Do you censor your kid's music

[Minnesota!]

With some of the stuff DS14 tries to download, um, yeah, I do. About once a week I swipe his ipod while he's at school (he doesn't bring it with him to school) and listen to his playlists while I'm at the gym. I'm not trying to smother him, just keeping in touch with reality, not wanting to bury my head in the sand. Some of the alternative stuff out there is horrible and DS is a pretty conservative kid. Try listening to some of Eminem's music/lyrics and
3OH3 and you would probably sensor some if it too.

Eminem is one of my faves and I will not/would not censor my child from it.


Anyway, I was never censored, and my kids won't be, either. The first tapes my parents bought me were Beastie Boys and Poison - got them for my 6th Christmas. And the first CD they bought me was a Rap one - whoever it was that sang "Whoot, There It Is" (drawing a blank right now).

They fully let me make my own choices on music. I plan on doing the same for my kids...

Right now my 2 year old is obsessed with The Black Eyed Peas! And my 5 year old loves Rhianna..

 

[clovergirl5]

Eminem is one of my faves and I will not/would not censor my child from it.


Anyway, I was never censored, and my kids won't be, either. The first tapes my parents bought me were Beastie Boys and Poison - got them for my 6th Christmas. And the first CD they bought me was a Rap one - whoever it was that sang "Whoot, There It Is" (drawing a blank right now).

They fully let me make my own choices on music. I plan on doing the same for my kids...

Right now my 2 year old is obsessed with The Black Eyed Peas! And my 5 year old loves Rhianna..

Fergie's LondonBridge and Nelly Furtado's Permiscuous Girl are fav's in our van right now They just sound good! Kids don't know what the words are or what they mean. Its funny listening to them sing what they THINK are the words

 

[AustinTink]

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?

Op, that's a beautiful song. I'd rather have my son listen to Trent Reznor lyrics than all that rap/hip hop nonsense they play on the radio.

 

[Momvic5]

For my younger children (8 and 10), I definitely censor the music they listen to. They like music but really only listen to it with me in the car or while playing Guitar Hero. Otherwise they are too busy with other things to really care about music. They have MP3 players, but censored versions of questionable songs can be downloaded.

However, I also have a 13yr old. He is big into music. I can't say that I censor it, but I do have my limits. I don't like the idea of certain themes and words being played over and over and over in his head. (He would have his MP3 player plugged into his head all day and night if I let him.) I think that it is important for me as his mom to help him understand boundaries and limits that are healthy for him. Ultimately though, he has to be the one that decides what is appropriate and what is not because I can't be there every minute to monitor him. He is thirteen and is just beginning to learn the process of setting healthy boundaries for himself. Music has been the topic of many conversations for us and has encouraged him to have think more critically as to what is healthy for him and what is not. My hope for him and my younger children is that they are always able to make healthy boundaries for themselves in all situations, and music has helped start the process.

 

[LuvOrlando]

It depends. If its a song that pops on the radio and it is otherwise ignored I let it slide. But, if my kids start repeating the lyrics I pay attention and we talk about the words and the fact that some people are just seriously messed up. Songwriters are today's version of poets so I respect the art, but sometimes I just don't want them getting into my kids heads... like Eminem said "Infesting in your kids ears and nesting" in his song 'Without me'.

 

[Acklander]

I don't censor music, books, or movies. Yeah, sometimes media can get pretty ugly, but sometimes life gets ugly as well. Instead we lead a non-sexist/non violent/non racist life style at home and use ourselves as the example.
Other people in the world have had different experiences with life and many times express those experiences in the arts (songs/drawings/photography/movies/books etc....) I don't want to shield my kids from life, even if it's not their life.

 

[ICF]

at 6 yes.....at 16 (when they get there) propbably not....as long as I don't have to listen to it too.

 

[wenrob]

For those that censor, I'm wondering how far do you go? Is Classic Rock (The Eagles, Steve Miller Band, The Beatles) okay? We have probably 300 gigs of music, stuff from the mid fifties on up. Rock, country, metal, speed metal, pop, southern rock, the blues, jazz...the only thing we don't really have anything much of is rap. I cannot think of a single album that does not have some kind of reference to sex, drugs or alcohol. C'mon how high were the Beatles?!?! Even the tamest performers have references to making love. Most music is based on life experience and I figure if I filter my kids on the common themes there really isn't much left. I choose instead to explain (or try to, LOL) what these people might have been thinking when they wrote what they did. DD and I have had excellent discussions about songs and their meanings.

