By the Editors of Common Sense Media

December 22, 2006

Q: How can I tell if a movie is too scary for my kids -- before I see it?

A: There is no "right" age. Every child is different, and only

Are younger kids ready for a Night at the Museum? That dinosaur in the trailer sure looked life-like -- kind of like those "friendly" sharks in Finding Nemo that give many young kids a start.

For so many parents, figuring out what's too scary for their kids is a frighteningly daunting task. Yes, frightening movies can be fun. But for younger and more sensitive viewers, movies with scary images, intense peril, loud noises, and, above all, blood and gore, can create all sorts of disturbances including anxiety, sleep disruption, and fears about certain situations.

So before you take your kids to the Museum or the latest spookfest thinking they just might be able to handle it, ask yourself if the film is age-appropriate. Our reviews can definitely provide you with some guidance. Getting scared can be fun -- if kids are truly mature enough to handle what's scaring them.

Check out a few additional tips below:

Ages 2-4: Nothing scarier than “boo” for this age unless you want nightmares.

Ages 5-7: Spooky cartoon situations with haunted houses and friendly ghosts are fine, but peril involving parents, siblings, or similar-aged kids is not. Kids at this age still can’t easily recognize situations as fantasy, so they will respond as if what they are seeing is real. Be very careful with monsters, skeletons, aliens, and zombies.

Ages 8-10: Some psychological suspense with happy endings is OK, as is physical jeopardy, ghoulish faces, and phantoms, as long as there's no blood or gore.

For other ages, please visit the complete article at:  http://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent_tips/commonsense_view/index.php?id=188 .