Publicizes Some Little-Known Facts About Movie
(Motion Picture
Association of America) Ratings.For
example, only 3% of recently released
movies were rated G ("General Audience") while 67% were rated R
("Restricted"). Because the PG-13 ("Parents Strongly Cautioned") rating
was
not introduced until 1984, many older PG-rated ("Parental Discretion
Advised") movies, such as Jaws are unexpectedly intense and
disturbing.
Although MPAA ratings are determined by a committee of parents, their
decision can be overturned by an appeals board composed of movie industry
members. The movies Poltergeist and My Girl, which have
disturbed many
children, had their ratings reduced to PG on appeal. And even G-rated
movies are often too scary for preschoolers.
Helps Parents Predict What Will Frighten Their
Child.
Chapter 2: "Through a Child's Eyes: ‘I Had No Idea It Would Be So Scary'"
explains why it is not always easy to know in advance what will scare
a child.
Several subsequent chapters explain the types of images and events
that are
most likely to frighten children of different ages. For example, children
between the ages of two and seven are most frightened by visual images
of
vicious animals, monsters, and grotesque characters, whether these
are
realistic or fantastic; seven- to twelve-year-olds are more frightened
by
realistic threats, especially violence that threatens child victims;
adolescents
are especially vulnerable to stories involving sexual assault and threats
from
alien or occult forces.
The Book Also Gives Advice on How to Calm Children's
Fears.
For example, Chapter 7: "When Words Won't Work: How to Help a
Frightened Preschooler" shows that it does little good to tell a child
below the
age of seven or eight that the scary event is make-believe. Children
in this
age group prefer an adult's attention and warmth, distracting activities,
and
other remedies that do not involve logical reasoning. Older children
benefit
from being reminded that a fantastic event is impossible, but more
complicated explanations are needed when their fears are provoked by
realistic threats. Chapter 8: "Making Explanations Child-Friendly:
Reasoning
That Comforts Kids" suggests a variety of helpful strategies.
The Book Discusses Why Children are Often Drawn
to the Very
Programs and Movies that Produce Nightmares,and
gives parents advice
on how to shield their children from harmful content without
inadvertently
making it more attractive. Parents are given suggestions on how to
talk to their
kids about television as well as how to make their feelings known to
the larger
community.