Children aged 8-10 years are generally already able to understand longer and more complex film plots. Motives and intentions of film
characters are clearly identified by 8-year-olds, since they have already advanced in their affective-emotional development and have
thus developed the ability to see through and foresee the plots. At this age children are increasingly able to take different perspectives
and even anticipate the reactions of media characters, assuming, that is, that the contents are related to their own environment.
Everyday stories of all kinds in which empathy with the characters is possible, or even required, are therefore of great interest.
In addition, fantasy and science fiction films that show the development of a certain independence, their own role model (girl / boy)
and friendships with peers, can also create important moments of identification.
The level of cognitive performance and reasoning of 8-year-old children is significantly higher than that of 6-year-olds, and therefore
the films may be, in a formal sense, a little more demanding. Furthermore, children at this age often develop an interest in
cinematic design media and their first concept of genre.
The main and sub-plots, or indeed simple temporal and spatial jumps, are usually followed properly. The use of ellipses and their
mental supplementation can come with relative ease to 8-year-old children. Even more complicated plots with multiple figures are
usually understood. In contrast, rapid scene changes, flashbacks, time lapses and other stylistic aspects of the film can sometimes
be confusing, and are therefore considered more carefully. Tension elements or elements of the so-called anxiety-like processes can
also be better processed, though they should not be too long or have a lasting effect.
Children from the age of 8 or 9 years can largely distinguish between fiction and reality. An exception would be reality stories and
news-like representations, where children find it difficult to distinguish between reality and fiction because of the documentary
nature of the material.
It is possible for children of this age group to distance themselves from the film scene, at least to a certain
extent. Certain genres such as fairy tales, science fiction or animation films are clearly identified as such. Nevertheless, it should be
noted: certain movie content can trigger strong concerns with the individual child, e.g. if the child has faced problems in the real world
similar to those of the film character. The more this happens, the greater the participation and thus the emotional involvement in the
events. A positive resolution of conflict situations or frightening sequences and a clear happy ending are therefore of great importance
even for this age group. Children from 8 to 10 years are not yet in a position to sufficiently deal with open ends.
]]>
