|
Post by sagewoman on Mar 8, 2010 12:24:32 GMT -5
Hi, My granddaughter is 8 years old. I have told her about the Buffyverse and she knows who a lot of my action figures are. But, I think she is too young to watch the show. I'm looking for some guidance - how old should she be before she can watch the show? For those of you who started watching it at a very young age - do you think you were too young? BTW - Her parents have let her watch all the Star Wars films. Her brother is 11 and I'm not sure he is old enough to watch Buffy. Please jump in with your comments. I am really interested.
|
|
Miss. Rogueh
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
Orangey's Twin!
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 725
|
Post by Miss. Rogueh on Mar 8, 2010 12:34:57 GMT -5
I think your Granddaughter is a little young to understand the plots but I would take a few select episodes and put them on. Make sure to watch for nightmares. Make yourself avalible to talk about any of the issues that are brought up in the show, (sex, drinking, rape.) Our kids are maturing younger and younger, (sad I know but true) Though the girl power message is important to younger girls, make sure it doesn't get interpered as Boys Suck, that could cause alot of problems in school. So to answer your question. It really depends on the child.
|
|
|
Post by Eric on Mar 8, 2010 12:39:25 GMT -5
I went for eleven years old. That's about the age when I start to watch. Maybe you could start her out on some of the earlier, more mundane episodes? There's little to no sex in season one, if I recall, so it's probably violence you want to watch out for. Whatever you do, stay away from season six.
|
|
Jezebel Jinx
Descendant of a Toaster Oven
[Mo0:15]
Posts: 640
|
Post by Jezebel Jinx on Mar 8, 2010 12:57:08 GMT -5
I chose age 10. Although I really think anywhere between 10-13 are fine ages to start watching Buffy, except the last two seasons though, I'd wait till at least 12 or 13 for those.
Although I'm kind of a crappy judge when it comes to something that is age appropiate because I grew up on R-rated movies. I've loved horror movies and action movies since I can remember which in the late 80's/early-mid 90's were predominately 'R'.
|
|
Beaumonde
Ensouled Vampire
Stop pulling my face towards your face.[Mo0:37]
Posts: 1,810
|
Post by Beaumonde on Mar 8, 2010 12:58:55 GMT -5
I went for 10 years old. I really think it depends on the kid and how sensible you think they are. I agree with Rogueh that you could perhaps pick out a few single episodes that you think she'd enjoy.
My niece watched season six of Buffy when she was 11. I know, right? You're probably thinking my sister is an awful parent but my niece can handle it and she's really sensible and smart for her age. She watches Shameless and Skins, and Buffy is totally mild compared to those shows. However my sister would never have let my nephew watch Shameless or Skins when he was 11. He was just way too immature and would copy everything they said and did.
|
|
|
Post by Skytteflickan88 on Mar 8, 2010 13:23:32 GMT -5
Season 1, 2, 3 and 4m 5 and 7, I would say 8 years old.
Season 6, 12 years old.
But it depends. Is she mature enough to watch a woman as deeply depressed (and sexualy active in the negative way) as Buffy on screen? That season was rough for me, and I was about 13 when I watched it. It's not something I would have been ready for at age 8, but maybe she is.
I don't think I'll have a serious sex talk with my future daughter before 10, and I definitly think she might need some preparation before getting to season 6. But that would be how my daughter's raised (assuming she won't be like me, and find out about rape and such at age 9-ish). Maybe your granddaughter can handle it.
At the same time, Buffy would be a great way to learn about life, which includes sex. Having a talk after watching Innocence about how boys sometimes are very mean could be a great thing.
|
|
Lukee
Ensouled Vampire
Brilliant is my middle name tbf[Mo0:14]
Posts: 1,137
|
Post by Lukee on Mar 8, 2010 13:39:50 GMT -5
I was 7 when I first started watching Buffy.
