Appropriate Age for PG Chihuahua Movie?

You are putting way too much thought into this. Just let
her go. At her age she will love the dog and his antics.
Let her have fun with her grandmother.

Hi K.,
I don't believe that PG movies were ever for a specific age, they are simply "Parental Guidance." Maybe you are thinking of PG 13, which is an entirely different rating. Some PG movies may be fine for a 3 year old and some may not. There is a wide range of what may be shown in a PG movie. Many of these movies have storylines that are simply not appropriate for such a young child or something that she would understand. Your MIL means well and wants to do something fun with your daughter. I would check out the reviews and descriptions of this movie carefully, and if you don't feel your daughter should see it, let MIL know that at 3 years old, she can only see G rated animated movies and you'd be glad to let grandma take her to the next one that comes out.

My daughter is 2 and 1/2 and saw the movie over the weekend with her six year old brother. The movie was mostly silly. The only potentially scary part was a dog fight. The movie was so cartoonish that my children did not take anything too seriously, and no one was scared. There were even younger children at the movie, and no child there seemed to have a problem. You should definitely make your own choices, keeping in mind how your daughter reacts to scary situations and dogs in general. There was nothing with respect to crude language or sexually inappropriate conduct.

Hi K.,
I will be taking my 4 1/2 year old but I use the Common Sense Media website to check out movies to see if they are appropriate for my child. Here is the link:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/Beverly-Hil...

Good luck!
Alexis

I personally don't think that it is appopriate for a 3 year old, if she was like 8 or 10 maybe. I would talk to you MIL and I am sure there is some better options to take her too. You don't want yout MIL to be the "ggod friend" and you the hated parent. If you let her go and didn't want het to, then you daughter will seek her out for those things.

Hi Kristen. my name is L. and i had just read your concern. my daughter turned 4 in august and she had just experienced that movie over the past weekend. it was evry age appropriate i thought and quite adoreable. I think you should let her go and experiance the movie and e...njoy that time with her grandma. Maybe have a chat with you MIL and let her know it was a thought of yours and you appreciate her takeing your daughter but to use her judgement on appropriateness.take some mommy time while shes @ that movie and enjoy

I thought about taking my 2 year old to it but she wouldn't sit still that long. So I'll have to get a siiter becauae I want to see it...lol.

You know your child's attention span better then I.

Nanc

K.,
Check out this website: www.kids-in-mind.com
It gives a very comprehensive view as to the content of movies (i.e., sex, violence, profanity) so you can make a judgment as to what's appropriate. I've used it lots of time to screen movies for my 5 year old.
Good luck!

My opinion is that PG movies are inappropriate for young children. Some content is inappropriate and the plot is most likely beyond her years.

Learn to say no to your MIL and anyone else who wants to pollute your daughter. Your MIL will respect your decision and will probably appreciate your wanting to keep your daughter away from anything that may scare her, confuse her, or bore her.

Check out www.commonsensemedia.com to help you make your decision.

We took our grandsons last week so I know that the only scary part is the dog fight, but it doesn't really get scary--silly really. It is a really funny movie. The kids got a kick out of the animals talking. Your daughter will be fine, plus, your MIL and she will have some time to bond. I've learned over the years, and your MIL will too, that if there is a scary part or something, we just cover their eyes and/or ears. My daughter told me to do that and it has worked out fine.

I didnt read the other responses so I hope this isn't a repeat...how about calling the theatre and asking their advice. I'm sure they would be honest and understand your concerns. If it's not something appropriate maybe you can share the input from the theatre with your MIL and then offer for the 2 to watch a movie at her house. They could make it just as special with "movie snacks" and cuddle up under a blanket together. You can't do that at the theatre!! Good luck :)

Hi K.,

I know that we try to protect our children from the bad elements of this world, and I don't know anything about this movie, but let your MIL take her. Since you totally trust her with your daughter if something comes on the screen that is not appropriate, maybe she will have her cover her eyes. That's what I do with my children. I think it is very nice that your MIL is taking time with your daughter, all of them are not like that, especially when it is not their daughter's child. Oops that's another show.