 

[Planogirl]

I limited Rap and Hip-hop when DS was young but he wasn't all that interested in it anyhow. He's 16 now and I haven't censored anything in years. I prefer for him to find his own way with music much as I did.

 

[Minnesota!]

I just find it hilarious that so many people are against rap! Not slamming anyone at all - just an observation! That is mainly what I listen to My kids are well schooled in rap and hip hop!

 

[Planogirl]

I'm not against Rap even if I don't care for it. Much of the lyrics were too explicit for my taste when DS was younger and I just drew the line at all of it except for a few artists. I'm talking young elementary school age though.

 

[MamaLema]

I try not to, but one day we were driving in the car and DS6 was singing along to the radio. A song by Pitbull came on and I listened to my 6 year old sing "meet me in the hotel room" and I've been careful every since.

I also am surprised to all the rap music responses. I personally don't like rap, but I know that there are a LOT of crude lyrics out there by non-rap artists. I started reading the lyrics to DS13 music (Nickelback, Green Day) and I didn't like it at all.

 

[turkeymama]

For those that censor, I'm wondering how far do you go? Is Classic Rock (The Eagles, Steve Miller Band, The Beatles) okay? We have probably 300 gigs of music, stuff from the mid fifties on up. Rock, country, metal, speed metal, pop, southern rock, the blues, jazz...the only thing we don't really have anything much of is rap. I cannot think of a single album that does not have some kind of reference to sex, drugs or alcohol. C'mon how high were the Beatles?!?! Even the tamest performers have references to making love. Most music is based on life experience and I figure if I filter my kids on the common themes there really isn't much left. I choose instead to explain (or try to, LOL) what these people might have been thinking when they wrote what they did. DD and I have had excellent discussions about songs and their meanings.

I know my answer won't be real popular with some (not you in particular), but there are plenty of albums that don't have references to sex, drugs and alcohol. Although we listen to a wide variety of music, many times, we choose to listen to contemporary Christian music in the car. There are lots of options out there if someone doesn't want to hear about "life experiences" that include sex, drugs or alcohol. Those choices aren't always popular with the mainstream, though.

 

[Acklander]

I try not to, but one day we were driving in the car and DS6 was singing along to the radio. A song by Pitbull came on and I listened to my 6 year old sing "meet me in the hotel room" and I've been careful every since.

yeah but the "meet me in the hotel room" phrase has a much different meaning to your 6 year old than it does to an adult.
I remember once when DS was about that age he was singing along to "The Joker" from the Steve Miller Band. He'd sing it as "I'm a Joker, I'm a smoker, I play midnight Poker" because the phrase "I'm a midnight toker" made no sense to him at all.

 

[JerseyJanice]

yeah but the "meet me in the hotel room" phrase has a much different meaning to your 6 year old than it does to an adult.
I remember once when DS was about that age he was singing along to "The Joker" from the Steve Miller Band. He'd sing it as "I'm a Joker, I'm a smoker, I play midnight Poker" because the phrase "I'm a midnight toker" made no sense to him at all.

When my niece was little, she interpreted Madonna's "Papa Don't Preach" as "Tropical Beach."

 

[turkeymama]

yeah but the "meet me in the hotel room" phrase has a much different meaning to your 6 year old than it does to an adult.
I remember once when DS was about that age he was singing along to "The Joker" from the Steve Miller Band. He'd sing it as "I'm a Joker, I'm a smoker, I play midnight Poker" because the phrase "I'm a midnight toker" made no sense to him at all.

I get what you're saying. My sister lives by pretty much the same logic, so I'm not arguing with you. Just sharing an alternative viewpoint.

If I flip someone the bird in traffic, the meaning will go right over my DS's head (he is 5). I'm still not going to take a chance and do it. Like I said earlier, listening to lyrics with questionable content (whatever that may be) is no different than allowing someone to say those things in my home. To me, its the same thing.

 

[NHdisneylover]

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.

Funny you wrote that. When I was posting this morning DD13 was reading over my shoulder. She said that telling a kid they cannot listen to a song is probably the best way to guarantee they will find out the lyrics and pay attention to what they mean So true--I could have cared less about the song Darling Nikki right up until I went back to school after Christmas break and found out I was the only kid in sixth grade whose parents had not erased that song before giving them the Purple Rain cassette--THEN I had to listen to it and decipher it (and everyone else in school listened to my version too! It was the only time in my life I was popular).

