Do you censor what your children listen to... and......

[Tiggeroo]

When my kids hit 12 I gradually realeased the censorship. By the time they were sophs I didn't censor much at all. Some of the raunchier rap stuff I wouldn't let them play in the house, give them money for or buy for them.
My youngest sons are 18yo now. The one listens to rap that I really don't like. He knows my oppinions on it and why. I figure one day he'll move on to something else.

 

[Planogirl]

My mother went on and on about a song called "Satisfaction" one day when I was a kid. I'd never even heard it since I was into Bobby Sherman and such things at that time. I always have to smile now when "Satisfaction" comes on the radio.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I posted this on another similar thread - I probably should have posted it here!

My dd will is almost 10, and I'll probably get flamed for this, but I don't censor her music. She loves Green Day, Good Charlotte, Black Eyed Peas and some older stuff like Queen, her new favorite Guns N Roses, and Metallica. She also listens to Hillary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, the Cheetah Girls, and she loves contemporary Christian music by Jars of Clay, tobyMac, Jeremy Camp and Superchick. She even likes some country - Big & Rich is one of her likes. There are limits though. I wouldn't let her listen to stuff by Sublime, for example, or heavy rap, but she's never been interested in that type of music either. I kind of like the fact that her tastes in music aren't confined to one genre. We also talk about certain music she listens to, and she understands that some music is often like movies, it doesn't always necessarily reflect real life. I'd rather have her exposed to all types of music, and have her talk about it with me and her dad than have her listen to it at school and at her friend's house, and not have a clue what it's really all about.
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[WIcruizer]

We do not censor. What's the point? We can make sure these songs are not on their ipods, but we can't possibly control what they lsiten to when they're in other people's cars, with friends, listening to the radio in their room, etc. Unfortunately, you can't isolate kids from magazines, TV, video games, music etc that are suggestive. Heck, even People magazine is racier these days.

I just happen to believe if you have the right relationship with your kids, and lead by example, and talk about sex your kids will do the right thing. If you are disconnected, chances are they will go down the wrong path regardless of what lyrics they listen to.

 

[JCJRSmith]

BTW, remember when "Afternoon Delight" was considered bawdy?

My sister Laurie was an English professor at the University of Miami when that song came out. One of her students, Jon Carrol, was one of the two men in Starland Vocal Band. Laurie introduced him to another of my sister's - Patty - and she and Jon dated for about a year. Nice guy.

When Patty was going to the University of Akron, Jon was coming in for a visit when his car was rear-ended and totalled. Their next album had a song on it called Akron. It started with the words, "I wrecked my car outside of Akron..."

 

[cardaway]

We do not censor. What's the point? We can make sure these songs are not on their ipods, but we can't possibly control what they lsiten to when they're in other people's cars, with friends, listening to the radio in their room, etc. Unfortunately, you can't isolate kids from magazines, TV, video games, music etc that are suggestive. Heck, even People magazine is racier these days.

I just happen to believe if you have the right relationship with your kids, and lead by example, and talk about sex your kids will do the right thing. If you are disconnected, chances are they will go down the wrong path regardless of what lyrics they listen to.

That 10% is going to have to change to 15 or something!

 

[cardaway]

As for the OP, it would be a good idea to stick with the obvious intent of the list rather than find what they might have missed.

That is assuming you want to be asked back.

 

[JCJRSmith]

We do not censor. What's the point? We can make sure these songs are not on their ipods, but we can't possibly control what they lsiten to when they're in other people's cars, with friends, listening to the radio in their room, etc. Unfortunately, you can't isolate kids from magazines, TV, video games, music etc that are suggestive. Heck, even People magazine is racier these days.

I just happen to believe if you have the right relationship with your kids, and lead by example, and talk about sex your kids will do the right thing. If you are disconnected, chances are they will go down the wrong path regardless of what lyrics they listen to.

It is all about the communication. Surpisingly my kids like a lot of the same music SWMBO and I listen to. My son is 13 and my youngest daughter is 7. DD's music is watched, but she prefers things like the "Kidz Bop" CD's, Hillary Duff, etc. DS has his own tastes (he recently got an Eminem CD ), but his interests are usually pretty mainstream - mostly rock. Some of his favorites include Queen, Styx, Green Day, Nickleback, Springsteen (he LOVES The Rising), and Weird Al . And I bet I have one of the few 7-year-olds who can recognize Jethro Tull on the radio, and sing along to it as well.

 

[MoniqueU]

Yes I censor what we listen to but not in the way you mean. I don't think I could sit through a whole 3 minutes of my humps I just don't like that kind of music. So when I am in the car I don't listen to that stuff. Also I am the one to load my daughters Ipod so I have a good idea what kind of music goes on there and its not that kind. She has inadvertantly downloaded some pretty sick songs and said mommy dont listen ot the next one. At which point I lost the cd. My son doesn't listen to much music for some reason? And my youngest is happy with Radio Disney.

 

[Dan Murphy]

............My dd will is almost 10, and I'll probably get flamed for this, but I don't censor her music............There are limits though. I wouldn't let her listen to stuff by Sublime, for example, or heavy rap.......

