Aloha Friday: Movies, Kids, and Cursing
During Thanksgiving, sometime between the end of the meal and the beginning of dessert, everyone split up to do different things. I sat down and searched for something interesting on TV. That’s when I spotted it. Ghostbusters. Sure, it was on a non-premium cable channel and, thus, censored, but still – It’s Ghostbusters!
As I settled in, NHL and JSL began to inquire to see what I was watching. At first, they were upset that I wasn’t watching one of *their* programs. How dare dad not keep the TV glued to Nick Jr even when they weren’t in the room. But then B told them of Stay Puft. After that, they kept bugging me as to when the giant marshmallow man would appear. When he finally did show, they cheered at his appearance and over his destruction and spillage on top of Walter Peck.
In short, my kids were instant Ghostbusters fans. I had a quandary, though. Dare I show the full, uncensored Ghostbusters to NHL? JSL might be too young, but NHL might love it. On the other hand, I worried. Not about the violence, but about the cursing.
NHL has heard cursing before. I’m sure he’s heard it in his school and he’s heard a word or three pop out of B’s mouth. (I’m a bit of a freak in that I never curse… Well, except for that one time I tried to get a reaction out of my friend by saying the C word which caused him to almost drive off the road. Reaction achieved!) But would NHL’s watching of movies with curses cause his language to reach for the potty? Is he, at 8, too young for movies with salty language?
My Aloha Friday question for today is: How old do you think a child should be before they watch a movie that contains cursing?
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Aloha #116
I wish they never had to hear cursing but that’s impossible. If they are in public schools, they are exposed to it early on, in my opinion. I guess I would say middle school aged is when I gave in and relaxed about the movies they viewed.
I think there are worse things in life (and therefore movies) than foul language, so I guess it depends on what they’re used to at home and how they’ll react to it. My kids have heard it all (bad Mom and Dad, but like I said, there are worse things!), so hearing it in a movie is less than shocking for them. I don’t think it’s really an age issue. Just my 2¢.
I suppose it depends on what they hear in their home. As a grandmother I prefer that they never hear it in our home even on TV however…a good classic film is a keeper. Makes one wonder just exactly why Hollywood feels the need to add inappropriate language and behavior. Sad.
But Ghostbusters? Cheers!
I’m with teens.. They have to be at least old enough to know the meaning and why it shouldn’t be used.
I really think the cursing is not good for kids at all. However in most schools they hear it. Perhaps 18 is a okay age by that time they should know it is not a acceptable repeatable language.
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Thanks for ratting me out. Love you too 😉
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Hmmm. . . that’s a tough one! My kids are all grown up now. Thinking if you have talked with them and have explained how you feel about curse words etc, then by the time they are 10 -12 they should be able to see a movie that containes curse words. In real life, after all, they WILL be exposed to it alot! All you can do is teach them your beliefs and how you feel and instill good values in them!
They are going to hear it no matter what you do so I wouldn’t put an age on it, just explain it well.
I think as long as it’s explained as not appropriate to repeat (and especially with it being somewhat mild language in that movie), there shouldn’t be a problem with your younger son seeing Ghostbusters. I wish I could get mine to watch that movie!
I’d like to shield my kids from bad language but I know it’s not possible. Instead, I just explain to them that just because they hear other people say it doesn’t mean they can, too.
There is a lot of cursing going on in many movies, and it is hard to screen all of them. To play it safe, I only choose cartoons for my kids. I think when they reach the age of 13, and then it will be okay.