Should I make my 7 year old son sit through "An Inconveninet Truth?"

[NNadir]

I would really like to see the movie with my 11 year old. My seven year old though, I'm concerned, will not want to sit through all of it. He has broad interests and generally likes science, but I think it may be too much.

Does anyone here have advice? Has anyone taken their kids to see the movie? Would this be a selfish father's day present for me to ask?

I will say that when he was 4, he marched against the war in the April demonstratosn in New York. He generally likes science shows at home. What say ye?

[chaska]

1. Tough call. I'm leaning against, but....

I don't have kids. It's fairly short though, so maybe.

[NNadir]

2. How short?

[Redstone]

3. Probably not. Let the kid be a kid for a while more.

Redstone

[Radio_Lady]

4. I haven't seen the movie, but from all reports, it might be more than...

a little frightening for a child of that age.

[Redstone]

6. Yes, RL, as I said: Let the kid be a kid for as long as possible. Which is

not damn long, these days.

Redstone

[ghostsofgiants]

15. Agreed.

At that age, my main concern was getting to the next level in Super Mario World. A documentary about the dangers of global warming might be a little heavy for the kid, whose primary concern should be having fun. He'll have enough shit to worry about when he gets older, let him enjoy his childhood.

[chaska]

5. 100 minutes.

here's a link. maybe the reviews will be of help.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497116/

[Radio_Lady]

7. Thanks, Chaska. Also, MPAA rating is PG -- Parental Guidance.

Title: Inconvenient Truth, An (2006)
Rating: PG
Rating Reason: Rated PG for mild thematic elements.
Distributor: Paramount Classics, A Division Of Paramount Pictures Corporation

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. It's a bit long and involved for a 7 yr. old, IMHO. Excellent for everyone

else, though, I think.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. I'd let him wait until it comes out on video.

He'll probably get as much out of it on TV as he would in the theater; and you won't have to worry about him getting bored. He'll absorb a little more each time he watches it.

[Jazz2006]

10. No.

He's 7. Let him be a little boy ~ um, because that's what he is.

It seems obvious from your opening post that you already know that you shouldn't force him to watch the movie, and it seems obvious from your post that he is not interested in it.

I won't even go into what I think about the portion of your post about the little boy marching at age 4 because this is the lounge, and we are all polite here.

[NNadir]

11. Update: On the advice of the folks here, I decided to skip it.

[Metta]

12. In making a kid do something, you risk a control battle.

And, possibly polarizing him against what you want to feed him, if only for a short time.

[NNadir]

14. Well, I asked him if he wanted to do this, and he said "OK,"

but I think his heart wasn't in it. I was worried about him zoning out at some point, although, as a seven year old, he has been very interested in some documentaries, especially the TV show NOVA. He asks a lot of good questions.

I actually haven't had too many "control battles" with my kids, except my oldest who always wants to procrastinate on doing his homework.

It's a beautiful day here in any case, not a good day to be indoors. My oldest went off with his friend to "the secret spot," a pond near hear and the youngest is playing.

[Metta]

16. Sounds good. I'm glad things are as good as they are for you.

You're reaping the fruits of your efforts.

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. I told my 6 yo about global warming and showed him maps of what

the world would look like if all the ice melted.

Now he is terrified that it will happen all at once like a big tsunami. (We live on the coast of Maine, so.. he has a reason to be worried.)

I think for myself I will skip AIT with him until we get this fear thing worked out.

[bedazzled]

17. think you made the right decision

my son (8) is very concerned and worried about the concept of global warming. he has aspergers, and intends
to dwell on it more than most, though. it's kind of hard to comfort him, the way things are going.

i think it'd be a bit long for a kid that age anyway

[DainBramaged]

18. Why steal their innocence so young? Why the hurry?

[mzteris]

19. My 7 yo naps through most movies

- I really hate "taking him to the movies" - and paying for it as invariably, he falls asleep about 1/3 of the way through and wakes up just before the end. It's the rare movie that he stays awake throughout.

He's the perpetual motion kid, though. Sit him still for more than five minutes - and he takes a catnap.

My 12 yo son would like to see it, though. You're not in NC are you? We could do trade-off's!

[NNadir]

20. No, I'm in NJ. Maybe I'll sneak out one night with my 11 y.o. and

my wife will spend time with the 7 y.o.

Probably the best thing to do will be to buy the DVD when it comes out.

[mvd]

21. Just saw it

I would say it depends on the 7-year-old. If he tends to get scared easily, I'd say no. There was a sad scene of a polar bear trying to get on the ice in vain. But many of the ominous moments were in the explanation of graphs/charts, which your 7-year-old might not get worked up about. To me, the scariest thing was the rehash of the whole 2000 coup.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

22. NO