Children watching the Simpsons!

[Lilyloo]

DD doesn't watch much TV. We never really have it on, and when I do, it's usually just 1/2 hour of ABC kids in the morning so as I can get a few things done.

However, she just discovered the Simpsons and is absolutely fixated, absorbed, fascinated by it.. Will not take her eyes off it, and will sit still for the whole 1/2 hour it's on.

My problem with this is, I find this program really violent. They're always kicking a cat or strangling each other, or laughing when someone gets hurt.

She's only 16 months old, and DH and I have argued over how much she actually takes in/understands. I hate that she LOVES this program so much!!! Why couuldn't she be fixated on Bambi?? :o

My questions is, do you think this sort of program is inappropriate for a young child.. ? Do you let your toddler/child watch the Simpsons??? Or should I just let her enjoy it and not worry?

[studyingECS]

Me and my god-daughter used to watch the simpsons together, it was a show that she only watched with me when I was over and she knew that's the only time she could, Until she started mimicking the words they use "stupid, shut up, idiot" etc and then it was decided that she wasn't watching it anymore. We now watch The fairies together and that's our show now.


So no I don't really think it's appropriate.

[Refresh]

I dont think The Simpsons is appropriate either :no:

[Lilyloo]

Me and my god-daughter used to watch the simpsons together, it was a show that she only watched with me when I was over and she knew that's the only time she could, Until she started mimicking the words they use "stupid, shut up, idiot" etc and then it was decided that she wasn't watching it anymore. We now watch The fairies together and that's our show now.


So no I don't really think it's that appropriate.


That's the thing, children do mimic, and I don't really want her to start thinking it's ok to kick animals, or it's funny to punch someone.

It's frustrating, DH, doesn't believe it's doing her any harm, and I should just relax and let her enjoy the show...

[seanstheman007]

Our children will not be watching the Simpson because, IMHO, it is for all intents and purpose an adult's show in the guise of a cartoon. And not something I would want my young children to be watching. Just how I feel.

[Squeegee]

I dont think The Simpsons is appropriate either :no:

I have to agree....Mainly because we really don't know how much they truly understand...:no:

[RainbowSky]

I agree that I don't really think it's appropriate for kids but I know that other people have the opposite opinion. There's just way too much attitude and words and phrases that little kids don't need to watch or hear imo. Definitely a bigger person's show in my book, not something kids should be watching. :)

[Seekrit]

THIS is where parent involvment is the key. Don't be a spectator, be involved, tell her that Bart's not doing the right thing, and that it's a bit silly.

She's also only 16 months and you're in charge of the remote.

[pinkgingham]

my little one is the same age as yours, only 3 days older than yours and she is the same. absolutely fixated with it. i dunno, bad mummy here coz i'm not too concerned with either my DD or my nearly 3 yr old DS watching it. they dont mimic anything on the show and i'm not sure if they even understand any of it. most of it seems to go over their heads. i think they just like the colours. my son says the word stupid but he got that from over the hedge, which funnily enough is supposed to be a childrens movie...go figure. he is yet to pick up anything bad from the simpsons and well DD doesnt even talk yet, so she cant repeat anything from it. she wouldnt even understand it, she wouldnt understand kids shows yet. she is still too young.

[veve]

*shrugs* just proves how differnt people are when they are parenting ..

I watch the Simpsons with JAck .. and we talk about how its pretend (e.g. when Homer gets hurt - we talk about whether he is really hurt .. or if its a cartoon and just pretend.. and that he will be fine .. ) .. and how BADLY Bart behaves in particular episodes... we talk about what Bart did wrong etc ..

I have no issues with my son watching simpsons (which I guess is good since DH adores the show) .. but I do make sure he ONLY sees the G and PG ones .. some of the Halloween ones are graphic with violence .. and I wont allow that - cartoon or not.

xx
Jen

[RoarsomeMum]

They are like sponges.. Just let DH know that.. They really don't recommend TV for under 2's.. it can be a sensory overload among other probs... Cartoons especially.

Tape it and watch after they in bed (thats what I make mine do!)

[Lilyloo]

my little one is the same age as yours, only 3 days older than yours and she is the same. absolutely fixated with it. i dunno, bad mummy here coz i'm not too concerned with either my DD or my nearly 3 yr old DS watching it. they dont mimic anything on the show and i'm not sure if they even understand any of it. most of it seems to go over their heads. i think they just like the colours. my son says the word stupid but he got that from over the hedge, which funnily enough is supposed to be a childrens movie...go figure. he is yet to pick up anything bad from the simpsons and well DD doesnt even talk yet, so she cant repeat anything from it. she wouldnt even understand it, she wouldnt understand kids shows yet. she is still too young.

:) Well that's a bit reassuring... I don't know what it is about this show, but she's just obsessed! Maybe it's the voices or the colours, I don't know...

But I did see her jumping up and down in front of the TV yesterday after she saw Lisa jumping on her bed... :rolleyes:

[maisymum]

We don't let our kiddies watch it...........They are too young for that!

Also the Bratz movies....they are shocking! The language in that is not for my 7 yr old daughters ears!

