Should I Let My 11 Year Old Watch the Hunger Games?

Common Sense media suggests that the target age for this movie is 13.

They have a very good review written with parental concerns in mind. I also strongly recommend previewing it if it's a question-mark for you.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-hunger-...

First you read the book and decide if it's something she can read. Then if it is, read it with her and discuss it. Once the book has been finished, then consider the movie. The book is more graphic in my opinion. If she can handle the book she can handle the movie. But YOU have to read it and see it before considering it for her.

My eleven year old read the books last year and watched the movie, and my eight year old watched the movie. I found it very age appropriate.

Read the books, watch the movie, talk about the story and the very real societal issues faced in the books.

My youngest son was actually the one who turned me onto the books ... and he read them when he was about 11 or 12 and we all went to see the movie when it first came out (he was 13 at the time).

Personally I think they are a FANTASTIC teaching tool and quite frankly should be required reading. But whether your 11 year old can handle them or not ... that's up to you. For most 11 year olds ... I'd say they would be fine.

Edited to add: JT: it's about MUCH MUCH more than kids murdering other kids. While the "games" (where teenagers are killing each other) are a large part of the books (especially the first book) the REAL focus of the books (at least in my opinion) is society and what people allow to happen and what happens when one person stands up against wrong ... even if they don't do it intentionally.

When I first read about the Hunger Games I was horrified!!! I watched the trailer for the movie and honestly had trouble sleeping at night. I kept wondering how this book could be so popular with teens ... I mean, isn't it about kids killing kids? What is the matter with our society that this is popular? Right?

I knew someone from our church who taught middle school English, so I asked her. (Actually, I asked just about everyone I could, but what she said really helped.) She said, not only did she and her husband read the books and love them, that her 7th grade class read the first book.

I think you need to read the book! The first book really sets the stage of this totalitarian government and the reality of living in this world where each year 24 kids ages 12 to 18 will be chosen (by lottery) to fight to the death. The second book is the beginning of the revolution and the third book is the actual revolution.

This is not light material. Both of you need to read the book. After that, you can decide whether or not to see the movie. I highly recommend you watch the movie yourself and then decide. But definitely make sure both of you have read the first book at least. It might even be a good idea to read the entire trilogy before deciding. It might help to know how it all ends.

Why would you ponder letting her see something questionable that you haven't even seen for yourself? We cannot make your decisions for you. You need to do the responsible parent thing and watch it for yourself, and then decide whether you think she should see it or not. No other parent can make this call for your child.

Watch it yourself and see if it's something you would feel comfortable letting your daughter watch.

My daughter read this series IN SCHOOL as part of class work in 6th grade. I took her to see the movie and she was fine. We can't wait for the next two movies.

But my daughter is quite mature and is able to handle and discuss adult themes beyond her years.

Watch it for yourself, it is available on Netflix for instant streaming. I would allow the 11yr olds in MY life, but I know how they would react to this series. In addition, the 11yr olds in my life have read the books before seeing the film. If you want to read the book yourself go ahead it's really good ... took me about 8hrs total to read book 1.

Sure - I think it's fine. Just watch with her. It's actually a very good movie and the book is even better.

In fact, why don't you tell her that she can watch the movie if she reads the book first!

I don't feel that it is appropriate. I am hesitant to let my 13 year old watch it. She's wanted to read the book since she was 10 or 11 and I said no. I am letting her read the book this summer, and will consider the movie if she's interested after the book. I believe people are too permissive with what they let their children watch. It is a pretty graphic movie, and the scene where a little girl dies is not something any 11 year old should see.

At the very least, watch it yourself first and decide.

My 10 yr old read the book and watched the movie. She loved it. She and her 12yr old sister are now working on the second book and are *seriously* anticipating the movie that comes out in Nov. All their friends are into it, too.

I think it depends on the child. I had no problem letting my kids watch it, but other parents might not like the themes and not let their kids watch it. You have to make a decision based on what's best for YOUR child.

I would not let her watch it. I would not allow any 11 yr old to watch it. That being said your her mother and you should watch it before allowing her to see it. She most likely will have access to the movie via friend or internet. Explain to her what its about how kids are being murdered by other kids.

I haven't finished the book yet (audible) but we are listening to it as we drive back and forth on trips. This would be another way for you to find out if your would want your daughter to see the movie.

Yes, there are things in the book that are relevant to today's society. You may have a frank discussion with your daughter about what the book is about after you read and then see the movie.

I am older so I don't always keep up with the current younger person's books. I will definitely finish this book and go on to the next two.

the other S.

If you were really her mother you would see the movie and decide for yourself.
Who are you really?

If she is a mature, intelligent child that can tell the difference from reality and fiction, she should not have a problem..

But like any movie based on the book, I would read the book together and THEN as a reward.. watch the movie.

My now 10 and 5 year old watched it and there was no issues. I personally do not see it being something outrageous for young ones to watch as long as they have the concept that what they see and/or read is not truth.

I would watch it with her. :)

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it. She is old enough to know the difference between fantasy and reality, so she shouldn't be too bothered by the darker aspects of it.

