Do you censor your kid's music

[testifyoncruises]

We were at the park today and DD and I were singing the NIN song "Hurt" (actually the Johnny Cash arrangement) and I had this mommy drive-by saying how horrible I was for letting my six year old listen to and sing songs by Nine Inch Nails.

I was wondering if there is any music you censor from your children?

 

[WDWBarb]

I don't forbid my DD from listening to any music or reading any books.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Anyone?

 

[torinsmom]

DS is 15, and for the most part I don't. If he was listening to bands that were degrading women or hateful towards other races or Christianity, I would speak to him about it. Funny thing is, some of the bands he likes are ones I likes as a teen.

Marsha

 

[JoanGirardi]

When they were 6, yeah, I tried to be aware of what they were listening to and discourage the really scary stuff. Now they're teens and make their own musical choices--and recommend some of the new stuff to me!

 

[Boxley]

It depends on the age or the measures of maturity a child has.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

When my brother was in middle school my mom had the philosophy of "better in music than in speech".

Of course he and I curse like crazy now... so that method didn't work so well

OT: JoanGirardi- I love your username!

 

[Ohiodislover]

No, I don't but I also let them watch movies that they probably shouldn't, so I might not be the opinion you should ask for

 

[iwrbnd]

I don't censor my 16 yr old's music mostly because it wouldn't work! He drives his own car and can (and would) just listen to what he wanted anyway. I remember growing up and listening to ac/dc or ozzy and my parents didn't like it. Now I'm the parent and there is definately music he likes that I don't. I mostly joke about it w/him. At night I'll tell him goodnight and when he has that screaming stuff on I'll say goodnight to satan, too! We're a Christian family and he knows I'm just messing w/him.

 

[dhcoffey]

My DD16, no, she listens to what she wants.

My DD11, yes, I try to watch what she listens to. Only object or turn the station if it's too adult themed in my opinion. I also watch what she puts on her IPOD for the same reason. As she gets older, I loosen up a bit.

ETA: My 16 yo is also good about telling me about a song if I don't know it, as in, this one is okay or this one is not for my DD11.


Heather

 

[MIGrandma]

I probably would now if my kids were still teenagers. Especially if they wanted to listen to rap crap with vulgar or demeaning lyrics. That stuff is just nasty. And I would definitely censor stuff for younger kids.

 

[JoanGirardi]

OT: JoanGirardi- I love your username!

Thanks!

 

[clovergirl5]

Its funny you ask this question. I was just listening to Kid Rock and Skid Row on the stereo when I was making dinner, and I was thinking the same thing.
I don't censor. DD13, dd9, ds8, dd6 and dd3 listens to Lady GaGa and all my 80's heavy metal, gunsnroses, motley crue, eminem, pink, kid rock, def lepperd, alanis morrisette, averil Lavigne, Slaughter and many more that I like to listen too. The kids actually sing along they have been listening so long to them. Right now, the words just go over their heads. Although dd3 does listen to stupid girl by pink to much (she likes to say those words )

Its not a big deal to hear the words or music imo. I do draw the line with seeing movies with nudity of course or violence. Swearing they hear enough at home, they are not shocked by it. jmo

 

[minkydog]

At 6, my child would NOT have been listening to NIN, nor Britney Spears, hip hop, and a whole lot more. I censored music and video until they were about 12. AFter that, as long as I don't have to hear it, anything goes.

But I would have the decency to keep my opinion to myself if I were to meet you in public. Your kid, your choice.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

I listened to Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys when I was 6. I had a thing for Nick Carter <3

Both had somewhat suggestive themes but they went right over my head.

 

[nerdylightbulb]

My mom doesn't censor what I listen to. It's basically my problem if my music is vulgar. Granted, almost none of my music is vulgar and my mom likes a lot of what I listen to, but still.

 

[ElizK]

I have always "censored" the music my kids listen to. I chose "children's" music when they were little. Now that they are both teens (17 and 14), they can listen to whatever they choose on the radio, but they are not allowed to download songs with explicit lyrics.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

I'm not a fan of censorship. Especially for 13+. What's said in the lyrics is no worse than what they hear in the high school hallways.

If parents were to sit in on a session of my school's stage crew (we build sets for plays), they would be absolutely shocked.

 

[binny]

DS is 15, and for the most part I don't. If he was listening to bands that were degrading women or hateful towards other races or Christianity, I would speak to him about it. Funny thing is, some of the bands he likes are ones I likes as a teen.

Marsha

My DS is 14 but otherwise pretty much the same. If he were into some music that I hated we would have words but he is actually better than I was at his age as far as music goes. He prefers Christian rock or U2 or Reliant K.

The only thing I get on him about is the volume. Which is what my parents did too.

If I needed to censor it though I sure would. Thankfully so far I have been pretty lucky.

 

[gregokdisney]

I guess I do, because my kids are only 10 and 7. They can only watch or listen to or read things I select and give to them. I guess they could probably pick out a book at the school library that I haven't screened, but I wouldn't screen them anyway.

Kids are going to see or hear things that we'd rather they didn't. In this society it's practically unavoidable. So, the best I think we as parents can do is instill our values and beliefs and leave it up to them.

My daughter, for example, started reading a book by an author that's very acceptable for her age group. She, however, found the book very scary and disturbing for herself and quit reading it. I think she has a lot of common sense and wouldn't expose herself to things she can't handle.

I will just keep telling them what I expect and believe they are capable of being and hope for the best. Once they are teens - how could I prevent them from listening to music in the car or at their friend's houses anyway? If I caught one of them listening to, reading, or watching something I don't approve of, I would probably ask them to stop and explain why I felt that way.

I believe in keeping the lines of communication open, and constantly telling kids what's on your mind, but micro-managing anybody, especially teenagers, I don't think will get you very far.