At what age do you let your child watch STAR WARS?

Lisa - posted on 11/14/2012

My almost 7 year old saw it when he was ~ 5. We started with the original then worked through that trilogy slowly before starting on the new trilogy, which is more graphic in my eyes. You know your kid best- does he handle aliens ok? How about guns? I have to tell you that my kid has been OBSESSED with Star Wars since we let him watch it. :) Fine by me. :) He understood most things fine at 5 and was able to sit through it. The thing that he found most disturbing in the whole series was when Darth Vardar dies, after just proving to his son that he was still good... my son cried over that. Good luck.

Katy - posted on 11/13/2012

My 2 yo girl came in while I was watching one of the newer ones (Revenge of the Sith) and watched some of it with me. I would let both my girls watch the original ones now if they wanted too (they are almost 5 and 2). I was born 2 weeks before the very first one came out and my parents took me to the theatre with them. I remember being able to watch it from a very young age and I am a huge Star Wars fan. But having 2 girls, they are mostly into princess. Although my oldest, having mostly boys in her class, likes Spider - Man.

Staci - posted on 11/13/2012

Thanks so much for everyones posts! This has really been helpful! Hard to believe it has been a year since I posted this. My son because he was youngest in the school last year is actually repeating K class this year so we decided that holding off is the best thing. We did get him some of the books you suggested so that he knows all the characters and can pretend play with his friends. We are thinking this summer at 7 or maybe the following summer at almost 8 at the end of 1st grade would be good for him. I tried to take him to see Brave this summer and he got scared and asked to leave, so for him I am probably making the right call. My daughter who is 2 years younger is fairly fearless, just proving that all kids are different. I will let all of you know how it went when he does see it though!

Julia - posted on 11/13/2012

You should preview the movies but my 6 year old has seen them all except episode 3. Episode 3 has some rough content (Anakin turing bad and some upsetting deaths). Episode 1 held is attention the best and we saw that in theaters when it was re-released when he was 5. I took him and a friend and it held both their interst. My son loves movies and has a long attention span, but his friend is a more athletic kids who likes to keep moving and he was totally into Star Wars Episode I. The newer movies seem to be more appealing to the kids, they love Jar Jar Binks. There is a guy on Movies.com who blogs about the right age for kids to see different movies. I think he said 6 or 7 for Star Wars, but he is great and you migt want to check out his blog for sound guidelines on a variety of movies. He has been right on for our family several times. For example I was ready to take my son to Indian Jones when it is re-released but he reminded me of a few scenes I had forgotten about in my nostalgia for a yound Harrison Ford :)

Maria - posted on 02/24/2012

uh, yes. my response is here: http://writingbetweenfriends.com/2012/02...

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 12/22/2011

Nicole that's not a problem. That's your child being creative and changing her mind. So what if she likes black instead of pink at 3.

My husband plays Halo games around my 7 year old (my 9 month old doesn't pay attention to anything) so I'd allow her to watch the Starwars animation or the lego star wars, but not the other movies. But I'm rather lenient at times because my 7 year old has played Halo

Nicole - posted on 12/21/2011

Don't worry I have my own problems - my eldest who is 3 used to say pink was her favourite colour now it is black. I drew a flower for her to colour in the other day with her water colour paints ..... she drew over about 70% of the picture with black and left the rest blank.

Sadeka - posted on 12/21/2011

My husband is THE biggest Star Wars fan and so our two boys were brought up on a steady diet of it! They regularly switch on the light sabre app on his mobile and know various pieces of incidental music (that have been hummed to them from birth!), have a picture book of The Empire Strikes Back and make X wings out of Duplo. However, we haven't allowed them to watch the movies yet or the animated series as they are 5 and 3. Despite this Star Wars is no doubt going to lay deep in their psyche thanks to the other kid in the house: their dad! The only thing that concerns me slightly is that my 3 year old prefers to be Darth Vader.... this tendency twards the 'dark side' is a little worrying!