[pinkgingham]

:) Well that's a bit reassuring... I don't know what it is about this show, but she's just obsessed! Maybe it's the voices or the colours, I don't know...

But I did see her jumping up and down in front of the TV yesterday after she saw Lisa jumping on her bed... :rolleyes:

i think my DD is a bit behind than other 16 month olds...she is still very much a baby in a lot of ways. she does mimic stuff her brother does and sometimes what we do but doesnt really pay attention to anything else. when it comes to tv she will only watch 2 things, little einsteins and the simpsons lol. but we dont watch the simpsons often. where as DS was watching finding nemo from 4 months of age and loved all tv. but my kids havent picked up any bad habits from tv, bar the "stupid" thing from over the hedge.

i suppose it depends on your children really, and what you want them watching or not.

but me personally dont see the harm in letting them watch the G or PG episodes, as like i said i think most of it goes over their heads anyways. its just all pretty colours and such.

[janeybabe]

Well my 2 year old also likes watching the simpsons and i personally dont have a problem with it. I can understand other peoples points of view but as they say each to their own

[mummyjessie86]

I had the same thoughts...

DS loves watching it also... he is only 6 months, and only watches it because it is so colourful, but I let him because I am making dinner and eating etc and it gives me 1/2hr of peace to do so.

I do worry, however, that when he is older it might start to influence him? As a child I was never allowed to watch it, and my siblings still aren't.

The other thing I worry about is, The Simpsons happens to be FOBs favourite show... So what do I do if he has visits with his dad when he is older? Can I say what shows he can and can't watch while he isn't in my care?

:confused:

[WorkingClassMum]

Hmmm - I must be incredibly damaged - I saw Slyvester chase and nearly catch Tweety Bird - and OMG - Tweety dropped a 10 tonne weight on poor old Sly - he was squashed flat!


Elmer Fudd shoot Bugs Bunny - and Bug ws dressed in womens clothes...

Fog Horn Leg Horn was so insanely cruel to the poor old dawg

We all laughed at Daffy - and he was a black duck who stuttered - how PIC

The amount of violence that I have watched through cartoons was mind blowing - all in black and white mind you

Then when I was 8 Grandma bought a color TV - I watched #96 get blown up by a bomb IN COLOR - omg it was head spinning - but I soon went back to my cartoons. Did any one ever see the original Mickey Mouse cartoons? Mickey was drowned and resusitated, Pete was burned by fire - it was so violent

I loved The Road Runner in color - it was so funny watching Wylie Coyote gets blown up over and over again by ACNE TNT, and then a 10tonne boulder falls on him.


I am obviously a mass mad murderer just waiting for a trigger to send me off the edge.


Th th th th that's all folks.....

[pinkgingham]

Hmmm - I must be incredibly damaged - I saw Slyvester chase and nearly catch Tweety Bird - and OMG - Tweety dropped a 10 tonne weight on poor old Sly - he was squashed flat!


Elmer Fudd shoot Bugs Bunny - and Bug ws dressed in womens clothes...

Fog Horn Leg Horn was so insanely cruel to the poor old dawg

We all laughed at Daffy - and he was a black duck who stuttered - how PIC

The amount of violence that I have watched through cartoons was mind blowing - all in black and white mind you

Then when I was 8 Grandma bought a color TV - I watched #96 get blown up by a bomb IN COLOR - omg it was head spinning - but I soon went back to my cartoons. Did any one ever see the original Mickey Mouse cartoons? Mickey was drowned and resusitated, Pete was burned by fire - it was so violent

I loved The Road Runner in color - it was so funny watching Wylie Coyote gets blown up over and over again by ACNE TNT, and then a 10tonne boulder falls on him.


I am obviously a mass mad murderer just waiting for a trigger to send me off the edge.


Th th th th that's all folks.....

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

[mummyjessie86]

Hmmm - I must be incredibly damaged - I saw Slyvester chase and nearly catch Tweety Bird - and OMG - Tweety dropped a 10 tonne weight on poor old Sly - he was squashed flat!


Elmer Fudd shoot Bugs Bunny - and Bug ws dressed in womens clothes...

Fog Horn Leg Horn was so insanely cruel to the poor old dawg

We all laughed at Daffy - and he was a black duck who stuttered - how PIC

The amount of violence that I have watched through cartoons was mind blowing - all in black and white mind you

Then when I was 8 Grandma bought a color TV - I watched #96 get blown up by a bomb IN COLOR - omg it was head spinning - but I soon went back to my cartoons. Did any one ever see the original Mickey Mouse cartoons? Mickey was drowned and resusitated, Pete was burned by fire - it was so violent

I loved The Road Runner in color - it was so funny watching Wylie Coyote gets blown up over and over again by ACNE TNT, and then a 10tonne boulder falls on him.


I am obviously a mass mad murderer just waiting for a trigger to send me off the edge.


Th th th th that's all folks.....