How does that work??? No censor but given limits and off limits stuff??

 

[WIcruizer]

Yes I censor what we listen to but not in the way you mean. I don't think I could sit through a whole 3 minutes of my humps I just don't like that kind of music.

So true. And I really think songs like that are a novelty that kids listen to the first week they discover it, then they move on. I can only listen to today's music for so long regardless of lyrics.

Funny thing is, I will switch to the 80s station and kids of any age from 8-17 in the car will say....hey what's this song (Tainted Love for example) They have no idea I even changed the channel, they think all these 80s songs are NEW. Then I have a good laugh and say... glad you like...this song is older than you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Planogirl]

How does that work??? No censor but given limits and off limits stuff??

I wondered that too. But maybe she's like me. I try NOT to censor but there are certain exceptions. It's generally stuff I can't stand.

I guess that it's still censoring though.

 

[Aidensmom]

My son is 4. I don't ever change the radio station in the car because of a song that comes on (we usually listen to classic rock/adult contemporary/top 40 stuff) regardless of what the song is about. My parents didn't either, and heck I didn't even know what most lyrics meant when I was a kid, I just liked the songs.

However, there are certain CD's, such as Kid Rock, which has a lot of "bad words" and stuff, I don't listen to around my son. I just don't want him picking up that language.

 

[Kirby]

I don't censor what my kids listen to unless you call "I don't really care for that song and would rather you didn't play it when I am around" censoring. And then I tell them why I don't like it. I don't care for rap, so my daughter tends to either change the channel or just not play it when I'm around. And my son skips over songs that he knows might offend me. Now that they have their Creative Zen MP3 players, I rarely hear their music unless it's in the car.

I've always been real open about the lyrics of songs and talking to my children about them. It's worked out real well. He's very protective of his younger sister and actually tells her what she shouldn't listen to. He also has an opinion on what movies she should not see either.

 

[cardaway]

Funny thing is, I will switch to the 80s station and kids of any age from 8-17 in the car will say....hey what's this song (Tainted Love for example) They have no idea I even changed the channel, they think all these 80s songs are NEW. Then I have a good laugh and say... glad you like...this song is older than you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could be they have heard the song before as well. Either as an official remake or sampled in another song. I believe Soft Cell's Tainted Love was a cover, and it's been covered again and used in numerous samples.

 

[WIcruizer]

Could be they have heard the song before as well. Either as an official remake or sampled in another song. I believe Soft Cell's Tainted Love was a cover, and it's been covered again and used in numerous samples.

True, and it's interesting that many of the current songs they DO like are covers from old songs. OT, but I have to say either today's music is terrible, or all of the original, good music is underground.

 

[Tantor]

No I have never censored what my kids listen to. My theory has always been that it is impossible to protect your kids from all the "bad" stuff in the world, so the best defense is to teach them what you believe is right and wrong and instill strong values and hope & pray for the best. So far I think it is working. My kids are 16-21 and have not let me down yet. I am very proud of them and of the choices they have made. And believe me, they have listened to some questionable lyrics from time to time. I don't think our school has a censored list and that is fine with me.

Totally agree

 

[eeyore kelly]

As I posted earlier, I do censor my kids music, but I am not naive enough to think they will never hear the uncensored version or "the not on your life" songs. I know I am running the risk of forbibben fruit, but when they do here those song, they will know I don't approve and I have taken a moral stand.

I t is one thing for me to hear and sing along to songs knowing I will never do any of it, but it is an entirely different kettle of fish for my kids to hear it without me drawing a moral line.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I do!

It's not so much that he understands that the lyrics are unacceptable. He knows that they're unacceptable to me but I don't require that he think exactly like I do.

I want him to have good values and beliefs and understand that these lyrics are no more "real" or important than the dialogue in movies and video games. It's all a part of telling the difference between fantasy and reality IMO and I emphasize that all of this is a just a part of fantasy and that not even the singers necessarily believe what they're singing. He's always had a good grasp of reality and also is quite kind in his thinking so hopefully it's getting through to him.

We are much the same with our DS and I would say the same about him. He is very kind, and understands the things we might find objectionable and why.

 

[reddixie]

I censor! My dd is 13 and I still buy her music. I won't buy her CD's such as Slipknot, HIM, Taking Back Sunday, and such. I know she hears them I am not totally dumb. She doesn't listen to them on her own either. She loves music. She also more CD's than most of her friends. Well over 100 CD's. She listens to everything from Loretta Lynn (I remember when the Pill was taboo) to My Chemical Romance. I asked her about MCR and what did the lyrics mean she had no clue therefore I allow her to listen. I have given her such options that she really doesn't have time for music I disapprove of which is a good thing. Now at 15 all beats are off and I will not censor anymore. I am hoping that Snoop Dog, 2 Live Crew, Dr. Hook, Slipknot, Anthrax, and things won't enter our world at that time. I know that I was censored until graduation and that made forbidden music even more fun to listen to. I am trying to not be my mother. LOL