Do you censor your kid's music

[turkeymama]

i do not understand how even the rankest heavy metal music is any worse than the "real" belle et la bete, or sleeping beauty.

I was kind of wondering the same thing.

 

[ogreenlee]

my dd is 6. i only censor bad music. sometimes, she'll sneak in that hannah montana, but i try to keep it away. i want her to listen to good music. that's my only requirement.

she does recognize a few different jazz artists. lol she also learned 3 chords on the guitar yesterday. i was so excited.

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

I don't think of it so much as censorship as age appropriate. At a certain age, I just don't think it is really appropriate for a child to listen to certain music. But, I also look at it as, I don't want DD7 to listen to the same music as I do.

 

[ogreenlee]

I don't think of it so much as censorship as age appropriate. At a certain age, I just don't think it is really appropriate for a child to listen to certain music. But, I also look at it as, I don't want DD7 to listen to the same music as I do.

i only want my DD6 to listen to the same music i do.

i beg of her... "please have good tastes!"

 

[testifyoncruises]

We just ran through Helter Skelter on Rock Band Beatles and I cannot tell you the pride I felt hearing DD scream out "I Got BLISTERS on my fingers!" at the end.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I have never censored what the kids hear (or read). When they were young they did not pick as much music (though DS had many requests from a very early age) and generally only heard what we would be playing anyway.
I never limited their listening to "childrens" music as much of that genre is terrible from a musical standpoint. I guess I wanted my kids to hear (what I think if as) good music from the start--and a wide variety of styles as well. So as youngsters what the heard playing in the house and car included children's music by talented artists (Kenny Loggins, Jack Johnson, Tom Chapin, Jonathan Sprout, etc.), classical, show tunes, pop, rock, etc. Lots and lots of stuff. Some of it does have lyrics that if you really think about them are not so great (oaky, most music intended for more than just kids has such lyrics if you want to think about it and try to make it into something) but I knew if I did not make a big deal about it the kids would pay about as much attention to those lyrics as I did as a kid--meaning they just sound silly or get taken on a much more innocent level. So, for example, DS enjoys Poker Face and he just thinks of it as a song about playing cards. Then again, he can tell you what Billie Jean is about
As the kids have gotten older (they are 11 and 13 now) they are aware of some songs I ask them not to sing in public because it would offend somebody (actually the big one there was Grease Lightening when DS was about 6 or 7) and of music their friends may not be allowed to listen to so they should use catioun when friends come over (not really an issue here in Germany, but it sure was in the USA last year).

Somehow for me video/movies is a bigger issue. It just seems to me that at that point (unlike books or music) there is little room for interpretation or imagination--what you see and hear is what you get. For that reason I have been much more careful with what my kids saw/see than with what they listen to or read. I still limit very violent movies and violence was the key thing I worried about in films when they were young as well.

 

[aprilgail2]

"Give you He!!" (by ...I think Fall Out Boy?? Not sure of the band) came on. My youngest daughter said, "That is a terrible song, change the station!"

That is one of my 10 year olds favorite songs---I actually really like it too LOL.

i only want my DD6 to listen to the same music i do.

i beg of her... "please have good tastes!"

In my head I just keep thinking "please don't let her like Rap, please dont let her like Rap"!! If I have to hear rap music in my house I think I will lose it!!
Lucky thing is that due to guitar hero and rock band she likes many of the old bands I like!

 

[beckmrk04]

I have never censored what the kids hear (or read). When they were young they did not pick as much music (though DS had many requests from a very early age) and generally only heard what we would be playing anyway.
I never limited their listening to "childrens" music as much of that genre is terrible from a musical standpoint. I guess I wanted my kids to hear (what I think if as) good music from the start--and a wide variety of styles as well. So as youngsters what the heard playing in the house and car included children's music by talented artists (Kenny Loggins, Jack Johnson, Tom Chapin, Jonathan Sprout, etc.), classical, show tunes, pop, rock, etc. Lots and lots of stuff. Some of it does have lyrics that if you really think about them are not so great (oaky, most music intended for more than just kids has such lyrics if you want to think about it and try to make it into something) but I knew if I did not make a big deal about it the kids would pay about as much attention to those lyrics as I did as a kid--meaning they just sound silly or get taken on a much more innocent level. So, for example, DS enjoys Poker Face and he just thinks of it as a song about playing cards. Then again, he can tell you what Billie Jean is about
As the kids have gotten older (they are 11 and 13 now) they are aware of some songs I ask them not to sing in public because it would offend somebody (actually the big one there was Grease Lightening when DS was about 6 or 7) and of music their friends may not be allowed to listen to so they should use catioun when friends come over (not really an issue here in Germany, but it sure was in the USA last year).

Somehow for me video/movies is a bigger issue. It just seems to me that at that point (unlike books or music) there is little room for interpretation or imagination--what you see and hear is what you get. For that reason I have been much more careful with what my kids saw/see than with what they listen to or read. I still limit very violent movies and violence was the key thing I worried about in films when they were young as well.

I agree! I grew up listening to hard rock with my parents- Joan Jett, Pat Benetar, Guns N Roses, and some Madonna, Cindi Lauper, Bangles... Many of the songs I heard went straight over my head until much later. So, generally, it doesn't bother me for my DD to hear songs (ie Poker Face) that will go straight over her head for a while.

Now, I will admit, that I censor what I listen to around my DD!! I have a penchant for Jay-Z. But, as much as I love his music, I just cannot fathom playing it for my almost 3yr old. I don't want to have her repeating anything out of there!

