Are your kids banned from watching certain shows?

[WAMomof3]

My two older kids are 10 and 8. We have all of the *kid* channels and we do randon pick and choose among all of them and ban just as randomly.

If DH and I like/approve it, they can watch it. If one of us sees something on a program we don't like and we just don't approve of the content, it goes in the *bad* catagory and it gets turned off.

Such as they can watch one program that's approved, but it a program that's not approved comes on next, they have to change the channel or turn it off.

In addition, we've taught the kids that TV is not reality, it's entertainment. We've watched enough behind the scene's stuff on various DVDs so they understand, it's just a show, make believe or a series of drawnings, computer animiated, they use stunt pple and special effects etc. (and yes DD8 still beleives in the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, no we have not destroyed the fantasy of childhood.)


They also change what they like every 6mths or so. Currently, we see
Phebius and Ferb, Good Luck Charlie (we have a baby so they can relate to the characters), Scooby doo, Kenny the Shark and grossoly. Boomerang is open (we watched it as kids and we're ok

Currently banned are Sponge Bob, Chowder, Flapjack and no baby shows, they're too old.

We're not big on reality shows as a whole, but I did watch a kids survival show with them. Some of the things they did could be life skills and things we as a family could try the next time we're out in the woods. (we're big outdoors ppl)

DD22mths only pays attention to the TV when a dogs barking and she barks back or there's a commercial with up beat music, she thinks its dance time.

 

[grafxgirl]

I grew up in a house where kids shows were not banned at all, and I turned out fine. My kids are DD6 and DS3, and they aren't banned from any of the kids shows. They realize it is just pretend, and they know the rules of our house. Most of the kids shows are set up to teach the kids a lesson or moral in ways that kids today can relate to.

My kids also enjoy watching other shows that are not considered kid shows like 19 Kids and Counting, Kate Plus 8. They enjoy watching the kids on those shows because many of them are the same age as they are.

My daughter also enjoys many of the shows on FoodNetwork and HGTV. She gets inspired to help with the cooking/baking and straightening up around the house. This has been a great opportunity to teach her measurements and following directions. I think it's great that she has taken an interest.

Believe it or not, she likes to watch The History Channel with her dad. She also likes to watch shows on TLC like a Baby Story. She learned, from us, how babies were born when she was 3 because I was pregnant with her brother and she was asking so if she wants to watch the show it's not detrimental. Untold Stories of the ER is another one she likes. She is fascinated with the medical shows. Maybe it's because she is around many family members who are doctors, paramedics and nurses? Both kids love Animal Planet!

 

[Denine]

I am proud to say my DD has never seen Sponge Bob or Hannah Montana or any other shows like those.. Heck, she hardly ever watches tv and when she does, it is PBS or a video. She still loves Bear in the Big Blue House at almost 8yo.

DH and I were talking yesterday and we have decided to block certain kids shows that we think are in appropriate for our kids. To be honest we are just tired of all the "smart mouth" shows that are on tv these days! We don't allow our children to talk to each other or to us in this manner and here lately all they seem to be doing is quoting these shows. What
happened to the days of Full
House, Cosby Show, Tales From
Avonlea and the wholesome stuff
that I used to watch when I was
younger? Luckily I can DVR these
types of shows but I'm just curious
to know if any other parents block kid shows from their children and what those are.

Please no flames, this decision is what we fell is best for our children and by no means are we saying that others shouldn't allow their kids to watch them. Everyone should do what is best for their family and we feel this is best for ours.

So, what have you banned?

 

[Ava]

I grew up in a house where kids shows were not banned at all, and I turned out fine. My kids are DD6 and DS3, and they aren't banned from any of the kids shows. They realize it is just pretend, and they know the rules of our house. Most of the kids shows are set up to teach the kids a lesson or moral in ways that kids today can relate to.

Same here, I don't remember any TV shows being "banned" in my house when I was a kid. We also didn't have cable back then, so there weren't that many choices anyway. When I was home sick from school I'd watch Bob Ross painting on PBS because that was the only thing on in the middle of the day, lol.

The only time I remember being banned from watching something as a kid was a movie called "Satisfaction," starring Justine Bateman as the teenage lead singer of a rock band. (Anyone else remember this '80s gem? Julia Roberts was also in it.) I somehow got a copy of it, I think from a friend, and after my mom saw the movie with me once she "accidentally" taped over it. I later found out she did it on purpose because she thought the movie had too much sex & drug use in it. Of course it was kind of too late since I'd already seen it, but she tried.