:laughing::yelclap:

[SweetSerenity]

I too watch it with my ds. He doesn't mimic...he just loves homer :D *doh* hehe. I honestly don't find it a negative impact at all on my son. My brothers and i used to watch it ALL the time and we have never once been violent in our lives :no:

[SassyMummy]

Chanel watches it. She's 3. She's watched it since... well, forever, if it's on (it's not on every night, as I've already seen every episode 1000 times over).

Never once have I seen or heard her do anything from it. I've not heard her call people idiots or stupid, or kick animals, or anything. She's quite gentle with animals, and has never tried to strangle anyone like Homer does Bart.

If she did, I'd just tell her it was naughty. How is she to know otherwise?

She'll sometimes get all excited, and run in to tell me that something happened on their... but that's about as far as it goes. She doesn't mimic the characters, or copy their poor behaviour.

I'm pretty laid back though. I let DD know a lot of things that others probably wouldn't let their 3 year old know or see. She knows exactly what a tampon is for, for example. I'm not hiding it from her... and I'm pretty much the same with TV.

I won't let her watch hardcore sex or violence or anything, but she also knows that there are "adult shows" and will deliberately not look at the TV if she enters a room where an "adult show" is on. ("Adult show" is not code for porn btw, as much as it sounds like it is:p).

The Simpsons is the least of my worries... not that it's a worry anyway.

I'm glad there's something I can sit down and watch with her that we BOTH enjoy watching (can't say the same about half the other shows she watches...:barf:).

[RockabillyLove]

How do you think I feel?
My two year old ADORES animal and veterinary medicine shows.

She'll watch them quietly, for hours, then solemly proclaim to me {usually over dinner} "Mumma...dat man..his fingie {finger} up da cow BUM...find a cow BABY...pull it out da BUM"

:barf:

[Freya]

I think it is highly inappropriate for 10 year olds so for my young toddler to be watching it I think that is just not on. They are like sponges as mentioned above.

[Love is all you need]

DD will most likely watch it cause I am going to have one hell of a time trying to get DP not to watch it lol......

You can't expect TV to raise kids and teach them, it's entertainment, if you explain to your child that what bart did isn't nice....or that Homer hurt himself, you find most of the Simpsons episodes usually resolve the problems in a nice manner and as Working Class Mum said, Itchy and Scratchy is actually a portrail of the other cartoons aimed at children that are so violent but no one really complains. The Simpsons is actually used a lot in Psychology to discuss all the hidden messages and codes that are actually underneath just the cartoon alone!

The simpsons in our house is golden, we actually try to guess the episode within the first few minutes (and I'm currently winning :laughing:) also when our trivia has usually a simpson 5 or 6 pointers our knowledge comes in handy!

[westerner]

*shrugs* just proves how differnt people are when they are parenting ..

I watch the Simpsons with JAck .. and we talk about how its pretend (e.g. when Homer gets hurt - we talk about whether he is really hurt .. or if its a cartoon and just pretend.. and that he will be fine .. ) .. and how BADLY Bart behaves in particular episodes... we talk about what Bart did wrong etc ..

I have no issues with my son watching simpsons (which I guess is good since DH adores the show) .. but I do make sure he ONLY sees the G and PG ones .. some of the Halloween ones are graphic with violence .. and I wont allow that - cartoon or not.

xx
Jen

Same in our household.

My son laughs at the funny bits and says "oh no hes naughty" or tells me what they are doing wrong/silly etc

[FishFace]

*shrugs* just proves how differnt people are when they are parenting ..

I watch the Simpsons with JAck .. and we talk about how its pretend (e.g. when Homer gets hurt - we talk about whether he is really hurt .. or if its a cartoon and just pretend.. and that he will be fine .. ) .. and how BADLY Bart behaves in particular episodes... we talk about what Bart did wrong etc ..

I have no issues with my son watching simpsons (which I guess is good since DH adores the show) .. but I do make sure he ONLY sees the G and PG ones .. some of the Halloween ones are graphic with violence .. and I wont allow that - cartoon or not.

xx
Jen

We are the same my 6 year old watches it and so does my 4 year old.

They have never mimicked the characters ever.
They are film and Tv kids. They have grown up around film sets and editing rooms. They are quite aware of what is real and what is not.

Yes kids are like sponges but all it takes is an adult who is present to answer questions and guide them.
My two watch alot of movies. Honey i shrunk the kids and drop dead fred are the faves right now.
They are 2 of the most well behaved gorgeous little people and DS will often say Ohh that Bart he is just so naughty hahaha.


Hmmm - I must be incredibly damaged - I saw Slyvester chase and nearly catch Tweety Bird - and OMG - Tweety dropped a 10 tonne weight on poor old Sly - he was squashed flat!


Elmer Fudd shoot Bugs Bunny - and Bug ws dressed in womens clothes...

Fog Horn Leg Horn was so insanely cruel to the poor old dawg

We all laughed at Daffy - and he was a black duck who stuttered - how PIC

The amount of violence that I have watched through cartoons was mind blowing - all in black and white mind you

Then when I was 8 Grandma bought a color TV - I watched #96 get blown up by a bomb IN COLOR - omg it was head spinning - but I soon went back to my cartoons. Did any one ever see the original Mickey Mouse cartoons? Mickey was drowned and resusitated, Pete was burned by fire - it was so violent

I loved The Road Runner in color - it was so funny watching Wylie Coyote gets blown up over and over again by ACNE TNT, and then a 10tonne boulder falls on him.