I would say let her watch it, I don't think you can really be too young for Buffy. Well unless it's for the ep like Hush or Killed By Death but over all Buffy was never really scary. I was watching horror films from like 4 so I really never found horrors scary as a child.
|
|
lucifurl
Initiative Soldier
Once More With Feeling Little D
Feelings have been hurt by less[Mo0:2]
Posts: 382
|
Post by lucifurl on Mar 8, 2010 14:10:16 GMT -5
I was 11 when I first started watching Buffy, and it didn't scar me for life or anything. Before then I was a bit afraid because it had the words "Vampire" and "Slayer" in the title. When I did watch it wasn't scary although I didn't understand some of the plots and certain references and stuff were kind of a mystery to me.
|
|
|
Post by buffyfan21 on Mar 8, 2010 15:56:04 GMT -5
I'd say anywhere from 10 up would be an acceptable age to start. At least the earlier seasons. I'd definitely stay away from S6, though, until she is a teenager. My nephew started watching Buffy with me when he was around that age, but we skipped S6. He's 13 now and I still haven't let him watch it. He's seen maybe one or two of the lighter eps, like OMWF and Life Serial, etc., but I feel that he is still too young to view S6 in its entirety. I think the rest of the seasons/eps are pretty safe, though. Of course, it's really a personal judgment call on your part. Whatever you think is best for your granddaughter.
|
|
drusillacakes
Ensouled Vampire
Teacup Humans
Fond memories[Mo0:19]
Posts: 1,680
|
Post by drusillacakes on Mar 9, 2010 5:45:02 GMT -5
I said 10 and up as well. I started watching when I was 11. However, I would say it depends on the child. If she's an especially mature 8 year old I think select episodes would be alright. I have a sister who's 18 though and there are some Buffy episodes that scare her. Mostly I think it's the adult themes that are murky, but if you are there to explain things to her, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Although I'm not sure I would be able to explain to an 8 year old exactly how Angel lost his soul... and yes, S6 would be wise to avoid as well.
|
|
|
Post by sagewoman on Mar 9, 2010 17:46:45 GMT -5
Keep the comments coming. This is great. Your thoughts are very similar to mine. Although, it didn't occur to me to show her a selection of episodes. That is a good idea. The first one - Welcome to the Hellmouth would scare her, but there are others she would understand. She is getting some information on things though, apparently she was mad at her brother the other day and said "You stupid......man!" No she is only 8 and he is 11, so where did that come from? But she closes her eyes when people on screen kiss. Usually saying "Yuck" or some similar comment. She knows about kids having two moms or two dads as there are kids in school with gay parents (this is BC, after all - much more open-minded than some other parts of North America). She is still young in many ways - not as grown-up as some kids have to be to survive - I'd say her level of knowledge is age approriate as she is raised in a safe and nurturing environment and knows she can ask her grandma (me) anything and tell me anything. I believe that Joss's girl power and stories of honour and truth are very important which is why I want her to see Buffy. So please keep writing in. BTW - I will avoid season 6 - until she is over 18 or maybe even 25 -
|
|
|
Post by Eric on Mar 9, 2010 18:02:24 GMT -5
Your thoughts are very similar to mine. Although, it didn't occur to me to show her a selection of episodes. That is a good idea. The first one - Welcome to the Hellmouth would scare her, but there are others she would understand. Maybe she'd enjoy "Halloween"? That was one of my favorites when I started watching, although I was a few years older than she is now. If I recall correctly, the only parts that could be considered inappropriate are a few skimpy halloween costumes. She is getting some information on things though, apparently she was mad at her brother the other day and said "You stupid......man!" No she is only 8 and he is 11, so where did that come from? I don't know what you or her parents think about that, but it gave me a little bit of a chuckle. But she closes her eyes when people on screen kiss. Usually saying "Yuck" or some similar comment. I did the same thing at that age... And I still do. She knows about kids having two moms or two dads as there are kids in school with gay parents (this is BC, after all - much more open-minded than some other parts of North America). This is a bit off topic, but you couldn't be more right about being more open minded up north. Here in Utah, it often seems like there are just two groups of people: The homophobes and the homosexuals. It's a bit black and white of me to say, but it really is somewhat uncommon to run into a heterosexual who isn't anti-gay. IMO, you should be glad your grandchildren are growing up in such a open minded place. I wish I did. BTW - I will avoid season 6 - until she is over 18 or maybe even 25 -
|
|
The Girl In Question
Ensouled Vampire
Lumpy Space Princess
"It eats you starting with your bottom."[Mo0:33]
Posts: 1,674
|
Post by The Girl In Question on Mar 9, 2010 18:03:48 GMT -5
To start with the first season, 8 is fine. I was around 6 or 7 when I first started watching it, and I turned out okay. At that age you won't get all the symbolism and junk, but you can still very much enjoy it. I recommend that if someone does starts watching it that young that they go back and watch it around an older age (teen years) so you can enjoy it for all that it is. That's what I did! I wouldn't let an 8 year old watch season 6 though, even though there are 8 year olds aware of sex at that age, I would not want them to see um...the events of that season (as much as I love it).
|
|
|
Post by PJ on Mar 9, 2010 19:36:20 GMT -5
im going to say 10 too. Only because that's when i started to watch it.
|
|
gumgnome
Junior Vampire Slayer
Who has got the button?