Coincidentally, one of my favorite movies at about the same age (8 or 9) was Dirty Dancing. Of course I didn't really understand the storyline about Penny being "in trouble." I just thought she was sick or something & didn't really think much of it. It wasn't until years later that I realized what was really going on there.

 

[grafxgirl]

Thanks for posting this, my DD6 has been acting this way recently and I can't fiqure out where it is coming from. She has been watching alot of these shows recently, so that may be it. I am going to cut these shows out and see if it helps.

It might or it might not. Kids don't always do or say things as a result of what they see on TV. Many kids pick up the habits from other kids in their school. My son never ever had one of those throw himself on the floor kicking and screaming at the top of his lungs scene making temper tantrums before. Then he started daycare... I soon figured out it was because he picked it up from another little boy his age, who attended the daycare. My daughter has said a few things that I have cringed at and I'll ask her where she learned that and she'll tell me "(Insert name of child in class or on the bus here) says that." It's not the TV shows where my kids are picking up things. It's from the other kids they are around.

 

[grafxgirl]

I must be in the minority. Spongebob is highly amusing to me,...

Spongebob is also amusing to my husband and myself!

"I'm ready, I'm ready, to go to work!"

 

[candyfloss]

we call them "brain mash"

banned in our house:-
Fairy odd parents
spongebob

 

[hoosiergirl7]

My DS 6, if he is lucky, is allowed about an hour of TV a day during the school year. In the summer I'm a little more lenient but he's not allowed to sit around all day watching TV during the summer either.

We are really particular about what he can and can't watch. There is no way he'll be allowed to watch Spongebob - ever. I hate that show. We never allowed Barney either.

What we like to watch around here is Full House (although other posters have said they don't like the show), Phineas & Ferb, Scooby Doo, Tom & Jerry (I know some people think it's a violent cartoon, but I loved it as a kid and would never have thought about doing that kind of stuff to someone else), The Cosby Show and a few others that unfortunately I can't think of right now.

Our DD 2 is showing absolutely no interest in TV. It's kind of weird because I've never seen this in a child. I'll try and turn on something on her level so I can get something done around the house and she looks at it and runs off. She won't even watch TV with her brother. Maybe I should be thankful that she's not interested.

 

[jsinsel]

We're just not that into TV at our house - our kids (ages 5 and 6) watch appropriate kid movies ordered from Netflix, but that's about it.....occasionally shows on PBS (Curious George, Sid the Science Kid, etc.) in the morning before school. I do struggle with this, however, as my 6-year-old is starting to come home talking about characters from shows her friends watch, and I'm worried she's going to be "out of the loop" socially. DH and I need to think about this a little.

The one show I REFUSE to let them watch is "Wonder Pets." That show drives me crazy - as a teacher, I see a TON of kids with speech issues; some even to the point where it affects their writing (weally waining instead of really raining). Nothing makes me crazier than a fifth grader that can't say L's or R's, and that show just perpetuates the problem. We actually had to ban Land Before Time in our house when the kids were younger because they regressed into the bad habit of using "Me" instead of "I" as a pronoun.

My parents didn't allow me to watch TV they thought was inappropriate, and I was probably the only kid in my class that didn't see a rated R movie until I was actually 17. There are, of course, positives and negatives to this, but the one real positive I see is that I still find violent movies difficult to watch. I didn't become desensitized at a young age, and therefore on-screen violence, torture, and the like seem to bother me more than most people. I do think we need to be careful what we let our children see because of this. After teaching over 600 kids in my 14-year career, I can tell you that what is "normal" for them is often dictated by what they're seeing on television. If it's okay for on-screen kids to date as tweens, kids will view it as a societal norm. If it's okay for kids to talk back to other adults on TV, kids will view it as a societal norm. Most parents think, "Not my kid...", but I can say without doubt that kids are far different at school than they are at home!

 

[Lovin' Disney]

We can relate. We do ban/just not watch some shows in our house:
-Just about everything on Cartoon Network.
-Fairly Oddparents, Penguins of Madagascar, Fanboy and Chum-Chum
-Anything on Disney Channel that is live-action
-Any cartoon meant for adults...Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill, South Park, Futurama, Glen Martin DDS, etc.