I am obviously a mass mad murderer just waiting for a trigger to send me off the edge.


Th th th th that's all folks.....

Your post is GOLD!:thumbsup:

[mum2maddy]

DH and I have been discussing the Simpsons over the past week or so cos DD who's almost 4 absolutely loves it.

She somehow knows when it's about to come on and comes to us asking for it to be on the right channel.

She is a pretty clever girl and and she knows the difference between right and wrong so we figure we are going to let her watch it.

Mind you if she starts kicking the dog, causing nuclear meltdowns or shooting Mr Burns we will be reviewing our decision.

:yes:

I personally think the older cartoons are way worse too.

[pinkishbunny]

My kids watch the Simpson's, Futurama most nights on foxtel.. I dont have a problem with it.. :)

[naiwen]

My goal was no TV until he is two and then very little once he is.

However once or twice a week I will put ABC kids on for half and hour in the morning if he has woken up really early and I am like this :sleeping:and he is like this :smiliedance:.

No simpsons for him.

He is 16 months, he doesnt need to be watching cartoons for half an hour at a time, he needs to be exploring his enviroment :yes:.

[Deserama]

I allow my kids to watch simpsons. I actually like the show becasue it's big on consequence. When someone is being horrible and mean then there are consequences to it. It's also about being funny and our kids see it that way. I've also sat with them when they were little and explained that what Bart is doing is wrong...but then towards the end of the show, the children see for themselves that what Bart was doing was wrong and that he has consequences.

But then I've also taught my kids that tv is make believe and not real...so if they were the type to take it for real then I wouldn't let them watch it...but they're not. They even know about 'blue screens' and fake blood and acting...and how one actor can play different characters in different shows. They also know, that in the Simpsons in particular that one person can do a few voices and that Frank Azaria was on Friends LOL

Huge parental involvement is required for all tv shows....and you must know the personality of your kids too, like you hear of some kids who, when given a superman costume, actually think they can fly and jump off roofs. So if you're kid's like that....THEN DON'T LET THEM WATCH ANYTHING!!!! But if they're not, and they can grasp the concept of make believe then - fine!

As for a 16 mth old...way too young to understand what is going on...to mesmerised by the colours and the sounds to actually absorb anything anyway, but as they grow older you might like to sit with them and explain a few things.

That's my take on it...I let my kids watch simpsons...so shoot me! :laughing:

[naiwen]

I won't shoot you Deserama :no:, I don't want my 16m old to watch TV but I couldnt give a rats how much TV your kids watch :D.

Stick em in front of the TV for 12 hours a day if you like :laughing:, fine by me :p.

[missie_mack]

Yeah no Simpsons in our house either. I just don't find it funny and don't want my son to think that kind of humour is funny either.
I will never be into the blood and guts and shows that depict this kind of thing. The best things are implied without having to be graphic. TBH I don't even like the smoking ads where they carve up bodies being on TV during the hours that kids can watch. Not so much that it makes kids naughty or anything just that it makes viewing that kind of thing acceptable.

I always have to remind DH to cover DS' eyes too when I am covering mine and waiting for him to tell me it is ok to look again when it comes to violence or nudity :o

[naiwen]

Good points missiemack,

I don't want DS becoming de-sensitised to violence.

[mum2bubba]

My kids watch The Simpsons and we've had no problems. They have watched it since they were babies and its something they look foward to after dinner (the kids have dinner at 5:30pm).

[just her chameleon]

I love the Simpsons, but DH and I have already spoken about when DD gets older. There will be no Simpsons in our house. I just don't think its appropriate for a young child. I mean, Homer strangling Bart and all attitude problems etc - no my DD won't be watching it until shes much much older.

[UmmInayah]

I don't think the Simpsons is appropriate either. It's amazing how much they do actually understand. Lily is a really smart little girl too, and I bet she will pick things up really easily.

I feel the same about funniest home videos. Most of the stuff on there is children getting hurt, how the hell is that funny?!

[Lilyloo]

I feel the same about funniest home videos. Most of the stuff on there is children getting hurt, how the hell is that funny?!

I'm with you on that one... I can't stand that show! I don't find children hurting themselve funny at all! :confused:

[~Temet Nosce~]

My dd watches it and finds it highly amusing lol. We always watch the simpsons here wether she is watching it or not.
come to think of it, the simpsons and funniest home videos used to be regular family shows when I was a kid. Oh dear how damaged I must be :rolleyes:

[pinkishbunny]

Yeah my two love Australia's Funniest home video show:)

[SweetSerenity]

My dd watches it and finds it highly amusing lol. We always watch the simpsons here wether she is watching it or not.
come to think of it, the simpsons and funniest home videos used to be regular family shows when I was a kid. Oh dear how damaged I must be :rolleyes:
Lol :laughing: Oh me too :p Tv is not responsible for a childs perception of violence, parents are. If your opinion is that it's inappropriate and will desensitize your child to violence, fair enough...but coming from someone who watched the simpsons all the time with her brothers...we never became desensitized to it and never viewed it as acceptable as our parents were the ones who taught us that. Not a tv show :no:

[Ana Gram]

and you must know the personality of your kids too, like you hear of some kids who, when given a superman costume, actually think they can fly and jump off roofs. So if you're kid's like that....THEN DON'T LET THEM WATCH ANYTHING!!!!