Get out of my BRAIN![Mo0:1]
Posts: 970
|
Post by gumgnome on Mar 10, 2010 17:17:42 GMT -5
I'm not a great judge of horror (given pretty much a free rein from day one when it came to fiction), but I couldn't get enough of gore and chills when I was a kid. I'm convinced that Don Bluth was right when he said that kids love getting scared as long as there's a happy ending, which for early Buffy is pretty much always true. I would say that your granddaughter is likely to feed mostly off the emotions of the heroes, so when they're sad, she'll be sad. Therefore, episodes that don't end well, like "Passions", "Innocence" and pretty much all of S6 might distress her a little.
When it comes to the sex stuff, naturally you don't want too much of it on screen, but at that age that stuff just used to go straight over my head and I'd be largely ignorant of it.
The topic of ignorance is probably the thing that I'd be most worried about. This might sound a bit strange but one of the things that I'd worry about when showing Buffy to a child is the fact that they may take the whole thing at face-value and ignore the deeper messages behind. It's all too easy at that age to ignore subtext of any kind and Buffy, unlike a lot of kid's entertainment, doesn't hold your hand through the moralising (well, most of the time). If you want your granddaughter to appreciate the show fully, I'd probably say leave it a couple of years until she's 10/11 when she'll be slightly more open to the kind of deep, personal experience that Buffy can be.
|
|
Hallow Thorn
Bad Ass Wicca
Oh and You're Welcome
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 2,306
|
Post by Hallow Thorn on Mar 10, 2010 18:13:37 GMT -5
I think I was 8 when I first watched Buffy... It changed my life for the better at such a young age lol. Let her watch it. But cut alot of the sex out of season 6.
|
|
|
Post by lightandmagic on Mar 10, 2010 19:37:29 GMT -5
I voted 12. But I think it really depends on the child as most people have been saying. I would say aside from season 6 (where I think the child should be at least 12-13 before they watch it) that most children 8-12 could handle the content alright. I especially think season one of Buffy would work well for an eight year old, the content is mostly light hearted and it never gets overtly scary/violent (the action sequences are quite cheesy, and the majority of the deaths are all just dusting) or sexual. So I think at least season one would be perfectly fine to watch with your granddaughter.
I would suggest giving it a try and seeing how she takes it. If she isn't scared and is also interested (the good thing about kids is that they'll make it known if they don't like it) then start up season two. Definitely watch it with her though to explain some of the more adult topics.
|
|
|
Post by wenxina on Mar 10, 2010 22:10:05 GMT -5
Not voting on an age, since I find age to be largely irrelevant when it comes to maturity anyway. Gumgnome raises an important point about ignorance, and how the show doesn't hold your hand to walk you through the moral land mines. However, that's not to say that you can't walk your grand-daughter through some of them. A discussion about the themes, about moral decisions, etc could be useful. And quite honestly, people underestimate kids anyway.
|
|
CourtneyDax
Psychic Link to the PTB
May 7, 2002
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 879
|
Post by CourtneyDax on Mar 11, 2010 1:26:49 GMT -5
Thinking back when I was 13 (which was only 3 years ago), I think I could be able to handle the heavy subjects that Buffy has in season 2 then. Sure, your grandaughter won't get the metaphoric nuances and blah, blah but who needs that anyway? Maybe even 12 year olds can handle it. As for season six, I'm sixteen right now and I've seen season 6 and 7 several times over, the first time seeing it I think I was 14 or just about turning 15. Honestly, you can be real conservative about those seasons, but where I'm from, kids were already talking about worse stuff in 7th grade.
|
|
|
Post by dragonweaver on Mar 11, 2010 3:59:37 GMT -5
I voted for 12 years old to let her start watching. Buffy has a lot of subtext and metaphor on top of all the horror that is featured in the show and if you wait until she is older they'll be a better chance that she'll understand what's happening and enjoy the show more. As for Season 6, I would definitely wait until she is over 16...maybe even 18.
As others stated, it's your choice and each child is different, but now you have some other opinions to help you decide.
|
|