I would have her read the books as well! If you read them too, it will open up a great opportunity to talk about the issues in the books compared to real-life issues, the differences in the book and movies, etc. great way to help develop her critical thinking capacity. :)

I think it depends on the 11 year old. I wouldn't be quick to saying no to an 11 year old. But I do believe there are some that can handle it and some that can't.

For instance I have 2 kids, neither are 11 yet but I know right now that I'd let my younger one see it at 11 but not my oldest. She gets scared too easily.

Also, it might be good to only let her watch it after she reads the book. She might understand the whole concept a little better and it would be a good practice for reading.

My 11 year-old daughter watched it. She had started the book first, and had heard a lot about the movie from her friends. Since then, she has read all three books (three times!). We have had several discussions about the story, and it's relevance to real societal issues and trends, and how we treat each other as human beings, since then.

Watch it yourself first or watch it with her. Have you read the book(s)? I read the first one and honestly, it haunted me to such a degree that I couldn't read the other two, but I am an intense reader and tend to get very involved in good stories. A "normal" person might not be as affected by how disturbing the story line is. I know many kids your daughter's age who have seen the movie and/or have read the series.

That's a really good movie, but disturbing for sure. I would wait till she is 13. Only 2 more years! :)

CommonSenseMedia rates it appropriate for ages 13+.

When in doubt about a movie, watch it first or at least with your child. I don't know your daughter to be able to determine if it would be okay for her.

I'd probably tell her I'd consider letting her watch the movie after she reads the book. If she's not able to read it - be it the content or reading level - then she can't see the movie either.

A week or so ago you asked us whether you should let her get her ears pierced. Did you make a decision on that yet?

As for Hunger Games - start by reading the book.

I don't see why not.

No, I think she is too young. My ex wouldn't even watch it because of the disturbing story line, and he's in his mid-30s! Always trust commonsensemedia.org, or you might also decide to preview movies yourself, or do both to be safe. That site rates movies as to the material and what age may be suitable for seeing it, and they detail exactly what parts may be disturbing, by what degree (they use a star system), and why, and whether the movie has any positive messages or not. They even suggest topics that may come up in movies that your kids may ask about and how to address them/what to discuss with them. I'd wait until she's a teen to see it, at the very least.

What you can visualize in your mind when reading a book may not be as graphic as what they show in a movie. I mention this because some people assume that if a kid read a book and was okay with it, then they should be ready to see the movie. For example, if you read about a shooting in a book, you may visualize a hole in the chest and the person collapsing and dying, but a movie may decide to show blood pumping out of the carotid vein on the neck in spurts, the person choking on blood and bleeding through their mouth and turning all shades of blue. See what I mean?

Now that we are on the topic of parents bringing kids to movies, why do I keep seeing toddlers and 7-year-olds at R-rated movies? This is soo wrong! I went to see Elysium this weekend and I saw all these parents with kids my daughter's age watching a movie that shows a man's face being blown to pieces, the "f" word is thrown around like nothing, there are also graphic shootings and other forms of violence including a graphic operation. In what mind can a parent find it appropriate to expose kids to this at such a young age? I wouldn't be surprised to see children at Lovelace, considering I have seen kids watching graphic sex scenes before. They aren't even my kids and I ALREADY feel uncomfortable about them seeing that stuff! Leave your kid with a family member or a sitter if you must, or wait until it's on Netflix or HBO and watch it when your kid's in bed. Don't expose a small child to this unsuitable content because YOU cannot wait to see the movie on your own.

Watch it first yourself to determine if it's appropriate for your own child. My daughter just turned 14 and I didn't let her watch until after her birthday. She has, however read the books.

It is rated PG 13 for a reason. There were a lot of parents I know that were letting their kids watch it at 10. Just because a rating board determines a certain age for a movie doesn't mean your child has to see it at that age. Only you can decide that based on your own child's maturity level.

NO. And the next time she bothers you about it, tell her you'll take away her TV privileges if she badgers you again.

You do NOT want her watching that movie.

My daughter read the books with me when she was 9. She is now reading the series over again by herself at age 11 in anticipation of the next movie coming out (she may have read the series another time in between then also). She saw the movie when it came out in the theater when she was a couple months shy of turning 10 and we now own a copy of it.

I had read the series myself when it came out and I was concerned about her reading the books so young, but since we read them together I was able to gauge if things were becoming too intense for her (which they didn't) and was able to talk with her about situations she didn't understand (which was needed with all the political upheaval in the 3rd book). By reading the books first she was not shocked with particular things happened in the movie (Rue dying) that would have been a bit much for her without knowing they were coming.

You know your own child and whether she can handle it or not. My daughter is pretty mature and is an advanced reader and loves the books and the movie.

I'd watch it with her and have a talk about it afterward. Its not scary, but the subject matter is disturbing. If my daughter were 11 (but no younger) I'd let her watch it.

My 6 year old bugs me about watching it, too - that is so NOT happening. However, at 11, I would be okay with it. I'd probably watch it with her though and talk about it because there is so much depth to the violence in it.

My father likes very violent movies, so I've watched them from a very young age, so I probably have a lower standard on what's age appropriate than some.