Do you let your kids watch the Simpsons?

[WeThree]

I LOVE the Simpsons, but does anyone else think it is inappropriate for their children? I used to let Thomas watch the 6pm episodes whilst i got dinner ready etc, not thinking they were doing any harm, till i got a call from his school principal one day telling me that he had chucked a full on brown eye in the playground whilst repeating some bart saying that went along with said brown eye. i promptly banned Simpsons, telling him that i thought he was old enough to understand that if he saw something naughty on tv it doesnt mean he can do it too, but obviously i was wrong!!! (this was a couple of yrs ago mind you) Anyway ive since started paying alot more attention to the simpsons 6 pm ones, and later episodes when i get a chance (if hes at scouts or something) and there are so many other things that really make it inapropriate for kids, imo. what does everyone else think?

[tickle]

Hi there!
We are BIG Simpsons fans here too but I wouldn't let Oliver watch it.
My SIL buys her DS the DVD's but I think at 2 it is a bit young. Some of the content on the Simpsons is very adult / rude and kids mimic what they see, as you've found.
Great show though! :)

[aardvark]

I can't stand it, and I think it is totally inappropriate for children.

I'm not popular for it with the girls, but it is not allowed on.

[H&B'sMum]

Erin, Do you mean the big kid (or DH as we call them on here) or the little kids........ lol.
My big kid watches it, in fact he's watching it now so I don't feel guilty being on here.
I wouldn't let Harry watch it, first he's too young and doesn't understand it but don't him getting into the habit of watching it.

[poshBecks]

I have to say that there is no way I'd let my kids watch it!!!
I think that it is very inappropriate for children & I really think it should be on after 8:30pm!
Dh loves it , but he also agrees that it is not for kids to watch!!

[WeThree]

im glad im not the only one! some people look at me like im weird when i tell them my kids arent allowed to watch it, the other night i asked the mum of one if his friends if they watch it (he was going there for a sleepover) she looked at me as if i was a weirdo for even asking! when i said i didnt want thomas to watch, she was like 'okayyyyy..'

hehe Harrys mum, its actually me who is the big Simpsons fan in the house, dh claims to hate it, but he always has a chuckle when its on....

[MammaMia]

I agree - the Simpsons can be funny. I have always liked what Bart is writing on the blackboard.

But my boy is not allowed to watch it. I figure when it comes to making mischief, he is a creative genius, well beyond his years, and he doesn't need any help from Bart Simpson to help him along any faster.

I'm pretty strict about what he watches on TV - which includes not seeing the news - and really confine him to ABC kids - especially Playschool. Bless Playschool for that 1/2 hour of sitting quietly.

[Rainbowbrite]

Sorry Coops but I laughed when I read what Thomas did :o

It is more designed for teens and adults. Most people think that animation is for children when alot of the time it directed at adult audiences. The Simpsons has been getting "older" for a while now. It should be on later I agree.

I'm with MammaMia about not letting MJ watch the news. Even I dont watch it anymore, its too depressing.

RB

[Elfin]

I think this show is a bad influence on children so no I don't let them watch it. I used to like it but am so over it now. Very bored with it and think it has had its day.

[Shelly68]

This question is easy

NO, I can't stand the show.


When DD8 was about 2 she watched about 5 minutes of the show and turned around to me and when I told her to put her toys back in the toybox she said:


EAT MY SHORTS MUM

That was the end of that

[mumof2girls]

My girls are 12 & 14 and I don't allow them to watch the show as I think it is pathetic and has no value to anyone!

[j&k'smum]

I used to dislike it but after a few years of it being on, I watched it through one night and found it to not what I thought it was. I laughed and saw the funny side of it. Its just a bit of sick humour. Its not something I go out of my way and watch but my son who is eleven watches it sometimes and we have a cackle together. He doesn't understand the adult parts, only I do, because I'm an adult. lol If Bart does something really silly then I will just throw in there that that wouldn't be accepted in the "real world". He knows its just a cartoon. :)

[red crayon]

I love the Simpsons and as Spencer is only 9 months old the content is not a problem for him at the moment. he just loves the bright colours. when he gets older it may be an issue. lisa is my favourite :D

[Ana Gram]

Don't have a problem with it. DD doesn't sit to watch any show for the whole time it is on, so it doesn't worry me at this point in time.