Nicole - posted on 12/07/2011

actually we are going through this at the moment as my hubby saw a utube post - a 3year olds view of Star Wars so he immediately started our 3 year old daughter watching the series. She seems to be going o'k although the other night she told me that she was scared that the storm troopers were coming so I sent her straight to her dad to deal with it. I also agree with Lorraine - I love Dr Who and a few months ago sat down and watch a few series of them when I wasn't feeling well and Miss 3 really really didn't like the Darlecs and was scared enough to leave the room on a couple of occasions (she wasn't watching them with me she would just walk in to talk to me for a while)

Lorraine - posted on 12/04/2011

my 5 yr old loves iot but only the first 3 original ones, and the first pone episode one with young annikin, but the rest are yes a little older maybe 7 -10 depending on your prefence

they get more scareed watching dr who than star wars

Megan - posted on 11/24/2011

I guess our eldest was about four when we all watched the old ones that my parents owned on VHS and then he was 6 when we watched the new set? Same with the younger two boys. We watched it with them though. My hubby never saw them when he was little so this was a first for him. The boys have many of the Lego Star Wars toys so they are very familiar with the series and like it.

Angela - posted on 11/23/2011

My son is now 6 and obsessed with Star Wars but my neighbors son is 5 and best friends with mine and he is not really interested so I think it depends on the child. But he's fine, I am actually worried about him watching the Discovery Channel because now he thinks we are all going to get sucked up in a black hole. You just never know. It depends on the kids.

Ruth - posted on 11/22/2011

It's such a personal thing but my husband and I have differing views on this. I think they are so young and impressionable and why introduce them to to violent themes at a young age. Can a young one process that it is "just pretend ". I think they could become desensitised to those themes. He thinks it is quite harmless and doesn't want him to "miss out"(he bought the box set to watch with our 5 year old together). It is true as someone said that kids often like all the merchandise and might not have even seen the films. There are always going to be fads in the playground and we can't pander to them all. Maybe let the rating guide you. In Australia only SW1 is PG rated (parental guidance) and the others are M (mature rated) which is sometimes more to do with the other themes that the fighting (some of them are less action and more talking and completely over our son's head). Our son also becomes obsessed with them because he knows I am restrictive about it and he likes to brag to his friends that he has seen all the DVDs. A good compromise might be the cartoon versions with different story lines or I recently found a "lego" movie version which is rated for children, saving it for Christmas. I am hoping this will be more appropriate (relatively) and there will be less fuss when the other ones 'disappear' all together.

Bernadette - posted on 11/22/2011

My daughter has been watching since she was 3. All my nephews and niece have been watching it since about that age. They love it. I wouldn't worry so much about it.

Emma - posted on 11/21/2011

Hi Staci,
I think that perhaps you should start him off with the one that has the least scary bits which I think is Return of the Jedi (at least it was like that for me) but I may be wrong. There are a few we haven't let our sons watch yet and they are nine and ten. He may just like to watch the characters and that may satisfy him enough.

Ashley - posted on 11/21/2011

I think it depends on your kiddo! My son is 5 1/2 and he has watched (with his daddy...cuz mommy has no interest)almost all the Star Wars movies, he's seen all Transformers, Spider-Man 1-3, Harry Potter 1-3, just saw Green Lantern, etc... We have no problems of language or "excess violence" with him, he knows they say words in the movies he's not alowed to say, and really just enjoys the action and adventure of the story lines. I think if you have a kiddo who is kind of mature for their age and understands what is acceptable "role play" and what's not...then I'd say about 5 years old is ok. I mean....kids hear bad words in commercials and way too much violence in the news these days. You just have to know your kid! I have a friend who's son can't make that distinction of what is acceptable behavior (language, violence, etc..) after watching those movies...so he's not allowed to watch them anymore. All that being said....I'm also a parent who has NEVER allowed my child to watch Spongebob....because, as a cartoon, my hubby and i think it just sets a bad example. Kids can look at a movie and say "those are grown ups doing things i shouldn't do"...but when it's a cartoon...that is a different concept the child has to understand. In their head..."it's just a cartoon, if they can do it...so can i"
So....long opinion short....there is no real "magic age" there are suggested ages which is where ratings come in...but think about some of the latest Cartoon Movies that have come out lately and the "adult content" in them. Most important thing as a parent is simply... when it comes to action movies...KNOW YOUR KID!!! Know their maturity level and the way they already play with others...

