I read an article yesterday that made me remember how mad I was last week when I took my 4 year old to the movies. Approved For All Audiences over at ParentDish wrote exactly what I felt that day….
"Every time a movie is released that seems like it might be appropriate for Ellie, I check it out at Kids In Mind.
This website, and others like it, give detailed information about the
movie, including scenes involving sex, violence and other issues of
concern to a parent. Recently, I checked out Alvin and the Chipmunks and decided that despite the PG rating, it would be fine for Ellie to see."
You see, as a good parent I always check out the movie before I allow my children to see it. This mom at ParentDish obviously does the same thing. You think you are in the clear and choose an age appropriate movie for your children and then come the previews…..
"The first time we saw the movie, we arrived a little late and walked in during the last scene of the trailer for 10,000 BC.
This movie is rated PG-13 and the preview we saw was "approved for all
audiences." The scene we came in on involved some large, scary beast
about to stomp someone to death. Ellie immediately closed her eyes and
waited for it to be over."
I had this same experience with my daughter. She was so scared by what she saw that she ended up on my lap for the whole movie. I could deal with that, but what I can’t deal with are the sex scenes or sex talk in the previews.
I remember sitting in the theater with my family and looking at my husband with my mouth hung open as the previews played on the screen. I think I am taking my kids to a sex free movie and low and behold we have to see it in the previews.
Why are our kids having sex earlier and earlier? Hmmmmm, I wonder???
The exact same thing happened when I took my kids to see the Chipmunk movie, but this wasn't even the trailer — it was one of the general ads that runs before the previews even start. It seemed to be a pseudodocumentary / advertisement for the National Guard, which appeared to depict soldiers in all sorts of intense situations, and what seemed to be dead bodies. I complained to one of the theater managers, who gave me the expected eye roll along with an explanation that they have no control over what's in the advertising package.
I am so glad that I am not alone in my feelings here. I thought that maybe my husband and I were still living in the dark ages. I just want my kids to be kids.
The exact same thing happened to me over the holidays. I took the kids to see a totally tame PG movie, not a THING in it. And the "Approved for All Audiences" previews were R-rated, in my opinion. They were EXTREMELY violent and scary. I've got two kids who are terrified of violence….sheesh. I guess the only solution is to arrive late or get a DVD at home.