How to make appropriate media choices for your child

I was listening to CBC Mainstreet last week and they were discussing the inadequacy of the rating system on movies. It's true that a simple General or PG rating can't really tell you if a movie is appropriate for your child. What one child finds scary and distressing another child may not, and what is considered acceptable to one parent may not be acceptable to another. This makes it difficult to get a good feel for a movie without viewing it first (which is always a good option).
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