This was my brother :laughing: At about 2, he jumped off the top of his bunk and did a face plant into the floor.

I think the solution is pretty simple, if you don't want your child to watch a show, turn the tv off.

[~Temet Nosce~]

I'll tell you what I am sick of.. all them bloody crime shows grr.. why are there so many of them? Do people really get bored enough to watch basically the same thing with a different name? CSI, CSI miami, CSI ny, bones, cold case, criminal this, criminal that, baaah :hair:
anyway my point is there is far worse things they could be watching.

[FishFace]

I'll tell you what I am sick of.. all them bloody crime shows grr.. why are there so many of them? Do people really get bored enough to watch basically the same thing with a different name? CSI, CSI miami, CSI ny, bones, cold case, criminal this, criminal that, baaah :hair:
anyway my point is there is far worse things they could be watching.


hahahaha COS I LOVE THEM!!!
LOL
Cold, case, law and order SVu, the fringe, mentalist..anythign like that I loooove.

You are so right though they would be far more intense then the simpys lol

[spoon]

We dont watch the Simpsons here because we dont turn the tv on until the kids are in bed at that time of evening however, I think in comparison to the messages being sent to young people especially young girls these days, The Simpsons send a better message. Lisa is intelligent, she is a better role model for young girls than others. Females are certainly not sexualised, and marriage is painted as a good thing with ups and downs. I dont mind a bit of slap stick, my kids would not be out of control because of it.

[Lilyloo]

We dont watch the Simpsons here because we dont turn the tv on until the kids are in bed at that time of evening however, I think in comparison to the messages being sent to young people especially young girls these days, The Simpsons send a better message. Lisa is intelligent, she is a better role model for young girls than others. Females are certainly not sexualised, and marriage is painted as a good thing with ups and downs. I dont mind a bit of slap stick, my kids would not be out of control because of it.

Good point... :yes:

[our little treasures]

I dont think The Simpsons is appropriate either :no:

:iagree:I don't think Simpson's is appropriate for children. My children are NOT allowed to watch it and they know it. They actually call it "the naughty show".

I don't find funniest home video's funny either:no:

Amethyst- I love all of the crime shows.. I watch everyone that you have mentioned :D The only time I might not watch them is if the kids were up, however I make sure they are in bed asleep so I can enjoy the show.:p

[veve]

He is 16 months, he doesnt need to be watching cartoons for half an hour at a time, he needs to be exploring his enviroment :yes:.

:laughing: see Julie .. this is how our kids differ ... I let Jack watch the simpsons because he will SIT with me to do it .. :laughing he explores all damn day .. sometimes mum wants to SIT (and if I"m running late with dinner etc .. it means one less kid in the kitchen).


As for the previous hubbers who mentioned being desensitised to violence?? i highly doubt that watching the simpsons would do that. I have watched the simpsons (and bugs and elmer fudd etc) for YEARS, I watch numerous crime shows - but I STILL cant watch boxing or wrestling or ANY scenes in movies that are violent (even basic ones). Violence simply makes me physically ill.

Tv viewing hasn't desensitised violence for me ..

graphic computer games where the people appear REAL (I"ve seen ads - and even that short view of the game is enough to upset me) and you actually chase and shot them - THATS something that would desensitise a person (imo) - but I guess even those games have RATINGS.

xx
Jen

[NewBeginnings]

Hmmm - I must be incredibly damaged - I saw Slyvester chase and nearly catch Tweety Bird - and OMG - Tweety dropped a 10 tonne weight on poor old Sly - he was squashed flat!


Elmer Fudd shoot Bugs Bunny - and Bug ws dressed in womens clothes...

Fog Horn Leg Horn was so insanely cruel to the poor old dawg

We all laughed at Daffy - and he was a black duck who stuttered - how PIC

The amount of violence that I have watched through cartoons was mind blowing - all in black and white mind you

Then when I was 8 Grandma bought a color TV - I watched #96 get blown up by a bomb IN COLOR - omg it was head spinning - but I soon went back to my cartoons. Did any one ever see the original Mickey Mouse cartoons? Mickey was drowned and resusitated, Pete was burned by fire - it was so violent

I loved The Road Runner in color - it was so funny watching Wylie Coyote gets blown up over and over again by ACNE TNT, and then a 10tonne boulder falls on him.


I am obviously a mass mad murderer just waiting for a trigger to send me off the edge.


Th th th th that's all folks.....

:laughing::laughing::laughing: that's gold!

I don't really like cartoons period. So there is none in this household... none at all. (Although he's getting Dora for Xmas... cartoonish but educational.

