My 10 year old daughter is reading 200 words a minute on a 12th grade level instead of 5th grade. Without Harry Potter we would have been fighting like cats and dogs years ago. As long as they understand the meaning of the words MAKE BELIEVE. Otherwise, how can I keep her interested and challenged without giving her material that is COMPLETELY inappropriate? Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Is Harry Potty BAD for 2nd graders??????????????????

My daughter at age 3 wanted to see the first movie. I agreed thinking with her attention span she would last maybe 30 minutes. I was WRONG! She watched the entire movie, unmoving, and was in love with Harry by the end. She began the books at age 7, and at age 9 is on the 6th book. I always preview the movies first, and read all the books myself. She and I absolutely LOVE this series and really gives us something to share and discuss. I love her take on the events and she loves predicting what is to come. I agree with the others, it is subjective... read the books, see the movies, then decide for yourself what your child can handle.

I think this guide is fine for the books, but AGE 10 to start reading book 3! you guys are seriously a group of tight a** parenets who have there tighty whiteys in a bunch

I think they mean you be there with them and read it to them at age 6-7. Because if something scary happens or if something sexual happens( whitch none do) you can be there and explain or just skip that sentance with the sexual stuff.

If they see it while they are in the single digit stage before they become rebellious that is not a bad thing, because I use to be into real magic which is a scary thing even for adults if you don't know what you are dealing or who you are dealing with and their motives, and if they become afraid at a young age even better because you are there for them to turn to and protect them before they become numbed by the school system the news, contradicting things in life and pear pressure. But go with them so you are there for them and then go do something wholesome like miniature golf or black light golf if there is anything like that around and go out to eat. I Love Harry Potter but I have seen the other side of magic and be afraid be very afraid, as much as Harry Potter is Wonderful, but it glamorizes magic even though it just touches on the dark side as much as the producers will show, because they still want to make a buck.

The other side of me says it is harmless in ways as long as the child knows the difference and doesn't become to fascinated in becoming like Harry and starts studying books and spells because they are out there at you local big book stores or you can order them or find them through websites . Metaphysical stuff opens the door so gently and earth powers supposedly so harmless and supposed to do you good but is just the start, like giving a kid beer at a young age. No they won't have any tendency to become alcohol abusers sure? Be there in your children’s life and don't lecture them either too hard be there and gently but firmly direct them away from real magic while sharing your views for their own good if the fascination happens. But what ever you do, do not let them watch the news and check on what their teachers are bringing into the classroom that's where it gets dangerous even through college about all kinds of subjects and sexuality, dissection of animals, dessentization and politics,Yes politics in non-related classesthey will still find a way to work it in. Can anyone say "Brainwashing? or Agenda?" This is more frightening than anything that I have ever seen in ANY Harry Potter movie, There is some homework for you to check out.

Ummmmmm, the first movie is okay for 6???? That thing is scary!!! It freaked me out!In order to read the whole series, I would say they should start at eleven, depending on how mature your child is. That is the minimum age, in my opinion!!!!!!
Kja :-)

Ummmmmm, the first movie is okay for 6???? That thing is scary!!! It freaked me out!In order to read the whole series, I would say they should start at eleven, depending on how mature your child is. That is the minimum age, in my opinion!!!!!!

I started reading these afew years ago, I've read all the books and the movies, besides the newest one because of (awkward) boyfriend/girlfriend stuff. I think ten should be about the right age to start reading due to size and also because the story line may be hard for some younger kids to understand, but some are more advanced readers and could probably start with the first few books at seven or eight! Witch craft and violence isn't really a big deal for older kids because they'd be less likely to want to "cast spells" and all, also the last two books have some kissing in it so that's why i would suggest to at least wait until ten for those ones :)

Ok the first three movies are ok, and not that scary. The first one is totally fine, so parents, dont hesitate. The second one gets more fantasy-ish but in a dark way. Let's say 27/30 of the movie is not innapropriatte. Also, in my school, first graders watch the higher pg-13 harry potter movies. Anyways, the first three movies are for everyone, anywhere, anytime. the 4th one lets say should be for kids 8+. Or 7+. whatever. but the fifth movie is where everything gets no fun and scary. If you look at the first movie, malfoy says with friendly face, "wanna be friends?" to Harry very nicely. But in the fifth one, they have all grown, and you can see malfoy kicking harry sort of like the gangster way (no offence)and doing magic spells not meaning to harm harry, but spells to kill him. In one sence tons of red blood comes out of malfoy's body, ( oh yeah some people like this sence, because of the "good" feeling, while some people dont. Some people like it because they think malfoy should be tought a lesson ) . Anyways, i would say the books have more mild british bad words, but like three times funner. You decide.

