If it's rated 'R,' who brought all these children?

IF IT'S RATED 'R', WHO BROUGHT ALL THESE CHILDREN?
[SOURCE: The Christian Science Monitor, AUTHOR: Amanda Paulson]
The movie industry is considering adding a specific admonishment to parents on the unsuitability of the films for youngsters. The exact wording has yet to be decided, but the change is being made in response to "complaints from people who go to R-rated movies and are disturbed to see young children in there," says Kori Bernards, a spokeswoman for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). The admonishment is part of the industry's broader plan, announced last week, to try to make the rating system clearer and its process more transparent. "Parents have life experience, kids don't, and it's important to realize that the way their child experiences [a movie] is very different than the way they do," says Kimberly Thompson, a health-policy professor at Harvard and the director of the Kids Risk Project. She encourages parents to seek information about a movie ahead of time, and if they do allow their child to see it, to watch it with them and discuss it later. "Movies can give kids experiences that may influence their attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors, and it's important for parents to talk about any content they're experiencing," she says. For some parents, though, making judgments about a movie's appropriateness ahead of time can be a challenge. Complaints about inconsistent standards ­ along with pleas from filmmakers who are often surprised by tough ratings ­ factored into the proposed changes by the MPAA and the National Association of Theatre Owners, which jointly run the Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA) that assigns ratings.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0125/p01s02-ussc.html