In addition to parental controls on the computer and television, the national film rating system helps guide parents into making the right choices when allowing their children to watch movies.
National Film Ratings Guide
Film ratings are currently divided into five categories:
Rated G: General audiences, all ages admitted.
Rated PG: Parental guidance suggested, some material may not be suitable for children.
Rated PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned, some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Rated R: Restricted, Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Rated NC-17: No one 17 and under admitted.
According to Film Ratings, this system went into effect in 1968 and is supervised by the Classification and Rating Administration. The CRA determines the amount of sex, violence, drug use, foul language, nudity, and other themes before making their decision.
However, it seems that more and more movies are instilled with content that would never have made it under the rated-R zone twenty years ago. The language, sexual tension and violence in movies like Spiderman, Hellboy, Hulk and the newer Star Wars have all made it into the PG-13 category. So when parents let their child watch something that is recommended safe viewing, will they end up regretting it?
Helping Parents Decide What Kids Should Watch
The general rule of thumb many parents follow is to first watch any movie they are thinking of showing their child. Since the film ratings system is merely a guide, parents can decide for themselves if the theme and content are age appropriate. What may be individually appropriate to one parent may be offensive to another.
Before children visit a friend’s home, parents need to make their preferences clear to the supervising parent and set clear boundaries regarding what their child is allowed to watch, either on television, the internet, video games or movies.
Also, children differ in their maturity and understanding. While some eleven year-olds can handle the content in a PG-13 movie, others cannot. Some five year-olds are scared to death of the monsters in Monsters, Inc, while others think the movie is hilarious and are able to comprehend that it is only pretend. Some thirteen year-olds who are classified as being old enough to watch Hulk might find the movie frightening.
If children watch a movie that is scary or difficult to understand, no matter what the rating, it is essential that they be allowed to vent their feelings and curiosities to their parents. Even if a child watches a movie that was deemed age appropriate, and chosen by his parents to be suitable, it may still stir up fear, anger, or curiosities that can be answered during a Question-and-Answer session with parents afterwards.
Lastly, parents should not be afraid to say no. Just because a classmate watched a movie and raves about it to their child, parents should not give in if they truly have reasons for not allowing their child to watch it. Children respect boundaries and will come to realize (if not now, in the future) that their parents cared enough to protect them from watching movies that were not appropriate.
Overall, the film ratings guide is helpful in determining what movies are suitable for viewing. They are not, however, a be-all, end-all. Parents have to take the time to watch movies prior to their child watching it, or with their child, or both. It is part of the parental responsibility to decide how mature their individual child is and what content the child can handle. By allowing their child to come and ask them questions about movies, books, video games, or Internet web sites, parents are establishing a flow of communication that provides benefits for years to come.
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