[carls]

I'm a huge Simpsons fan and dont think theres an episode I havent seen! Having said that, it is dry adult humour (which I think is also in films like Ice Age).

I wouldnt let my child watch it, but I'm also not really keen on letting my child watch things like the Wiggles or Hi-5 either, simply because I think they are only clever marketing ploys to make parents spend money when they take their kids to the shops! "Please mum can I have a Wiggles lunch box, Please mum can I have a Hi-5 video??" :mad:

I would much rather switch on Discovery Channel for him, although I dont know how much entertainment value that would have! :o :rolleyes:

[Supermum]

I liked the Simpsons before I had children ... now we never watch it.

We generally have the television turned off anyway - who's got time!

I don't think the content is appropriate for young children so no, mine wouldn't be allowed to watch it.

[Rell]

I agree with everyone else It's an adults show not a kids show. I do love it but don't get to watch it much now we have kids.

[MonMic]

My SIL has 2x DS 8 + 10 and they watch it religiously, it comes before everything else and I feel it has given them a real attitude problem.

They talk back to everyone and are quite rude at times and think its funny to be like bart.

I would not let my kids watch it as I feel it sets a bad example although I will probably have to have an argument with DH about this as he loves all TV and if he wants to watch it he will anyway.

I heard once that Simpson's sets a good example for family values because they always make up after they fight, and keeping the family together is most important.

This doesn't seem to stop them from doing some really selfish, stupid and sometimes illegal things! and at the end its just 'oh well it will be alright'.

I feel it propagates the attitude that 'because I want to' is agood enough reason to do anything without thinking about the resposibility and consequences.


M.

[Tinkabell]

My daughter - who is 6 - used to watch it with her dad but didnt find it very interesting and looked elsewhere for entertainment. I agree - the simpsons have had their day - I just wish my fiance would get over them !! We have all 6 seasons on DVD..... :confused:

[JnA]

We love The Simpsons in this household, and have every ep on video. (I started taping them 12 or so years ago when they first started - that equates to a *lot* of videos) and, I admit, it was one of the first things on TV that caught Jades attention - again, the bright colours probably did that. But when she gets older enough to understand what they are saying, well, I'm still in two minds about letting her watch it.


My SIL has three kids. Once I was babysitting her son when he was about 7 or 8 and he asked to watch Southpark, I said "I'll have to ask your mum" he said that she lets him. I didn't let him atch that night but I did ask her and she said he watches it at home all the time.. I asked her if she was worried he'd pick up on the bad language, she said that he hears it at home anyway, I replied, "Yeah, but not from ten year old kids." I thinkI spoiled my nephews Southpark watching then :eek:

I admit however, that I have never heard him swear and he is one of the most polite (now) eleven year olds I know. I guess it's how you approach the subject of TV -v- reality.

[razzle]

I asked her if she was worried he'd pick up on the bad language, she said that he hears it at home anyway, I replied, "Yeah, but not from ten year old kids."
I agree with you - he might hear it elsewhere, but you don't have to serve it up on a platter to him!!

I personally will not be letting Eloise watch the Simpsons until she's way older, I don't think it has very good messages for kids.

[Moorish]

Our girls love watching the Simpsons, but we make sure we monitor it to see what kind of episode it is (some are fine, others should be "M" rated).
Most of them are fine, and it's usually on around dinner time, so the tv is on low but they can still see the picture.

I was absolutely shocked about a week or so ago to see an episode where Homer became a priest or something & was encouraging & performing same sex marriages in Springfield. I was horrified to see that this episode had the same rating as all the others & it was allowed to be on at 6.30pm. I should have contacted the tv station. After reading some of your comments, I agree that it's definately more of an adult show & I may be flipping channels from now on!

[sugar n spice]

I used to let my 3yr old then watch the simpsons while i was cooking but once i sat there and watched it, it was like oh my god no you are not watching that. The show is so not suitable for young ones and the itchy and scratchie show that bart and lisa watch is what put me off letting my son watch. i believe it is definetly something to be screened first.