Parents DON'T LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE!! THEY DON'T KNOW YOUR KID!!! They assume all kids are "easily scared" by what most children would consider not very disturbing content. My mom started to read these books to me when I was 5. She read the first to me and I saw the first film all when I started Kindergarten. Then when I entered 1st Grade my mother continued to read the books to me and take me to see the films. When I learned to read and started to read the rest of the books they meant more to me, they have a different personality and I liked them more. I saw the rest of the films, and I read all the books, the last two dozens of times. But you may want to rely on your own judgement wether or not to let your 7/8 year olds to see the last 4 films death, and other things your kids might find scary or un-pleasant.\ are involved. My mom and I share the love for the books and the movies and we love and can relate to the characters. (NOTE: The later films/(Not so much the books for the exception of the last two) do have a lot more humor which at sometimes brighten the movie but overall it doesn't effect the overall scary experience. That is if you find the material scary. The following is reasons why.) The only ones kids might find disturbing or upsetting are.... 3rd is the most kid friendly while being able to watch the characters get older! Without a doubt let your 6/7 year olds see it. Goblet of Fire:(Spoiler Alert) Ignore all PG-13 ratings except the 5th unless your child can't handle death, then wait till my latest age at the end of each mini review. The 4th installment is a little darker, a character dies (sad at the end), Teen Relationships are recognized (Dances), and Occasional language (but come on, their just words) AGE: Death at the end may effect some. Order Of The Phoenix: Dark, gloomy, almost depressing movie experience, Beloved character is killed, and Teen Relationships (Making Out). 8-10 depending on your child. Half Blood Prince: now most parents Would See It's Rated PG so okay! Don't Trust It! The 6th movie while one of my favorites so far, is rated PG because Times have changed since the first Harry Potter's To Today 2009 Standerds, Harry Potter 3 and 4 would most likely be rated PG, and 1-2 easily would have been rated G. Now Half Blood Prince on the other hand IS NOT PG! It's scary, has jumpy moments you might see in PG-13 Horror films like (The Sixth Sense, Or The Ring) (defintley not as scary though! ) has heavy but sweet kissing, sexual innuendo, "Did You Guys Do It(Unaware of the kissing Harry and his Girlfriend just did)?-Do What?!-Hide The Diary Of Course!-Oh...Yeah!" and death of yet another beloved character. AGES-9/10 Now for Deathly Hallows If your kid is old enough to be inclined to read the Harry Potter books, let them. When has READING affected a child's life (other than not wanting to do it).

SO LET THEM READ IT!!!
MAKE YOUR JUDGEMENT ON THE MOVIES.....

i saw these films when i was 5... they're not that bad

My parents read the first three books to me when I was about 10. I read the other books by myself sometime later. My little brother has read most of the series by himself (he's 11). They are the first novels he's really gotten into.

i think that's a bit extreme. when i was 7 my mom started reading them aloud to me, and we kept it up all the way through the series. i think books 1-3 are fine for kids 7/8+ and then 4-7 are fine for kids once they get older (say 8 or 9) the movies however do get much darker and you may want to watch them first b4 deciding how you want to aproach with your kids :)

BIG sigh....

I have two VORACIOUS (child) readers, one currently 10 and the other currently 7. My husband and I have read all 7 Harry Potter books.

We let our oldest read books 1 and 2 when she was 7, and then told her she couldn't read any more until she was 10. We felt the content was too scary for her. The day she turned 10 (this past March), she DEMANDED book 3. She finished it in one day (did I say voracious reader???) and then wanted book 4. My husband and I were torn, but we ended up giving it to her. Same scenario followed... she has now read ALL SEVEN BOOKS, at least half a dozen times each.