I grew up in a household where we weren't allowed to watch the Simpsons and I reckon I've only ever see one episode my entire life. I didn't like it and that was that. I thought it was stupid and immature... and well just stupid.

I personally don't think it's ok for my 16 year old brother to watch,.... need alone my 2 year old son. As a result my household is a lot like that of my mothers.... no simpsons here!

[RockabillyLove]

Has anyone found that their kids have a morbid sense of humour?
Scarlet-Rose only watches animal planet and The Wiggles {her choice, not mine}, but she's somehow gotten into a new stage where things dying is funny. :confused:

She saw Jeff {The Wiggle} fall asleep, and she goes "Mumma, Jeff's dead. All gone. Dead"

Then laughed her head off!:(

[mum2bubba]

This was my brother :laughing: At about 2, he jumped off the top of his bunk and did a face plant into the floor.

I think the solution is pretty simple, if you don't want your child to watch a show, turn the tv off.

My nephew (then 4) jumped off the trampoline and said "look, I'm superman" and broke his leg. :(

[Blueberry Crumble]

My 2 and a half year old LOVES funniest videos lol... He cries during teh commercial breaks

[jriley]

i let my dd watch the simpsons she loves it the biggest problem is you cant wrap kids up in cotton wool they do see violence on the news the streets school child care it is every where and school is the main place so if you let them watch show like this and teach them wrong from right that would be better than never talking about violence

[missie_mack]

Tv is not responsible for a childs perception of violence, parents are. If your opinion is that it's inappropriate and will desensitize your child to violence, fair enough...but coming from someone who watched the simpsons all the time with her brothers...we never became desensitized to it and never viewed it as acceptable as our parents were the ones who taught us that. Not a tv show :no:

Its not so much making it acceptable behaviour for our children to mimic because we do teach our children what is acceptable and unacceptable. It's more the ability to watch it without stopping to look away or at least cringe. If the first time we see a gory moment on TV whether it real or in a cartoon we are stunned because we have never seen it before but the more we see it the less we are shocked how can it not desensitise us of the action :confused:
It doesn't matter what it is the more we see it the more desensitised we become. In a unrelated example when I worked in Sydney I had a office view of the harbour bridge and opera house. When I first started working there I couldn't stop looking at it thinking how wonderful my view was. However a couple of years later after seeing it 5 days a week I just stopped appreciateing it and accepted it as the norm.

So if we watch The Simpsons or any show for that matter which has a shock value the first time and then stop thinking anything more of it of course we are going to think it is fine and acceptable to watch. Why?? Because we have accepted this as the norm and have become desensitised to it.

[naiwen]

My son does not watch the news and I do not have it on when he is around, he does not go to childcare and when I have FDC children here there is NO violence.

I do not allow him to watch any violence and will continue to not allow it for as long as I can.

Of course some cartoon violence is not as damaging as watching a horror movie or worst of all domestic violence but it is still IMO not exactly optimal for his emotional development.

I choose to read him a story or other age appropriate activity.

This may sound funny but when I was younger watching watership down really upset me.

[Areca]

It's not on in our house...I hate that show! Their voices annoy me.

But there's no tv after 5pm in this house. DD1 is 10 times harder to get to bed if she's watched any tv show after 5pm so it eliminates the problem anyway.

[delirium]

*shrugs* just proves how differnt people are when they are parenting ..

I watch the Simpsons with JAck .. and we talk about how its pretend (e.g. when Homer gets hurt - we talk about whether he is really hurt .. or if its a cartoon and just pretend.. and that he will be fine .. ) .. and how BADLY Bart behaves in particular episodes... we talk about what Bart did wrong etc ..

I have no issues with my son watching simpsons (which I guess is good since DH adores the show) .. but I do make sure he ONLY sees the G and PG ones .. some of the Halloween ones are graphic with violence .. and I wont allow that - cartoon or not.

xx
Jen

:iagree: I'm obviously in the minority, but our 4 year old loves the Simpsons. We also discuss some of the issues on a deeper level. We don't let her watch the Halloween ones though, as they can be a bit scary. Honestly, watching the news is more scary than the simpsons.

[Blueberry Crumble]

I am desensitized to violence and gory moments on TV... but that is because I know it is NOT REAL. If I had seen stuff like that in real life I would freak.

[Refresh]

Missie and Naiwen, as usual I agree with most that you guys have said:yes:

We don't actually have any TV in this house....we have DVDs but not TV. There is so much garage on......it's as much for my sake as the kids though....I would likely get addicted to rubbish lol.

SO the kids dont see the news or anything. When we are somewhere where they do see it, my 8 year old will often be quite affected by something he sees on the news.....which is how it should be. We are able to talk about it then and how he feels etc. I dont want them desensitised to the world either.

There are plenty of places they go where they do watch TV and because it isn't the norm for them , they will talk to us about things that just dont seem right.

Anyway, this was about the Simpsons...nah ,dont like it, lol... Would be off the list if we had TV. If they see it at a friends house it is no big deal....

[Mahjong]

Another Simpsons fan here, it's the only way I keep sane :D

Our 4 yr old loves it too, I draw the line at the Halloween ones though, the adult humour goes completely over his head. He doesn't watch the news though, he prefers ABC kids LOL!

