PG-13 For A Tween?

Why Parents Are Allowing Kids and Tweens To Watch PG-13 Movies

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I have two young kids and I will absolutely not allow them to see a PG-13 movie until they reach the age of 13. They get so upset at this and tell me all of their friends are allowed to see these movies. I checked with some of the parents and found out my kids are right; their friends are being allowed to see movies that are rated PG-13! Why do so many parents allow their kids to see movies that aren't age appropriate for them?

Sincerely,

Wait Till You're Old Enough

A:

Dear Wait Till You're Old Enough,

Parents have succumbed to tremendous pressure by their tweens to let them see movies that are rated PG-13 before the kids are 13. Or 12. Or even 9. In spite of the huge number of animated and family films that are G rated in recent years, parents still allow their children to see movies that are meant for kids 13 years of age and older.

Why are parents allowing kids to see these movies?

* Many parents have lost their sense of responsibility and take the easy way out. It's much easier to say yes than it is to deal with an angry, crying, screaming, tantrum-ing child who wants to see a movie that is rated for children above 13.

* Peer pressure. Other parents go with the crowd, setting a peer pressure example for their own kids to succumb to peer pressure. Kids learn to manipulate their parents this way. They tell their parents that Johnny and Susie's parents are letting them go to see a particular movie, and why can't they see it, too?

* Adult content and sexualized or violent content is all over the media and you don't have to pay to take your child inside a movie theater to see inappropriate sex and violence. It's on television, in the malls, and in the music that kids are listening to on the radio. Children get de-sensitized earlier.

Another big problem is that many movie theaters play trailers for PG-13 and even R movies prior to a G movie where the audience is packed with toddlers, kids, and parents. This isn't supposed to happen, but often, it does.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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