It happens every day. You decide to go to the movie and see an R-rated movie. Once inside you happen to spy a number of kids throughout the theatre. Whether they snuck in or had someone get them in the movie, it made me stop and think – “How young is too young for an R-rated movie?”

If you go by the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) film rating system, R-rated films require individuals 17 and under to have an adult guardian or parent accompany them to see the film. Restricted films will contain some adult material and parents are urged to learn more about the movie before allowing anyone under 17 into the movie.

As a parent, I think each film really needs to be assessed individually. Before you say yes, remember to think about your child’s maturity level and the content of the movie. For instance, ‘What is the movie about?’, ‘Is there a lot of violence, language, or nudity?’, and/or ‘Could this film negatively affect my child?’

Research has shown violent media can lead to increased aggression and desensitizing to violence in the real world. If your child is dead set on watching a ‘scary’ movie, try offering something comparable to their age. For example, try The Goonies, Monster Squad, or Something Wicked This Way Comes. They may not be horror film quality scares, but it will offer a nice compromise.

*   For more on tweens watching R-rated films, check out USA Today.