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....

Everyone was singing that song. I am amazed that more than one or two of the members of the group would have thought anything of it. There have been a few songs that I asked DS not to sing in public when he was younger--I just told him some grown ups would not like a kid singing the song; mostly the grown ups who think kids should listen to Raffi and Barney (he did not like either). He was fine with it (Mostly I remember worrying about other parents being upset if he sang Grease Lightening in front of their kids; he had a sing along DVD of that so he had the lyrics spot on and they were easy to understand when he sang them and he loved that song for a while).

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....

Both of my children would beg to differ. They hate the "ruined" versions of songs put out by kidz bop. It has nothing to do with the lyrics and everything to to with the vocals and instrumentation. They are both very picky about their music--just about any song with mulitple versions has them choosing a "good" version. Letting them listen to whatever has resulted in a 13 year old whose favourites include Buddy Holly, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Kenny Loggins, James Taylor and lots of Broadway as well as Mozart and Vivaldi. DS11 is more all over the map listening today to everything from Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Queen, Micahel Jackson, Oingo Boingo, Melissa Etheridge, Gwen Stefani, the Scorpions, Fergie, Will Smith, Eminem, stuff by David Guetta, etc. etc. and on and on--that kids has LOVED Music since he was a toddler (that list is what I can recall him playing today).

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.

Same here. I was absolutely the "good girl" in my high school group. This was commented on by the kids and the adults all the darned time. Yet, I was the only kid I knew who never had books or music censored at all. My dad was a DJ so I generally had the music ASAP as well.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I am very conservative but would never censor my children's music. Each generation is entitled to their own!

TC

 

[clovergirl5]

Funny you wrote that. WHen i was posting this morning DD13 was reading over my shoulder. She said that telling a kid they cannot listen to a song is probably the best way to guarantee they will find out the lyrics and pay attention to what they mean So true--I could have cared less about the song Darling Nikki right up until I went back to school after Christmas break and found out I was the only kid in sixth grade whose parents had not erased that song before giving them the Purple Rain cassette--THEN I had to listn to it and edcipher it (and everyoen else in school listened to my version too! It was the only time in my life I was popular).

Everyone was singing that song. I am amazed that more than one or two of the members of the gorup would have thought anythign of it. There have been a few songs taht i asked DS not to sing in public when he was younger--I just told him some grown ups would not like a kid singing the song; mostly the grown ups who think kids should listen to Raffi and Barney (he did not like either). He was fine with it (Mostly I remember worrying baout otehr parents being upset if he sang Grease Lightening in front of their kids; he had a sing along DVD of that so he had the lyrics spot on and they were easy to understand when he sang them and he loved that song for a while).



Both of my children would beg to differ. They hate the "ruined" versions of songs put out by kidz bop. It has nothing to do with the lyrics and everyting to to with the vocals and instrumentation. They are both very picky about their music. Letting them listen to whatever has resulted in a 13 year old whose favourites include Buddy Holly, Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Kenny Loggins, James Taylor and lots of Broadway as well as Mozart and Vivaldi. DS11 is more all over the map listing everything from Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Queen, Micahel Jackson, Oingo Boingo, Melissa Etheridge, Gwen Stefani, the Scorpians, Fergie, Will Smith, Eminem, stuff by David Guetta, etc. etc. and on and on--that kids has LOVED Music since he was a toddler (that list is what I can recall him playing today).



Same here. I was absolutely the "good girl" in my high school group. This was commented on by the kids and the adults all the darned time. Yet, I was the only kid i knew who never had books or music censored at all. My dad was a DJ so I generally had the music ASAP as well.

Darling Nikki is somewhat ranc Thats a funny story!

 

[luvmy3]

yeah but the "meet me in the hotel room" phrase has a much different meaning to your 6 year old than it does to an adult.
I remember once when DS was about that age he was singing along to "The Joker" from the Steve Miller Band. He'd sing it as "I'm a Joker, I'm a smoker, I play midnight Poker" because the phrase "I'm a midnight toker" made no sense to him at all.

My kids come right and ask about what something means if they don't understand it. In fact my 6 year old asked what a toker was (because mom subjects him to alot of Steve Miller ) and I flat out told him the truth. I didn't really see a need to hide it from him.
He also asked why Britney Spears sounds sick (where she moans) in her song "Three" and I said because she is sick, very sick