What don't we mind watching?
-Playhouse Disney--Imagination Movers, Handy Manny + Phineas and Ferb
-Nick Jr/Noggin shows--Franklin, Olivia, Ni-Hao Ki-Lan
-PBS kids shows--Curious George, Martha Speaks, Sid the Science Kid

Once in a great while we will all watch iCarly, Victorious and Big Time Rush.

We will be getting netflix soon, and I plan on streaming some good shows like Arthur and their new favorite, Punky Brewster. We just can't get enough of Punky Brewster at our house. I find it to be a great show for the 5-10 age group--it is always teaching a lesson. We also enjoy the Mary-Kate and Ashley videos (Dance Party, Sleepover Party, etc.) for that age group.

One more point to be made...when I was a kid in the 80s, Degrassi was originally shown around the US on the local PBS stations after the Boston PBS station picked it up from Canada. I can't picture that happening now!!

 

[Suellen]

Our girls watched Punky on our 24 hour drive to Florida! I was shocked how much they both enjoyed it. I didn't know that had that through Netflix! Cool!

 

[sam_gordon]

We don't ban much, but watch/listen with our kids. If there's inappropriate language/violence/situations, they don't watch it. If it's something I want to watch, I DVR it.

About a year ago, we got into a discussion at work because one mom (of adopted boys, ~6yo) let the boys watch Family Guy! I think it's one of the funniest shows on TV, but I won't let my kids (4, 6, 12) anywhere near it!

 

[mamaLori05]

We're just not that into TV at our house - our kids (ages 5 and 6) watch appropriate kid movies ordered from Netflix, but that's about it.....occasionally shows on PBS (Curious George, Sid the Science Kid, etc.) in the morning before school. I do struggle with this, however, as my 6-year-old is starting to come home talking about characters from shows her friends watch, and I'm worried she's going to be "out of the loop" socially. DH and I need to think about this a little.

The one show I REFUSE to let them watch is "Wonder Pets." That show drives me crazy - as a teacher, I see a TON of kids with speech issues; some even to the point where it affects their writing (weally waining instead of really raining). Nothing makes me crazier than a fifth grader that can't say L's or R's, and that show just perpetuates the problem. We actually had to ban Land Before Time in our house when the kids were younger because they regressed into the bad habit of using "Me" instead of "I" as a pronoun.

Another teacher here. Speech issues in children are NOT caused by something a child sees on T.V. I'm shocked and dissapointed that a fellow teacher would think this!!!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

We're just not that into TV at our house - our kids (ages 5 and 6) watch appropriate kid movies ordered from Netflix, but that's about it.....occasionally shows on PBS (Curious George, Sid the Science Kid, etc.) in the morning before school. I do struggle with this, however, as my 6-year-old is starting to come home talking about characters from shows her friends watch, and I'm worried she's going to be "out of the loop" socially. DH and I need to think about this a little.

The one show I REFUSE to let them watch is "Wonder Pets." That show drives me crazy - as a teacher, I see a TON of kids with speech issues; some even to the point where it affects their writing (weally waining instead of really raining). Nothing makes me crazier than a fifth grader that can't say L's or R's, and that show just perpetuates the problem. We actually had to ban Land Before Time in our house when the kids were younger because they regressed into the bad habit of using "Me" instead of "I" as a pronoun.

Another teacher here. Speech issues in children are NOT caused by something a child sees on T.V. I'm shocked and dissapointed that a fellow teacher would think this!!!

I'm not a teacher, but a mother of two children with speech issues and I was quite shocked to read that as well. My boys' problems were more than likely caused by hearing problems. My children speak like me more than they speak like someone on a half hour TV show. The one of my children that LOVED Wonder Pets doesn't have any speech issues. Actually I think it's a great way to show children not to make fun of others who do have a speech problem .

 

[badblackpug]

We don't really ban anything either. Of course they are not watching Family Guy or Hung, but in general we don't ban anything. Really kids can pick up a mouth anywhere, I just deal with the mouth, rather than try to avoid the situation.

I also think that a lot of people are seeing the old shows with rose colored glasses. I remember quite a bit of lip on Full House, teasing on Family Matters, and the kids on Cosby frequently got in trouble doing things they knew they were, specifically, not supposed to do. I remember drinking, and sneaking into a night club and stealing money.

