee being stick thin and possibly connected to the death of another actor? oh, and GOD FORBID the lindsay gone lesbo rumours are true, cause we don't want you little girls growing up to be homosexual now would we? i am so sick and tired of parents like you. and believe me, i live with parents like you and it's sickening. i'm 18 and for whatever reason, my parents see the need to put parental blocks on the tv, that often block House. (which is my addiction) if they hear that i'm making plans to go to the movies and it just so happens to be pg-13 or r, they still make a big deal out of it. i said something about when one of my friends and i went to see harry potter, my mom flipped out.(because i might want to become a witch or something. and yes i wasn't allowed to read the books either)
teenagers do stupid things and it's their right, regardless of if they're they flip burgers or if they are "americas sweetheart". if jamie lynn stayed in lousiana and got pregnant, no one would care. if miley didn't use her dad's fame (or infamy, depending on how you look at it) and had the pics appear online, it probably wouldn't even make it as a top news story. just because they are popular doesn't mean they have to be your or any other parents perception of perfect. kids aren't as impressionable as you think.
granted, don't let your kids watch porn. and if your kids are going to get scared by someone who puts people through life or death tests(but not by a 3 headed dog or a creepy, pale guy with no nose) then don't have them watch those movies. just keep in mind that in this day and age, anything and everything is available online and if they can't access it from home they will find another way.you can't protect them forever.
14yearold 8-10-2008 @ 5:10PM
I have something to say about Zoey 101...
She wasn't getting pregnant on the show. Just because she got pregnant, doesn't mean that she's going to influence children to do the same! She's a very good actress. Her acting ability has nothing to do with her pregnancy. I know several actors or actresses who have children and still are very good actors or actresses. Jamie Lynn made a mistake, but the media didn't need to jump all over her. Honestly, if Ellen Page had actually been pregnant when she made Juno, the media would have attacked her, too. So, the actress herself did something, that doesn't mean that the show will change any. Chase isn't going to get Zoey pregnant, and no one else will get pregnant. If your children don't know enough to NOT get pregnant at 16, then that's they're problem. You can't shelter them from things like that that happen. I'm almost certain that they will know someone at they're high school who is pregnant.
Jody 8-23-2008 @ 5:56PM
I must say I'm relieved that my kids are now 24 and 28 (no grandkids yet)-when my 28 yo son was 11, I discovered he was watching movies rated R at homes of friends with their parents present. That was something that was clearly not permitted in our home-I took the bold step of telephoning parents when he would be overnight at friends' homes and quizzing them about any planned movie watching. I was very offended that someone else would take the liberty of exposing my son to material that was questionnable at best. It is the right and responsibility of parents to put limits on their kids viewing. I admit that today it is much more difficult, especially with the exploding technology. Go to tuneintokids.org and mediawise.org for resources to help you navigate the "media maze" and create positive media choices for your kids. Don't be afraid to say no to your kids-or the parents of your kids friends. You have only one chance to raise them.
Paul Cyopick 8-07-2008 @ 3:48PM
My problem is my father in law. I let my kids (8 year old son and twin 5 year old girls), stay qwith them last month, and my son had nightmares for a week afterwards.
When I asked him what was wrong, he said "Nonno made me watch Jaws with him".
Unfortunately, you have to be actively aware of the choices of others while your children are in their care.
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Maureen 8-07-2008 @ 4:10PM
Would I allow my tween to watch an R movie? No way. Did I see them when I was a tween? Yes! I think in those day it was much easier for a 11 or 12 year old to just walk into an R movie -- I hope times have changed. I wasn't damaged by seeing such movies, but I don't really want my kids to do everything I did (like take my first drink at age 15).
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Kira 8-07-2008 @ 11:20PM
BIG DEAL! I'm 14 and has been watching these forever. Your kids are going to see or hear about things like these eventually. You parents (no offense) who think that your children are above this would be surprised at how much they know about the very same stuff you don't are shielding them from. I was in 1st grade when I first heard about sex and it shocked ever nerve in my mom when i confronted her about it.
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Kevin 8-08-2008 @ 4:15AM
I would have to agree with Kira. My mom has been open with me about drugs, alchohol, sex, you name it. She will answer any question I have honestly and openly, even when it makes her uncomfortable. I knew about sex, drugs, alchohol, and cigarretes by the time I was seven, and had seen extreme violence within my family. I also knew every cussword by then. Ive watched rated R movies since I was 11.
Hearing all this, you might think I'm a terrible, deranged child with a penchent for meth and murder. Yet I'm a 17 year old honor student who has never drank, smoked, or done a drug in my life. My moms talks about sex have helped keep me safe in that realm as well.
Talk to your kids. By the time they ask you, or you feel ready, its too late. You are there to teach, so do it already!
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Don 8-08-2008 @ 7:07AM
In regards to your issue with the bloody video game, some games will allow you to turn off the some effects such as blood.
Have you checked the setting menu in the game to see if it is possible to turn off the blood effects with in the game to make it more kid friendly?
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sally 8-08-2008 @ 12:54PM
My kids have a father that has low morals. so when they are around him or his family i'm sure they've seen things they shouldn't be seeing or hearing. So i'm pretty strict about what they watch on tv. i've been told they're going to learn about it anyway so why not let them. the difference to me is that by letting them see/hear it i'm telling them it's ok to do it or they have to wait as an adult before they do it. which i don't agree with. sure you should definitely talk to your kids about things, but that doesn't mean they should be seeing and hearing it on tv. The world is hard enough already so why not let kids be kids as long as they can. why would anyone want to take that innocense away from them. isn't the world tough enough.
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