I must admit, watching DS1 sing "Spider Pig" does bring a smile to your face even when you're having a bad day.

I grew up watching it too, things that happen in our every day lives, somehow I can relate to a Simpsons episode.

Parental guidence is the key IMO. DS1 knows right from wrong, I always talk to him about things that happen in the episode. Most of the episodes are labelled "PG" which is "Parental Guidence" anyway. So unless you are just plonking them in front of the Simpsons and then blaming them for your childs behaviour, then no, they shouldn't watch it!

[pinkishbunny]

the biggest problem is you cant wrap kids up in cotton wool they do see violence on the news the streets school child care it is every where and school is the main place so if you let them watch show like this and teach them wrong from right that would be better than never talking about violence


I agree with you... :)

[sunnyflower]

Nope hate the simpsons.

The characters are sooo disrespectful to their parents.

It's crude,homer is always down the pub,Bart treats lisa like dirt.

Horrible show.

Totally inappropriate for my child,he isn't allowed to watch it.

[WorkingClassMum]

A *friend* of ours won't let her kids watch simpsons.

But they see her brother drugged out of his brain, and then see her get p!ssed most weekends, and they've seen their father beat their mother.

They've seen the screaming blues between Nanna and Pop, and they've seen their uncle's car being repossesed.

But they've never watched the Simpsons...

They've been to Castlemaine to visit their uncle and they've been lucky to have been to the dentist once in their lives.

They see their school teacher most school days when mum remembers to send them to school.

Extream case I know - even DHS knows. She did a parenting course - so the kids will never watch the Simpsons.

[Refresh]

Kayte...of course, that's a ridiculous (and very sad:() example.....but it isn't the case for most of us. For us, TV simply doesn't fit in with our larger parenting philosophy so our kids wont watch it when they are at home....simple really....and just how our house works....it shouldn't be a problem for anyone else:no:

[WorkingClassMum]

Kayte...of course, that's a ridiculous (and very sad:() example.....but it isn't the case for most of us. For us, TV simply doesn't fit in with our larger parenting philosophy so our kids wont watch it when they are at home....simple really....and just how our house works....it shouldn't be a problem for anyone else:no:

Ohh - I have no problem with your family philosphy - I actually wish I could be more inclined that way - it'd just take a huge shift.

I'd love to be in the position to home school and I'd happily be a SAHM if things where different for us.

I view Simpsons as being fairly harmless in the whole scheme of things. There are a lot of other things that I try hard to do that I believe are very important for our family.

[missie_mack]

i let my dd watch the simpsons she loves it the biggest problem is you cant wrap kids up in cotton wool they do see violence on the news the streets school child care it is every where and school is the main place so if you let them watch show like this and teach them wrong from right that would be better than never talking about violence

Sure I fully realise that. Life is naturally full of enough violence without adding more and calling it entertainment. I hardly think changing the channel and not showing kids unneccessary violence on TV is wrapping them up in cotton wool :no: and really if that is my biggest crime as a parent I will be happy :yes:

Lets face it the show was never designed for kids anyhow just like the Family Guy, American Dad, most manga style cartoons or Drawn Together. I have no problem with other parents showing this to their kids I just don't want it shown to mine..

[Love is all you need]

:detective: don't think Simpsons or, family guy or american dad are manga, thats more pokemon, dragon ball z and yugioh...sorry just love my cartoons lol :laughing: I think actually Simpsons are for kids and adults as the kids really don't understand what we understand.

[missie_mack]

:detective: don't think Simpsons or, family guy or american dad are manga, thats more pokemon, dragon ball z and yugioh...sorry just love my cartoons lol :laughing:

Wasn't actually calling Simpsons, Family Guy or American Dad 'manga'. Manga is traditionally adult comics like neogenesis or aeon flux but there are of course kiddy style ones like Astro Boy or Sailor Moon (although DH says he doesn't know if they are really great for kids as they really are like a japanese Bratz Doll cartoon)

[Love is all you need]

Sorry Missie_mack just re-read and original read it the wrong way it oh Sailor Moon boy did I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee that show....

[Baburun]

Sorry to bring up an older thread, but I guess this is something I really care about! (I've been reading on this site for a while but hadnt joined up because there are other forums I use a lot!).
Firstly, I definitely agree that there are certain episides that are made specifically for adults and wouldnt let my kids watch until they are older.
However, there are episodes (particularly in the earlier seasons) that have a very strong moral message in them and can be a great, fun way for kids to learn about certain issues.
For example-
Lisa the Vegetarian, the episode is about tolerance and acceptance.
Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment, Homer gets an illegal cable connection but realises that it is wrong to steal and they cut it off.
Lisa vs. Malibu Stacey, Lisa is offended by a sexist talking doll (Barbie parody!) and creates her own doll that instead says messages like "Trust in yourself and you can achieve anything".
Saturdays of Thunder, Homer helps Bart build a soap box racer, Homer realises how important it is to spend time with and support his son, the epidode ends with them hugging!
These are just a few examples, there are so many episodes that have love, acceptance, tolerance, the importance of family, etc... as the main theme.
But as others have stated, parental guidance is the key! :thumbsup:
Anyway, thanks for letting me throw in my opinion! :)

[Love is all you need]

And the epsode where you realise being a bully like Nelson is lonely and he is really really sad....

