# Star Wars for a 4-year-old? Help!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 16, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317 "2017-01-16T16:28:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2017, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/21 "2017-01-18T15:18:39Z")
There are also a number “more than you can imagine” (even if you can imagine an awful lot) of easy-reading books about Star Wars, Rebel Star Wars, etc., in both Lego and non-Lego modes. Plus novelizations of the original three (“So You Want to Be a Jedi” is actually pretty good, if you want to turn your kid onto a little Zen/emotional training by way of the Force).
The Sprout did fine with the original three on TV at 4 1/2, with a little extra cuddling at the scary moments. Through he, uh, seems to be more dark-side identified (it’s the red light sabers that are doing the knocking over), so maybe your experience would be different. The Sprout also already knew a lot of the plot points, from talking with his friends and some of the books he’d seen. (We asked our parents if it’s true what the other kids said about Santa Claus not being real; our kids ask us if Darth Vader is really Luke’s father)
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### Author:  [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/22 "2017-01-18T15:19:16Z")
Thanks to all the suggestions and anecdotes. If others have seen the movies earlier and been fine with it, that’s great. But as many have said, each child is different, and I know he’s not ready. “What know you of ready?” you ask? For 9 years have I raised children and my own council will I keep on who is to see my movies! 😉 Sorry… couldn’t help myself there.
I think we’ll stick with the lego stuff for now, and maybe Rebels.
(and yes, when the time comes, OT first, unadulterated versions. Then sequel or prequel trilogies as desired. I respect Machete order, but I prefer release order, and have come around to viewing the PT as completely optional.)
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### Author:  [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/23 "2017-01-18T16:08:58Z")
> [@Miller](#):
>
> Born in '75. Saw it in the theater in '77. You know those parents you hate who take little kids into shockingly age-inappropriate movies?
>
> Sorry.
>
> Anyway, I say let him see it now. But I say that as someone who A) has no kids, and B) saw _Alien_ in the theater when I was five.
>
> So, grain of salt?
Nah, I agree with you. It’s not going to warp him or anything like that. Four year olds are able to understand the concept of make-believe, and distinguish between it and reality. Especially if parents are there to help and guide. It really is a matter of explaining that Darth Vader is just as fictional as SpongeBob or Thomas the Tank Engine.
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### Author:  [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/24 "2017-01-18T16:23:51Z")
Check out Lego star Wars and Lego Droid Tales. Both are on Amazon, but not Amazon Prime eligible. I purchased both for my four year old, and he loves them!
He’s also seen all the Star Wars movies, but as a parent, YMMV.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [January 18, 2017, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/25 "2017-01-18T17:27:34Z")
I was in the theater for Return of the Jedi when I was 4 1/2. My parents are, apparently, awesome.
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### Author:  [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)
#### Post date: [January 20, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/26 "2017-01-20T01:32:06Z")
The original Star Wars isn’t too scary for a 4 year old unless the kid has problems. But if you want to think so, hey, your kid, your rules.
But certainly Jedi should be okay. Other than the Rancor, anyway.
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### Author:  [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/27 "2017-08-23T19:40:24Z")
Yeah, well that didn’t last long… 🙂
7 months later, he’s seen all of I-VII, in release order (with some strategic covering of eyes at some of the goriest parts), and most of the Clone Wars episodes. None the worse for wear, and still loving SW. (He did cry once, when Yoda gets blasted with the Emperor’s Force Lightning. Wouldn’t have expected that one. Oops.) He comes home from day care with drawings of tie fighters vs. x-wings and the Geonosis Arena battle. It’s pretty adorable.
thanks for the advice, folks!
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### Author:  [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/28 "2017-08-23T20:08:20Z")
Just chiming in: my daughter was five when I showed them to her, and she (a) didn’t freak out from the violence, and (b) followed the story just fine, cheering at the right moments and recapping the plot for anyone who’d listen; she also © understood that Darth Vader was the bad guy, but still wanted to playact as him instead of anyone else: running around while making COO-CAH noises and pretending to mind-choke people from a distance with a showy theatrical gesture.
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### Author:  [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [August 23, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/29 "2017-08-23T20:38:58Z")
For what it’s worth: I was 4 in 1977. My brothers got to go see **Star Wars** , but my parents didn’t let me go, because they said I was too little. I am bitter about it to this day.
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### Author:  [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/30 "2017-08-25T00:00:22Z")
> [@standingwave](#):
>
> FWIW, here’s a 3yo girl reviewing ANH: [https://youtu.be/vQU6QE7sa3Y](https://youtu.be/vQU6QE7sa3Y)
Not super relevant to the thread, but my other favorite Star Wars Youtube video: [Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn’t seen it)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f_tMltpDTg), with humorous animations and lots of Wilhelm screams.
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### Author:  [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)
#### Post date: [August 25, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-for-a-4-year-old-help/777317/31 "2017-08-25T19:52:46Z")
If he’s into Lego and Star Wars, you should get hold of the Freemaker Adventures – TV series of Lego characters in the SW universe (and interacting with the Rebels).
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