Shellie - posted on 11/21/2011

i would say about between age 7 to 10 years old is the right age i like 4 5 and 6 better than 1 2 and 3

Theresa - posted on 11/21/2011

My son started watching it in kindergarten. He is now in 3rd grade. He loves to play Star Wars, dress up, light sabers, even Star Wars Legos. All the boys have been doing this since the movie first came out. In fact, his soccer team was called the Storm Troopers. He'll have a blast!

Cathy - posted on 11/21/2011

I have a 5 1/2 year old boy. I still have not let him watch star wars yet although he loves Darth Vader and he always borrow books from the schoo library about star wars. I hesitate because last year he was into Transformers. I made the mistake of letting him watch and he got into many troubles repeating words about weapons and fighting in school and we still are talking to him about not repeating violent words (by all means he's sweet and never has intention to hurt people). I will probably let him watch when he's older.

Rebekah - posted on 11/21/2011

My son is almost 5 and he loves Star Wars (legos, books, toys, ect), BUT he has never seen the movies. We're going to get him the movies for Christmas, but I don't expect him to be able to sit and watch them all.

Connie - posted on 11/21/2011

Any age...it's a great story!!

Carolyn Marie - posted on 11/21/2011

I rationalized my choice by not allowing him to see the newer ones (which are more sassy and violent) until he is older.

Sylvia - posted on 11/21/2011

Totally depends on the kid IMO. My DD (who's now 9) would have been freaked out by some of the stuff in SW at 5 but was totally fine at 7. I'm sure other kids are fine at 5.

Delsie - posted on 11/21/2011

There is an animated series called "The Clone Wars" that would give your son a taste of it without any of the violence from the movie.I should disclose that I have two sons and we let them watch it fairly young.

Helena - posted on 11/21/2011

My son is 5 in March and has recently become obsessed with swords and light sabers. His dad showed him a picture from Star Wars and he went on and on about watching it. We watched episode 1 yesterday and I warned him he might be scared at some parts but he loved it! Was transfixed. I thought it might be too much as he sometimes gets scared at kiddy cartoons but no! I think it depends on your kid and if you do decide to let him watch it - just have your finger on the power button to turn it off if he's scared :)

Shulena - posted on 11/20/2011

My son is 8yrs old & has just recently been bitten by the Star Wars bug. I had the same thought you had about being to young to watch it. I decided to go ahead & let him watch the first one. However, now for Christmas he wants all of the Star Wars movies. If my son would had wanted to see any of these movies @ 5yr, I wouldn't have let him watch it.

Charlotte - posted on 11/20/2011

I agree with 'marina' post, i have 2 boys, let them watch it about same age if not younger and yes it goes over their head, to long and involved to have any impact. boys are boys, they will find a way to anything that involves fighting etc,...they assume it is innocnet and people survive even if they are shot.. it is our reaction they respond too. I have learnt to go with it and let them be boys and try to respond in the right way. life is full of of war and fighting and different planets. etc we can't shade them from it, expose them and manage it xx

Jamie - posted on 11/19/2011

Clone Wars!

Claudia - posted on 11/19/2011

I think kids see star wars and are fascinated by the ships and the action. At early ages they do not grasp the whole story or get every thing. You might want to watch it together, see his reaction as he watches and be able to explain things as they happen. It is better he sees it from your perspective than that of others.

Rebecca - posted on 11/19/2011

Hey there, my boy will be five in Jan and he plays LOADS of games based of TV he's never seen. The other kids just make up the rules as they go along. My boy thinks he is a Super Hero being Darth Vadar... lol cute. He plays Power Girls and Power Rangers and Ben 10 none of which hes seen. I don't think there is anything wrong with watching it. He has asked but I'm going to wait till 6 or 7 and in the mean time he is enjoying playing pretend. Hope this helps.

Denise - posted on 11/18/2011

my kid was 4, but she was no way in heck interested in sitting that one out. so, me and my husband watched it while she hung out next to us w/ my laptop playing PBS.org kids games.