All the best to you.

I am a mom of three and I don't think PG wil bother her. I am planning on taking my 5 year old to see this movie this weekend. I looked up the movie online and the few trailers that I have seen for the movie, I really didn't see much that would bother a young child. From what I have heard the movie is not violent or has a lot of foul language. It sounds like the PG rating is there because of the context and story line. It seems like an older child would understand the storyline better that a young child, but at our daughters ages they are only looking at the cute dogs and not paying attention to the story.

Oh, I have been through this many times. My parents love putting movies on for their grandchildren and taking them to the theater but I have had to argue with them about the movies they wish to see. At the time, it seemed that they would never forgive me for insulting their judgment- ("We raised you and you turned out fine")or they thought I was nuts and sheltering my child too much.

We just recently have let our son (7 years old) watch a few PG movies on video. We watch them with him and we are able to discuss anything we see objectionable- something you can't really do in a theater. Mostly what you see in these movies is humor that goes over their head or young love situations- kissing makes my son shout "yuck". Or go back to old school PG and watch the "The Goonies"- guns, violence, a dead body, kidnapping, sexual innuendos, (trying to look up a girl's skirt or talking about "having" her), etc. Ugh.

We did take him to see "Star Wars Clone Wars" in the theater (knowing full well that it would be cartoon violence)but we weren't prepared for the really scary previews! Like the "Harry Potter" preview that made him hide his eyes and one inappropriate Jim Carrey movie preview with sexual content. I think that aspect of the movie theater is my biggest problem!

So, personally, I would wait on letting her see anything but a "G" movie. That being said, it seems ALL my friends and acquaintances with children have had absolutely NO qualms with bringing their children to see PG movies at a young age. Their children all seem fine and well-adjusted. It really depends on your own family values and beliefs. You can look up reviews of the movie done by other parents and see what they have to say. Try http://movies.yahoo.com/movie- they have critic and user reviews. It seems that Beverly Hills Chihuahua is pretty tame compared to some other PG movies. But if you are at all hesitant, try to find another movie.

Don't worry about offending anyone when it comes to the well-being of your child. Your MIL will get over it.

Good luck!

Some of the content might go right over her head, but kids pick up EVERYTHING so I would caution about this. It seems a bit over the top and I'm surprised your MIL would consider this a good movie for a 4yo.
I would not allow my 4 yo to go, but ultimately, this decision is between you and your husband. Good luck!
J.

My MIL and I took my 4 yr old to see it last Friday - there really wasn't anything as far as language or being scary - there was one part w/a dog fight but it really wasn't that b/c it was more turned into where they were mocking the bigger dog.

It was definitely a movie w/a lot of energy - my 4 year old loved it!

One of the moms in my moms group just took her 3 year old daughter to see it and had to leave the theater several times because her daughter was scared. She said that the dogs being kidnapped affected her and also the dog fight. I personally believe that a movie like that is too old for little ones. I think it is great that your MIL wants to do something with your daughter but there may be better options. Ultimately if you are uncomfortable with it then you should listen to your feelings.

K.,
IMO, it's inappropriate for a 3 year old to see a PG movie...Our oldest daughter is 5 1/2 and we won't allow her to watch PG yet.

Be honest with your MIL and tell her you just realized it's a PG and dd is too young. The chihuahua movie isn't even animated, I can't beleive your daughter would even sit through it. Maybe Wall-E would be better - it's G.

Best wishes,
J.

At a very quick glance of the reviews, it looks like the main threat is violence. You may want to decide if you want to expose a child that young to "Beverly Hills-type Values", i.e. being pampered, spoiled, etc. I noticed a couple moms gave you links to one website that gives parents movie information, here are a couple others.

http://www.parentpreviews.com/movie-reviews/beverly-hills...

http://www.kids-in-mind.com/b/beverlyhillschihuahua.htm

Whatever you decide, share your reason with your MIL and, if needed, you could suggest an alternative movie or outing that you would be more comfortable with.