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AS far as I can tell, there is no human way to keep your kids from seeing these movies these days without cutting them off from all teenage society. I have watched many of the most popular r rated movies with both our kids and discussed the underlying themes with them. pointing out the empty morality and philosophising that goes on. Now our kids can see through that stuff a mile away and they have their own "force fields" built in against the BS. As parents, we feel this is the best way to handle it. I would appreciate any input or suggestions re: other parents success in this very important issue of child raising.

I would reccommend that smaller children not see anything that the parents have doubts about, or bring up topics that they are really too young to understand (homosexuality, abortion, torture, etc.) Once they are old enough to discuss and understand, your policy sounds good - seeing things together, and then using the movie as a springboard for further discussion.

Letting kids sit in front of TVs with unlimited access to cable and movies is surefire morals destruction (doesn't help with rational thought either).

Kids - even older ones - love to be read out loud to. I think family reading time together is really good - even teenagers like to be read to, and they can take turns. Different family members can take turns choosing books or stories and lessons can be learned from them, too.