Kathy - posted on 11/18/2011

My 7 and 8 year old boys just saw all 6 films, in a row, for Family Movie Night. We had a ball watching them, and now they are obsessed. There is violence in but really no blood - they are just in to the the cool effects and characters. Neither one have much sexual innuendo. My 5 yr old girl was in the room while we were watching these movies, and ended up playing with baby dolls -- I think she found the whole thing boring :) He is probably old enough at 5 to enjoy the Star Wars movies without any psychological trauma.

Jill - posted on 11/18/2011

Mine started watching when he was about 5 - it was very popular in preschool. I honestly don't think that he's ever sat though a whole movie at a time, though and he's now 9. He's not one for play-fighting, either. It all depends on how your child is - and what you think is right for him. My cousin loved these movies when he was young - even though I am older than he is, I didn't see them until I was in my early 20s!

Ceri - posted on 11/18/2011

Wow what amazing comments on this topic. It's so. hard. to. know. what. is. right. My son just turned four. I have never seen all of the star wars movies all the way through them everyone is talking about Episode 3 and the originals ect…. And I have no idea how violent they are. Personally, I think they are stupid. Nevertheless, I know people LOVE them and there is nothing wrong with that. My husband being one of them. Perhaps I should watch them now so that I know what my son is watching. He probably watched them starting around 2 because my husband had them on. Now they watch them all the time.(Whenever they are on TV on SPIKE) My son is VERY in to Star Wars, along with Bat Man, (any other super hero) Pixar, and My Little Pony. Honestly, sometimes I worry more about what he is picking up on my little pony more than star wars, but I watch My Little Pony with him. Reading all the reasons why not to makes me wonder if I should have waited, but what is done is done I will say that my husband made the choice and I am OK with it. We are good attentive parents. We set boundaries, rules and guidelines of what is right and wrong. My son is sensitive, sometimes scarred of the dark sometimes not, he has an amazing memory. I think he knows it is pretend. I mean, Disney movies in some parts are violent too, and they are not real either. The bad guy always dies in them too. We do have some small issue of what is OK playground play and what is not, he wants to play bat man which can be kicking ect. And because of that we do watch him like a hawk and dialog what is appropriate. Because he is sensitive, he understands, but like most kids he forgets. It’s our job to remind him.

Jessie - posted on 11/18/2011

I can remember my father insisted I watch Star wars when I was 8 or 9 because it is a "classic" and even then I found it frightening.

Crystal - posted on 11/18/2011

i sat down and watched the original movies with my son around 4 but i don't think he got much more form it than, in his words "it was a really cool movie." I have found a lot of the kids who do like Star Wars in his first grade class have only seen that Clone Wars Show on Cartoon Network.

Yolande - posted on 11/18/2011

My little boy will be 5 in Feb , although his dad loves it , I personally feel 5 is too young and they do not understand whats going on. It is a bit too violent and they cannot distinguish between tv and reality. What they see , they want to become and im scared they play violently with their friends. This has happened before with Ben 10.

Jennifer - posted on 11/17/2011

My son is 4, he will be 5 in December, but he loves Star Wars. He watched it on Television and now he wants all the episodes for his birthday or Christmas. He was Darth Vadar for Halloween. He also likes all the Marvel Hero's, especially Spiderman and Superman. He also likes Transformers.

Angie - posted on 11/17/2011

My 3 year old daughter has watched episodes 4,5,6 and also loves the clone wars (Asoka is her favorite). My son was 4 when he first watched it and everything now is star wars (every drawing at school has to do with star wars). I think it really depends on how well he can distinguish reality from the shows. My son and daughter both know it's not real and it doesn't bother them.

Amanda - posted on 11/17/2011

I completely understand about your son being "young for his age." My son Zachary is 8 and I treat him like he is 8....no older. I want to keep him little for as long as I can. Nothing bothers me more than seeing kids that are 8 or 9 acting like they are 15 or 16. Anyway, Zach saw Star Wars when he was 6, & to tell you the truth, I had & have no problems with it. He is OBSESSED with Star Wars now! I think 5 is fine!