My son turned 7 this past March. He has always been driven to do what his sister does, so he too read books 1 and 2. HE then demanded book 3. When we told him he had to wait until he turned 10, like his sister, he began "sneaking" the book to read it. My husband and I had different views on this, although we both came to the same conclusion. My husband said "Let him read it; if he gets scared, he'll stop." My feeling was that I didn't want the book to become 'THE FORBIDDEN BOOK ON THE TOP SHELF OF THE BOOKCASE," which would only make it more tempting and irresistible for him to get his hands on it. So, we let him read it. And then book 4. And then book 5. I'm not sure if he's started book 6 yet, but he's determined to read all 7, just like his sister.

He picks his nails a lot while he's reading; maybe that means he's anxious about what he's reading, or maybe it's just a need to do something with his hands. He doesn't have bad dreams, and he keeps reading.... He talks about what happens in the books, so I think he understands most of what he's reading, although I can't be sure and I don't ask too many questions. I figure he'll ask if he wants to. Is it the right decision? I don't know. But turning NOT reading it into an all out war didn't seem like the right decision either.... (Before anyone suggests I'd give in to REALLY inappropriate material, I wouldn't. It's just hard to have two equally able readers and tell one of them they CAN read a book and the other one they CAN'T. If anyone has suggestions on how to do that, I'd love to hear them.)

As for the movies, The Sorcerer's Stone was recently on TV and we recorded it. We watched it with the kids to see how they'd react. They were a bit scared by "Fluffy," and by the forest, but otherwise unaffected. It has since been released to 'KidZone' on our Tivo and they are anxious to see the second movie.

I WILL draw the line with the movies after the 3rd, however, since I think that watching is much more powerful than reading in certain circumstances. Something that they might not understand in writing is pretty hard to miss when it is literally in your face!!

Seriously crashtx1... I would say that any of the Harry Potter movies are okay for kids 8+.... I saw them at that age, and I ended up fine

Seriously? I read the first through fourth books (on my own) at age 7. Starting with the fifth book, which came out when I was 9, I read them all as they came out. I then read HPB at age 10 and Deathly Hallows at age 12. They are great books to read as a young child and re-read as you get older. Parents should start their kids on these earlier; had my parents been prudish I would have missed out on the great experience of attending the release parties and anticipating with great excitement the next installment in the series.

Great article...very helpful, though my kids, at 14, have already soaked up everything Harry. We waited until age 10.5 to start them on the books (because of the creepy spells and such), and they gobbled up all books (except book 7, which hadn't been released yet) in a month or so time span. We also let them watch all of the PG movies at that time, too. However, we let the PG-13 rated films wait until they were twelve, because of the intense subject matter. I really think it is a shame that this movie is rated PG, because that means one of two things:
1) It toned down the raw, emotional material that made the book so powerful, or
2) There are gonna be TONS of kids with nightmares tonight.

I would not recommened any of the HP items for kids as young as you recommend. Did you watch any of the movies?

Thank you for this posting. I have been wondering about this because I thought the first few were relatively minor but had heard that they got darker and scarier as they progressed. My daughter is 10 and, she reads so fast and gets hooked on series, so I've been trying to figure out when to get her started and how to handle this progression so that I wouldn't have to stop her in the middle of a series. I haven't read them myself and have only seen the first movie, but I want to read this series with her once she was at an appropriate age. This is a great guide.

Also, for anyone in Dallas or Plano, there's a charity preview screening at Cinemark West Plano (fka Tinseltown) benefitting Variety Texas, an awesome charity for kids, this Sunday at 7:00. The organizer is a friend of mine and said there are about 75 tickets still available. You can buy them at cinemark.com (look for the HP link).

First, thanks for your site, my wife and I love having a way to guage what we should or shouldn't let our boys watch/play without having to spend the time and money to audit everything ourselves!

Second, I'm curious about the discrepancy between your recommended starting age of 6 and the review page for the first Harry Potter book, which recommends it only for ages 9+. Is this just a matter of different reviewers with different opinions?