Is The Hunger Games Too Dark for Kids?

[Alex Shannon]

http://ideas.time.com/2012/03/20/is-the-hunger-games-too-dark-for-kids/ 

Main Idea (Quote):  “Parental input seems to help children understand the context of aggression and violence and better prepare them for how to address it in their own lives.”

Main Idea (own words): The Hunger Games may portray a dark message, especially for younger kids, some parents may be worried that it could influence their children. However if parents go with their children and put in their good two senses then they should have no worries.

As the Hunger Games phenomenon passes through people aged from 6 to 70 I don’t think that people should be concerned with their children seeing the movie, as long as parents go along with them, and if questioned explain that it’s not true, what’s right and wrong, etc. Personally I don’t think bringing a five year old to the movie would be a good idea anyways because the kid would probably be pretty frightened. But with an eight or nine year old, go for it. As the author points out, they’re bound to run into some sort of violence sooner or later, so why not be with your child when they see it? I don’t think the Hunger Games was created for parents to go crazy about determining whether to let their kids see it or not. I don’t think that there is a problem with the author deciding to take his eight year old son to see the movie. As stated in the article, a new study shows that kids who see something violent are not prone to be any more violent than they were before they saw it. I think that as long as parents have a good way to explain to their kids about the violence in the movie, than it should be beneficial because it’s a more positive way for children to experience it, then perhaps catching a couple of kids fighting on the playground. 

[xxdineenxx]

I agree with the author and Alex. To be honest many parents these days are to over protective with their children. The media today exposes kids to violence and more at a much younger ages then their parents. Though 5 is a bit young to see a movie as violent as The Hunger Games, they have still by that age heard or have see something violent. It's truly all up to the parents though, and the way they want to bring up their children up. I agree with Alex that a parent going with their child to see it will be better, but they have to make it clear this is not behavior that should ever truly happen, and that it is all fiction. Kids are smarter then we think, and rough housing is bound to happen, its natural. Kids can see violent movies such as The Hunger Games  as long as they are old enough to not be frightened.  

[Michael Allen]

I also agree with you and the author. Violence is everywhere in the media, and parents constantly look for this kind of violence to point fingers at and say "this is what influences our children! Put a stop to it!" weather it be movies, television, comics, or video games. It is up to the parents themselves weather or not to expose their kids to something they know could be violent, and it is their fault for showing their children such things if they DO grow up to have violent tendencies, not the media's.  However, I disagree with the notion that kids are going to be exposed to violence anyway, so you may as well introduce it to them at a young age. That is exactly the kind of nightmare fuel children DON'T need to grow up all nice and happy, even if someone is there to explain it to them, it doesn't make it any less scarring and it will effect them when they are older.

[Amanda Sandoval]

I agree with Alex and the author.  I feel like today, parents are way over protective of their kids. While yes it is your parents job to do their best to make sure you don't get hurt, sometimes you need a little fall to help you realize whats good and whats bad. The Hunger Games is rated Pg 13. Any child, in theory, who is under 13 years of age shouldn't not be allowed to go into a movie theater and watch the movie on their own without parents consent. However, if a parent chooses to take their child to see the movie, then that is on their own shoulders. Just because you will not allow your child to see PG 13 movies before they are 13, doesn't mean it is always going to stay that way. You cant control what they do at others peoples houses or when you are not around. The movie is way less violent that the book. IF your child read the book, then absolutely let them see the movie. Because in books they can go into more detail about the killing than they can/do in the movie. I believe the author when she says that just because kids see something violent when they are younger does not guarantee that they will become bully's or violent when they are older. People need to chill out because the Hunger Games was a great movie. It sent a good message and i think all kids should go and see it. I can understand not taking a 6 year old to the movie. If i were 6 and i saw the movie, i would probably have night mares. But by parents taking their kids, they are taking charge of the situation by not letting anything get out of hand if their child has a hard time with the movie.

On Mon, Sep 3, 2012 at 9:54 PM, Michael Allen <michaelaw...@gmail.com> wrote:

I also agree with you and the author. Violence is everywhere in the media, and parents constantly look for this kind of violence to point fingers at and say "this is what influences our children! Put a stop to it!" weather it be movies, television, comics, or video games. It is up to the parents themselves weather or not to expose their kids to something they know could be violent, and it is their fault for showing their children such things if they DO grow up to have violent tendencies, not the media's.  However, I disagree with the notion that kids are going to be exposed to violence anyway, so you may as well introduce it to them at a young age. That is exactly the kind of nightmare fuel children DON'T need to grow up all nice and happy, even if someone is there to explain it to them, it doesn't make it any less scarring and it will effect them when they are older.

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