Experts Discuss Grief and Fear in Harry Potter Movie

When "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" is released to movie theaters June 4, parents should be wary that even children who are old enough and mature enough for the books may not be ready to see the movie, says a Purdue professor who has researched the topic.

"The movie is not the book," says Deborah J. Taub, a professor of counseling and development in Purdue's School of Education. "Research has shown that movies are more frightening for children than books are. Besides the added visuals, sounds and a literally larger-than-life scope, movies also do not allow children the option of shutting the book and coming back later or skipping past a scary sequence."

She offers seven recommendations to help determine whether the movie will be appropriate for a children and ways to help children process the film's images and themes:

* Forbidding the movie and books is not the answer. Talk with your children about them instead.

* Know your child. The recommendation of experts is not a substitute for parental judgment.

* Discuss issues raised in the books. This can include topics ranging from witchcraft and the occult to loneliness, conflict with friends and difficulty with authority.

* Help children understand the differences between reality and the fantasy of the movie.

* Provide an adult presence while children are either watching the movies or reading the books.

* Distinguish between the books and the movies when evaluating your child's preparedness.

* Respect others' beliefs and viewpoints. Other parents will decide to handle the issue differently with their children.