The Movie up for a 3.5 Year Old

Hi,

I took my 2 daughters to see this movie - ages 2.5 and 5.5. They both loved it but like all Disney Pixar movies, the humor and meaning are really aimed at an adult audience. There are some sad parts and also some funny and scary parts for little kids. The dogs baring teeth etc may be a little scary but on the whole, we all enjoyed it. Where I can, I try and explain what is going on to my youngest to help her try and follow the story.

My 4 year old super sensitive and highly perceptive daughter saw it on her 4th birthday. She cried when the main characters wife died and was so frightened by the dog chase scene that we ended up having to leave and go home. From the other responses, however, it seems as though my girl is in the minority. Enjoy!

dm-

My 4 1/2 year loved "Up" although it's a little sad. She also, liked Ice Age but G-Force she didn't like because they have mean guys in it. Yahoo groups has diaper days where parents can bring your children/babies to the movies.
Thanks

You've already gotten a lot of responses but I just wanted to add our experience. My son is 4 - we do movie night every Saturday at home so he's seen a lot of movies - this was his first in the theater. As other's have mentioned, the first part of the movie is over a kid's head but my son did understand that the wife was gone and kept asking when she would come back and that she wanted him to come back so the guy wouldn't be sad. The old man character is sort of mean to the boy scout (my son asked about this) and the dog scenes are really viscious in my opinion - plus they pick on the one dog. This movie is rated PG for a reason. Its not Cars or Toy Story by any means. I felt in parts my son was bored because the overall theme was over his head a bit. My personal opinion is age 7 and over.

Hi, I have a 4 1/2 yr old and a 5 1/2 yr old. They were at times, bored. The mean dogs kind of scared my 4 1/2 yr old.

I've seen UP and while my children are all past the toddler stage, I think it would be ok for her. I'm not sure at 3 1/2 she'd fully understand the message though. There is however the death of a character in it. Not a violent death, but a death none the less.

The overall themes of the movie is "it's not the destination ... it's the journey that makes life an adventure" and "Life is an adventure, even if you never leave home." And it takes one of the main characters all the way to the end to figure that out. So like I said I'm not sure that a 3 1/2 year old would get that. But I think if your mom is aware of the death part and pays attention to her reactions to it, I think she'll be fine.

We went as a family with an 11 yr old and a 14 year old and we were all in tears. But we all also understood the true nature of the relationship involved.

As with most "childrens" movie's these days, UP does have some adult themes and violence. My 3 1/2 year old was a little scared at parts during this movie, due to some very violent parts with some very mean dogs. It's a great movie, and I loved it, my girls on the other hand didnt. I wouldn't suggest it if your daughter is scared at all of dogs, and if she cant sit through a long movie, because it is a little long.
good luck

It really depends on your child. Is your child super sensitive? My husband took our 5 year old to see Up. It was her first movie in the theater. She loved it, but it did have a few sections where she was nervous. You could also check regal theaters to see when they have a free family movie for the summer. It usually plays on Tues and Wed (in Roseville, Ca it is also Thurs).

We just got back from taking our 2 year-old son to see UP as his 1st movie and he loved it. The sad parts are pretty abstract and the most scary parts are not too bad. He has a tendency to be scared if a show is scary and he did fine - all he did was hold my hand tight when the action got intense. She'll probably be okay...

I didn't read all the response, but I do agree that the sad/serious parts are really on perceived as so by adults. The scariest parts are where the dogs are giving chase, but again nothing extremely bad. I definitely think she'll enjoy it.

The serious/sad parts are basically in the beginning - and it's WAY over a kid's head - very little dialog in the beginning so my 4 yr. old was just bored until the beginning black& white sequence was over.
There are some mean dogs - but the meanest talks in a squeaky voice like Mickey Mouse.
MY son is terified of the Ice Age flicks but handled UP really well and loved it.

I went with my 3.5 year old and we both loved it. It was his first real movie theater movie so he was totally in awe.

HOWEVER there are a LOT of mature themes that may or may not be issues for your daughter. My son catches everything so asked many (whispered) questions throughout the movie.

You'll just have to decide if you or your daughter are ready to talk about them: aging and death, and nice people who do mean things are people who you thought were nice turning out to be bad are the big ones for me. It's really a beautiful movie though. I'd take my son again :-)

Hope this helps.
T.

I took my two year old two weeks ago and he didn't think it was scary. Just for some sense of where he falls on the worried about being scared spectrum- he doesn't like us to leave Where The Wild Things Are out near his bed at bedtime. There are a couple of scenes of menacing dogs but the are revealed to be not very smart and easily defeated by a goofy golden retriever. We had a very nice time.

that's a tough one, there are a few scary parts, the sad stuff is only really picked up by the adults. I took my 6 year old and my 3 year old and they both enjoyed it (so did I!) The scary parts involve dogs, so if your daughter already has a fear that includes dogs, not a great choice. Overall, it was a really good, funny movie.

~K.

hi J.! my husband took our 3 1/2 yr old daughter to see it and she LOVED it! he did, too :)
we tend to deal with the sadnesses of life matter-of-factly, so the death of the main character's wife didn't phase her -
best!
S.

I haven't seen this movie (and my kids are quite a bit older), but I wanted to recommend a resource for helping you decide whether or not a movie is appropriate for your child. There's a website I've been using since my kids were little called moviemom.com. She reviews movies and gives you an idea of what's in it that might be disturbing, even to little kids. Really helpful.

Another resource (though I don't like it quite as much) is the Common Sense Media website.

Good luck!

My son is 2.5 years old and Up was the first movie we watched in the cinema with him. He loved it. He didn't want to leave after the movie ended. I think the movie is ok and I did not see any sad sad parts.

I took my 2 year old and she loved it. There are a few sas parts...but she didnt catch on to them. I think your little one will enjoy it!

Hi : My vote is YES ! I have a friend that had a young child and she hates movies with small children so I volunteered to take the tike to a movie. I found a place that gives MOM and TOT day for movies and gave him a bucket of popcorn {no butter} and a drink of friut punch...Yes he was 2...LOL. We had the greatest time {Big screen and the colors...and sound...unlimited popcorn and a big drink...His eyes were glued !}

Actually it took us three sessions to finish the movie, due to bathroom breaks and attention problems but hey what we Mom's do for children.

To this day he now promise to take me to the movies and get me popcorn.
Got to love them.

Hi J.,

My sister took my 3 year old daughter to watch "UP" and she loved it, she came home telling all about the movie and didn't mentioned any sad or scary part. I think your daughter would have a great time watching "UP".

I don't currently have a toddler but did see the movie UP. While there are some sad parts, I don't think a 3 1/2 year old will get that part. I think she'll just enjoy the movie in general, without cathing on to the sad part. I hope that makes sense.

J. F.

I wouldn't let a 3 1/2 yr old see UP. There are some violent dog attack scenes. Also scenes where the main characters wife can't have a baby - or loses her baby and then she dies of old age. I don't think children should watch tv or movies until they are much older. Stifles creativity anyway. We are too much reliant on media to entertain. IMHO.