What should/shouldn't a 7 year old do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Do you find that a lot of your kids friends watch PG13 or R? I feel like I tell my kid he can't go to the movies with his friends because it's a movie that we don't think is that great for a 7 year old. My son keeps asking me why he can't watch so and so, but his friend can. I was just wondering if I was being to controlling by not letting him. It's frustrating because his friend talks about the movies that my kid can't see and I can tell my kid is getting upset about it.

I'm fairly strict, but I let my seven (now eight year old) watch Jurassic Park (PG-13). He doesn't get scared easily and the language is mild. It was kind of a treat- other than that he hasn't watched PG-13. I might let him watch movies like Spider-Man, or Transformers in a few years- I just don't want the movies to have sex, or realistic violence.

I wouldn't let a young kid watch an R rated movie- no way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Do you find that a lot of your kids friends watch PG13 or R? I feel like I tell my kid he can't go to the movies with his friends because it's a movie that we don't think is that great for a 7 year old. My son keeps asking me why he can't watch so and so, but his friend can. I was just wondering if I was being to controlling by not letting him. It's frustrating because his friend talks about the movies that my kid can't see and I can tell my kid is getting upset about it.

My DS is 9, and I would never let him watch an R rated movie. I have let him watch *parts* of Transformers, which is PG13, but that's about it as far as PG 13 goes. He has watched all of Star Wars, which I think are all PGs.

Revenge of the Sith is PG 13. That's the only PG 13 movie my 7 year old has seen. My 9 year old has seen all the Harry Potters - a few of those are PG 13.

I don't know any parents who regularly let their 7 year olds see PG 13 movies, but I am sure they are out there.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the kid and the movie.
I don't let too many pg-13 movies for my 9 year old, but this was also the kid that freaked out while watching Fiddler on the Roof and couldn't wrap his head around arranged marriages. (No one is telling me who I can like!) but he did watch the old footloose & Grease with me and loved it (I was his age when I saw it, and slightly shocked when I think about that!). He loved the no music and no dancing theme (I'm thinking the other stuff went over his head). (He was on a musical kick for awhile, I blame the girls he was trying to impress)

They don't like superhero movies. And war movies are hit or miss and when we do allow one, I usually regret it. (he won't let me call him "duck" any more because that is too close to Goose from Top Gun (R) - and yes, at 9 Duck isn't a good term for my baby, British term of endearment)

But, yes, I stay away from pg-13 movies for my 9 year old. When the older sibs want pg-13 movies we just don't do family movies.

Your chores list sounds good.

I would work on phone skills. I know most people don't have a land line, but practice calling grandma. Pretty soon they will need to start calling to arrange their own playdates, or even just to see if someone is home that is in walking/biking distance.

[Anonymous]

8y old here - He is allowed to watch some PG-13 movies - Star Wars (the newer ones are PG-13), Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy. He already knows the "bad words" and knows not to say them. We acknowledge that some of his friends aren't allowed to watch these movies and every family has different rules - about all kinds of things (movies, bedtimes, chores, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys are great, I need to step it up!

My 7 year old only

-takes his plate to sink after meal
-puts away clothes after I fold them
-puts clothes in hamper
-very rarely I ask him to clean his toys up, but he does when asked
-can only get ready made snacks from fridge like apple sauce, yogurt, etc.

He does play outside in our yard unsupervised as well as bikes to friends houses on his own.

I am slacking, too. Similar to the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way on PG13 movies. I've seen kids who watch PG13 and R movies and their language is horrid. F___ dropped in front of parents w/o reprisal. Yuck.

That sounds like a parenting problem. They're going to hear that language somewhere and try it out. The first time they do, you tell them it's not appropriate. Pretty simple.

My issue with R movies (and some PG-13s) is that they are often scary and/or violent. My kids (both under 10) have never seen an R movie. Everything else is case-by-case; 9 yo saw The Hobbit, 6.5 yo didn't--too scary for him. Both have seen various Star Wars episodes. Both have seen Percy Jackson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:



-takes his plate to sink after meal
-puts away clothes after I fold them
-puts clothes in hamper
-very rarely I ask him to clean his toys up, but he does when asked
-can only get ready made snacks from fridge like apple sauce, yogurt, etc.

FYI... My four year old does these things, only the clean up toys is pretty regular.