Lot's of people have issues with Disney movies. They think they are too dark or violent. I'm not saying I agree...

My kids love Sponge Bob, I think he is an annoying twit.

 

[kkmcan]

Another mom of a 5th grade speech student here. I was a little shocked to read the comments about Wonder Pets and speech problems.

Anways, there aren't any shows on Nick or Disney that my kids are banned from now but I will say there's only so much Spongebob one adult can handle so we turn that off after 1 episode. When my kids were little they couldn't watch the teen Disney shows at all. ie, Lizzie McGuire, Hannah Montana.

They also are not allowed to watch the Simpsons or Family Guy or any of those adult cartoons.

ETA: They were never allowed to watch Rugrats either. And I truly couldn't stand Caillou- ugh all that whining.

Our favorite shows were Blues Clues, Bear in the Big Blue House and Winnie the Pooh!!

 

[mizzoutiger76]

I remember growing up we weren't allowed to watch the Simpsons or Married with Children. I don't remember any other restrictions, but looking back I'm positive my parents just avoided everything else and steered us to more appropriate shows. For example, we weren't ever interested in R-rated movies b/c my parents never made those available to us and my dad is the biggest chicken on the planet so scary movies were off limits I do remember having one vivid memory at the age of 4 when I was at the babysitter's house and she put on Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the older kids. That literally scarred me for life, I don't want to have anything to do with that movie or anything remotely related to that movie.

Now my DH is a totally different story, he had everything made available to him and honestly we argue often over this. His niece (8) and his nephew (10) watched Tila Tequila regularly.

Right now, the only thing we've banned is Elmo We still watch it, but only occassionally...I've been burned out on Elmo.

I shudder to think of what might be on tv when DS hits school age.

 

[iheartdisney]

I have completely blocked Cartoon Network...there is nothing on that channel my kids need to see. Except Star Wars: Clone Wars- that I will DVR in my sewing room so they can watch it back there.
They are also not allowed to watch Fairly Odd Parentds. I thought that was a great premise for a show...a kid with fairy godparents. Until i watched the first one, and he has fairy godparents because his parents don't want him (and tell him so) and his babysitter abuses him. Not in my house, sorry.
Funny thing about the "tween" shows...My DD is almost 8, and knows about Hannah Montana, says that she likes Hannah Montana, wants Hannah Montana stuff, but will not watch it, will not listen to her.

 

[KAA1972]

We don't really "ban" anything in our household but then again we only have a 2 year old who isn't really that into tv. If the tv is on then it has to be on Disney or PBS because it is one of the few stations that doesn't have commercials. The commercials bother me more than the shows.

However, we also watch a lot of videos. If you have young children, I highly recommend the "meet the...." series. Meet the colors, meet the shapes, meet the numbers, meet the sight words. My daughter LOVES these videos and she has learned so much from them! I'm not opposed to using a little tv to entertain her when I need to make a phone call or get something done around the house but I do prefer than it be educational tv or at least tv with pro-social behavior --such as a show that demonstrates sharing such as Sesame Street or Mickey Mouse clubhouse.

We also like the Signing Time series -- which teaches sign language. DD has a great vocabulary and doesn't need sign language now but she still likes to watch the videos and sign different words.

My parents let me watch everything when I was growing up. I watched rated R movies -- scary stuff at 8-9 and I do think it is just too young for children to be exposed to that level of fear. We will restrict movies and tv with adult themes as she gets older and becomes more aware of these issues. As for now, we don't "restrict" it but we just don't have it on so she doesn't even know it exists.

And, I do agree that some of the kids on the Disney shows are a little too sassy. I feel as a whole that most of the Disney shows promote kids with clean images --at least as clean as you can get on tv now days -- but they are just a little too sassy. If Disney could tone this down, I think it would be much better for kids and parents alike.

 

[notsosnowwhite]

Ours are 3 and 1; we don't let them watch True Blood on HBO.

So funny! But what do you do when they wake up from a bad dream and come toddling in while you're watching it? Good thing I've been working out - I had to leap over the coffee table because the remote was on the other side of the room!

But seriously, I've tried to keep TV to a minimum and try to avoid the smart aleck / violent shows as much as possible. But, we'll never be a no TV family - I owe all my useless trivia knowledge to my hours of TV viewage.