That cheating is wrong even if it gets the school a new scoreboard and that taking a bribe is wrong even though it may be your only chance to get something yuo really want...

That even though you may be the best at everything there may be someone better and being jealous isn't fun and being second best is still ok....

The Simspons have so many good moral messages in it, for those who dispise it so much maybe should look beyond some of the silly jokes and animated happenings.

[A Party of Five]

The Simpson's was never intended for children. It deals with pop culture references and social issues that most kids would not understand. People should not assume that a show is suitable for kids just because it is animated.

Would you let your kids watch South Park or Family Guy?

[Love is all you need]

Mocha Mum I don't assume its for kids cause its animated its a show that actually hits both levels adults and children where as south park and family guys has no kids interests in it, Simpsons does, hence all the lessons we just posted.

[naiwen]

My son will have no need to be taught moral lessons my an animated american cartoon show!

I think I and he will manage just fine without it.

Why are people so defensive about a cartoon?

I don't care if you let your kids watch it.

[84zsazsa]

I wont have a prob with my kid watching it...or family guy, south park etc

He will see and hear much worse in life or even on the evening news so as his parent I will talk to him about it as said by others.....bring him up with a just because monkey see doesnt mean monkey.....you get the picture. I watched the simpsons for most of my childhood and I would never have acted the same in my household as I knew it was not acceptable.

Danni

[Love is all you need]

Julie I won't let tv teach DD either I just like the fact that it does have some lessons just as the winnie the pooh detective ones do or the hoobs :D i just guess that people are so quick to say something is bad and contributes to other things is just silly imo as ppl have said there is worse things in the world.

[FishFace]

The Simpson's was never intended for children. It deals with pop culture references and social issues that most kids would not understand. People should not assume that a show is suitable for kids just because it is animated.

Would you let your kids watch South Park or Family Guy?


DOH....
Lucky you pointed that out, Guess that means Manga isnt for kids either..and all this time I thought animation meant Kids..
I taped Animal farm for them too its a cartoon ...???...LOL:p:p


Kidding..

[supergeek]

Another simpsons addic over here.

DD2, 2 , loves them but she dosent like much toddler shows ( think pepper pig, bob the builder, thomas the tank) she likes the cartoons older kids like ( spongebob, fairly odd parents, TMNT, aurther)

[~Temet Nosce~]

Believe me, there are some animes/manga series that are NOT suitable for children..and well hentai, don't even go near it!! :laughing:

[FishFace]

Believe me, there are some animes/manga series that are NOT suitable for children..and well hentai, don't even go near it!! :laughing:


hehehe...I was joking honey . Most Manga are nto child friendly.
I was being funny cause I think most parents know that animation does not automatically mean Kid friendly.

[Refresh]

The Simspons have so many good moral messages in it, for those who dispise it so much maybe should look beyond some of the silly jokes and animated happenings.

Nah, it's ok, I will continue to despise it and teach my kids morals other ways;):thumbsup:

[Love is all you need]

Nah, it's ok, I will continue to despise it and teach my kids morals other ways;):thumbsup:
;) Fair enough then, so will I when she is old enough to understand, just doesn't help to have some help from Bart and Lisa cause then maybe mum might be cool....

But I just want to be clear I am not expecting TV to teach my daughter anything valueable in life hopefully I will be able to do that....TV will not raise my daughter :o just putting it out there for those who think I was meaning that. I just don't think its a bad show.

[Love is all you need]

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing: :laughing:

Anyone else watching are you smarter than a fifth grader?

[quaver]

i think it is fairly harmless.
btw I would love to say that my 11 month old never watches tv, but alas it gives me some sanity and i can be in peace to make dinner.

my brother was 9 when the simpsons came out and i was 12. mum did not let us watch it. she did not like the values but i never saw her watch one episode to really see what it is all about. the thing is my bro and i found ways of seeing it anyway, she just was not there then to monitor and discuss it with us. we either went to a friends house or watched it when she was not there as we could be more sneaky with dad. (either that or he knew it kept us quiet) it did not effect us, it was a show, a cartoon.
i think if you are not feeling great about it your instinct is telling you not to have it on. My kids will watch the simpsons and i will be there monitoring and discussing it when they do.

[shelle65]

DD looooooves the Simpsons.

Whenever she hears the opening theme start she goes "ooohhhhhhhh!!!" and runs to the TV. Her favourite character is Nelson and whenever he appears she says "Ha Ha!!" like he does. When she is old enough we will talk about how it's not nice to laugh at people and make fun of them, and how to react when someone laughs and makes fun of her (cos it will happen, no point acting like it won't).

I grew up watching the Simpsons and I'm pretty sure it hasn't had an impact on my life or behaviour.

I can understand other parents might not like their kids watching it, so it's all good.