I'll also likely not censor books in this house. I can't think of anything that makes a book more titillating than not being allowed to read it. I'd prefer to read it first if it's questionable and then we can discusss it.

And movies/tv are a much bigger deal to me than books or music for the same reason- they don't encourage imagination, they inject the images directly into your brain, and I often think it's worse than what you'd dream up. Violence, sex, etc in movies will have no place for my kiddos for quite a while.

But basically, my mom didn't censor much at all for me growing up. I still turned out to be an upstanding citizen. No violent crimes, no drugs. I even graduated high school with honors and went to college. I think kids who are over-censored/controlled have a tendency to cut a little too loose once they get that first taste of freedom.

 

[happygirl]

My rule is if it has an explicit warning then its not allowed..

This sounds like a good game plan

 

[shortbun]

We did when he was younger because some of the hip-hop/rap stuff is just too radical for young ears. We discuss the vulgarity from time to time with him but I have NEVER heard him swear and he's 14, not even the minor words, so I know the discussions we've had regarding performance versus daily life have gotten through. I have also discussed the lifestyle and behavior(Kanye/L'il Wayne) of some of his favorites; he knows I don't approve of their disrespectful behavior towards the world in general.

 

[shortbun]

Absolutely. Junie B. Jones and Shel Silverstein are also No-Nos in this house.

We do not read Disneyfied fairy tales either, but the original stories of Cinderella, etc.

Guess you'll be censoring Tom Sawyer too, lol!!! Horrible grammar in that one. How are you going to handle required reading? You actually allow your child to go in the library with all those horrible books? Have you read Farenheit 451?

 

[starwood]

I'm lucky (and I've told DS this). He is now 17 and doesn't listen to rap or hip hop. He likes Disney music, park audio, broadway and classical music they are playing in band at school. I've never had to tell him his music was inappropriate.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I LOVE music..... LOVE it... I married a full time touring rock musician.... That being said, I won't let my kids listen to anything that I don't want them to repeat.
Even if they don't exactly know what it means, that doesn't mean its okay...I remember when Madonna was big, my 5 year old cousin singing "Like a virgin, touched for the very first time...." at a family reunion..Everyone stood there staring at her horrified....

My kids are still very young though. I don't think we need to force our kids to listen to "dumbed down" Wiggles music or anything...but are certainly clean versions of songs that are very accessible ...like the Kidz Bop stuff.... I would never imply that hardcore music would turn your kid into a hooligan (heck, I listened to Fugazi, Bad Religion, Helmet etc... when I was in high school)... But those concerts weren't exactly safe havens either. Most of the hard core concerts come along with hard core drugs, moshing etc....

 

[Mouse House Mama]

That is one of my 10 year olds favorite songs---I actually really like it too LOL.



In my head I just keep thinking "please don't let her like Rap, please dont let her like Rap"!! If I have to hear rap music in my house I think I will lose it!! Lucky thing is that due to guitar hero and rock band she likes many of the old bands I like!

OMG! Us too! I think I would gouge my ears out if I had to listen to that stuff! I am a total rocker girl! Must be a Long Island thing.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

My DD's 7, so I censor it in the fact that she listens to what I listen to or buy for her. One of her favorite bands is Nirvana! And she has heard Hurt (Johnny Cash's version) many times. I honestly believe most of the bad words go right over her head as well as the meaning. I won't start censoring her music, but I will listen to it with her and if I have concern, we'll talk about it. Her dad is a musician so we look at music as an art form, which it is.

 

[clovergirl5]

My parents didn't censor anything while I was growing up either. I had Poisen posters on the wall, you know the ones, very, very tight black leather skinny pants and long hair and heavy makeup. I also used to walk around singing Like a Virgin, right infront of my dad. I remember buying that Madonna tape and The Beastie Boys (also sang, You got the right to party infront of my parents ). Haha, parents never said a word.

I was always a good girl and a very good student. I turned out ok even though I sang Poisens "Talk dirty to me" and Aerosmith's Ragdoll.

 

[JerseyJanice]

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?

I would have told that mommy to mind her own business in no uncertain terms!

No, I don't censor and never have. When my son was 6, "bad" lyrics went right over his head. He's 13 now, and "bad" language is the least of my worries.

 

[testifyoncruises]

Guess you'll be censoring Tom Sawyer too, lol!!! Horrible grammar in that one. How are you going to handle required reading? You actually allow your child to go in the library with all those horrible books? Have you read Farenheit 451?

Comparing Junie B. Jones to Tom Sawyer is not even worth comment. Yes she will be allowed to read required reading, but since she is home schooled, there is nothing that is required save for what I as her teacher require.

But this is about music anyway, and I was more frustrated at the mommy-drive by having a conniption because were both singing NIN. Next time I will have her listen to her babyish nursery rhyme songs and let her really know what I think. By the way most of those lyrics are about falling down and death.

 

[mjkacmom]

Guess you'll be censoring Tom Sawyer too, lol!!! Horrible grammar in that one. How are you going to handle required reading? You actually allow your child to go in the library with all those horrible books? Have you read Farenheit 451?

LOL - I'm reading To Kill a Mockingbird again because ds11 is reading it for a book report (and I love the book, and love to read). He asked me why it was okay that they use bad grammar, and we don't allow him to use bad grammar. I explained that the grammar in this book takes him into the story, and how some people did talk.

 

[kafitty]

i was censored...i was also a punka**...

as far as i know, i'm still not allowed to see rated R movies.

it's funny when i hear songs from the 90's that i haven't heard in awhile...i still know the words, so i'll be singing along, but i actually understand them now so i'll be mid-song and holy cow!!