Sue - posted on 11/17/2011

Mine are 5 and 7 and have never seen it. I still believe in censoring their viewing, regardless of peer pressure. They've never seen Shrek or The Simpsons, since we feel, as their parents, that they personally are not ready for those shows. Other kids may be, ours aren't. You know your child best. Use your gut instinct as a guide, not age, or other parents choices.

Jana - posted on 11/17/2011

My boys are 9 and 11, they have only seen the first one (and that was this past summer). Do they want to see more? YES. Will I allow them to? The 11 year old probably, the 9 year old No.

Pauline - posted on 11/17/2011

Just because a child seems interested in a movie does not make it age appropriate. As a pre-school teacher I see many 3-4 year old children, especially boys, who struggle with what is real and what is not real. It's very developmentally appropriate at this age. They take things very literally. When things like violence and killing go into their heads, they have to try to make sense of it somehow and most of the times, it is in their play. Power play has a positive place for young children. It's why so many superhero are found in pre-schools. At an age when children have little power over their environment and few choices, power play helps them feel, well powerful! But if the play get to the point were other friends are getting hurt or feeling scared the play becomes an unacceptible behavior. I guess what I'm want to say is that your children are extremely amazing and be careful not to give them more than their are ready for, whether they seem to like it or not. They are young and they need us as parents and adults to be respectful of their needs and to go the extra mile to protect them from things they aren't developmentally ready for. Good Luck!

Mary - posted on 11/17/2011

My son loves it and probably first watched at 2 or 3. I think you need to decide based on your son and whether you think he can handle it. Every child is different and I wouldn't make the decision based o other kids at school. I think that's setting a dangerous precedent as there will be plenty of other movies, music, video games that it would seem all the other kids are watching or have and your son doesn't. Just because a kid ha a Star Wars shirt or toys doesn't necessarily mean they have watched the movie anyway. You can pretend and play SW without having watched it. :)

Mary - posted on 11/17/2011

My son loves it and probably first watched at 2 or 3. I think you need to decide based on your son and whether you think he can handle it. Every child is different and I wouldn't make the decision based o other kids at school. I think that's setting a dangerous precedent as there will be plenty of other movies, music, video games that it would seem all the other kids are watching or have and your son doesn't. Just because a kid ha a Star Wars shirt or toys doesn't necessarily mean they have watched the movie anyway. You can pretend and play SW without having watched it. :)

Heather - posted on 11/17/2011

I just want to respond about the violence aspect, I think kids are going to play things on the playground nomatter what, some will say killing and stuff depending on what the parents teach them, I remember watching cops show s and cowboys and indians, we use to play outside at school and stuff, pretending to shoot arrows and guns, at each other, but we knew it wasn't real, so it is all in what the child is taught. my girls watched scary movies at a friends( and I didnt know about it ) house and was scared so when I thought they were ready I watched them with them, so we could talk about the movie, though they know there is bad in the world, there dad being a cop, star wars to them was an escape of good versus evil, just like in narnia and harry potter. My dad was skeet shooter so we were raised with guns, but we were taught of the dangers and not to play with them, I don't think my grandsons playing with lightsabers is bad, we just teach them to not hit each other with them. So it is up the parents to decide if it is something you think you child can handle and then be there to answer any questions they might have. Just my 2 cents worth.

Kim - posted on 11/17/2011

From two years my son started to show an interest and i see no problem, as their imagination runs wild and it's good for them

Beth - posted on 11/17/2011

My son is 3 and completely obsessed. OBSESSED. A grealt alternative to the original movies is the Lego Star Wars on Blu-Ray. Appropriate for younger viewers...and adults will enjoy it too.

LisaJoy - posted on 11/17/2011

My son has watched it. My husband and I had a star wars marathon and our son watched them with us (he was playing most of the time) he was 18 months when he saw them.

Lynne - posted on 11/17/2011

We let our kids (7, 6, and almost 4) watch parts of Star Wars. With the DVDs it's really easy to skip through the scary parts. They love it and haven't realized yet that they haven't watched the whole movie.