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I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Mild 2003 TV special best for big Peanuts fans.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, family relationships, friendship

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Some characters are friendly to each other. Snoopy is a joyful dog and his energy is contagious. The characters are all seeking friendship, companionship, and fun. The intended message is that having a dog is a big responsibility, though that idea isn't strongly conveyed.

  • Role models:

    Charlie Brown is a decent kid, a good friend, and he tries to help his friends. But he doesn't play a big role in this movie. Little Rerun is a sweet optimistic boy, but he's constantly criticized by his mean older sister Lucy. The older characters can be pretty rude to each other, and Lucy's negativity is pronounced at times, including threats of cartoon violence.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Frequent hitting with objects. Characters often go flying out the door or across rooms after being struck by another character. One brief scene of Snoopy flying his dog house through explosions.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Lucy adores Schroeder and the feeling is not reciprocated. Schroeder insults Lucy and she gets frustrated with him.

  • Language:

    Characters call each other "stupid" and "blockhead" when upset.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown

Parents need to know that the kids are wise beyond their years and sorta grumpy. They argue frequently, often ending disagreements with a bonk to the head. At the end, the kids perform a religious-themed recitation. Other than this, nothing terribly controversial happens.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about hitting. Why do the characters in this movie hit each other? Is it OK to hit people in real life? What's the difference between the hitting in this movie and hitting in real life?
  • Talk about pets. What are some of the responsibilities of owning a pet? What are some of the fun things about having a pet?
  • Talk about Lucy and Schroeder. Why does Lucy like Schroeder even though he's mean to her? What would you do if you were in Lucy's situation?
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