I generally watch “kid” movies with my children due to a lot of the comments shared above. I don’t cut out all movies where disrespect is portrayed, especially if it is shown to have been dealt with rather than simply allowed or even seemingly encouraged. It has been sometimes amusing and often gratifying for me to hear my children comment on movie dialogue, saying things like, “We would never get away with saying that!” or “Wait ’til her mom hears her saying that.”
As far as media portrayal of lifestyle goes, we watch a variety of movies showing a range of home life, from humble to highly comfortable. My 14yo dd recently moved into her brother’s old room, even though we will not be able to repair and paint the walls until the spring. (He has autism, and walls in his old bedroom are scratched, gouged, drawn on with permanent marker–which we tried to keep from him and obviously did not.) Still, she is happy to have her own room with her own things–sheets that match, a cozy extra blanket, a beat-up dresser all to herself, a cute lamp.
I don’t think my kids would want to watch movies that were only ever steeped in the reality of their current standard of living. However, at this point, they “have learned in whatever state (they are), to be content….” (Philippians 4:11, paraprhased)
I think a lot of what is allowed to be viewed ought to depend on the child’s age and maturity, how situations are handled in the movie (are there consequences and/or discipline meted out? or has something gone on unchecked?), and what the expectations are in your own family. Some movie portrayals provide excellent teachable moments, although you wouldn’t want your children to have a steady diet of them.
