Would you let your 14 year old watch Family Guy

[mjkacmom]

You seriously watch this show and think the subject matter is appropriate for young children? I'm not pushing my nearly 14yo to be that advanced in his education. I find their shows to be very adult in nature most of the time and ok for maybe 15-16yo high school students but certainly not 10-12 yo kids. I'm pretty liberal and have had very open conversations with my son but their inuendo is so sexual or violent towards each other sometimes not to mention graphic verbally. I just can not see myself using this show for educational purposes.

My ds11 knows about sex, oral sex, birth control, STD's - and has for a couple of years. It's amazing how the facts get mixed up on the playground. There are oral sex parties going on in the middle school crowd. Kids use very foul language with their friends (my gf's dd hangs out with my dd, the "smart, geeky, choir kid crowd," and her dd gets made fun of because she won't curse. They play a game called F*ck, Kill, or Marry, from Howard Stern - my gf's dd tells her everything). I can't imagine what's going on with the "populars". I have never heard any of my kids curse, ever.

 

[GJM]

I hate to admit but my DS 9 watches this show, he started watching it with my DH. I HATE this show, I just think it is so wrong. Half of the stuff he doesn't get at all. But some of his friends also have watched the show.

You have to do what is best for your family.

 

[Ohiodislover]

My 10, and 14 Y.O. watch it.

We probably let our kids watch more than they should, but we also talk about how inappropriate, and WHY they are inappropriate. all things--song lyrics, tv shows, books, pics, videos, internet sites etc.

It works for our family. My kids will turn Family Guy, or other shows off at times, or change their mind about what songs they want on IPODs. They filter themselves--A trait that will certainly help them later in life.

 

[browneyes106]

I think it's ok for him to watch Family Guy at his age. I was 12 when South Park started and I got into that show right way. I was around 14 or 15 when FG first came out on Fox. My parents were ok with me watching it mainly because I was older and they figured they would no longer be in control of what I watch on TV.

 

[MM27]

I had never watched Family Guy until last year when my students were talking about it and they were shocked that I had never seen it. I made it a point to watch it and I couldn't believe that they (4th graders) watched the show. I don't have kids, but I certainly wouldn't allow 9 and 10 year olds to watch it. 14 though? That's a different story. I wouldn't keep a 14 year old from watching if they like it.

 

[suejai]

Anyway....where I'm going with this, is even though the masses may allow something, it doesn't mean you have to. I applaud you in your efforts to keep your son from this show, and don't cave because of others - stay strong!!!!

Thanks for the support Slo

I don't think they would be shocked or offended by anything in that show (and it's really funny).

This is my point in not letting him watch - they should be shocked and offended by some of the things on this show. You don't find the casual verbal and physical abuse of his daughter offensive and shocking? You don't find the hatred aimed at ethnic groups offensive and shocking? And this is all besides the warped views on sex and relationships the show gives. Children and teenagers do not have the same brain patterns that adults do, based on experiential stimuli - meaning they haven't learned how to appropriately filter the things they see and hear. They most likely do not understand that the writers are using satire when Peter says some of the things he does; all they see is that it is funny, and Mom and Dad are laughing, so therefore it must be okay to say hurtful, and hateful things. Especially when younger children are watching. Is my son mature enough at this point to filter most of it - yes probably, am I going let him watch, the jury is still out. I'm not trying to protect him from sex and foul language, I want him to develop a strong moral, compassionate and tolerant centre and I don't believe that seeing shows like this at too young an age promote this. And no, I have absolutley no religious agenda in any of this.

My ds11 knows about sex, oral sex, birth control, STD's - and has for a couple of years. It's amazing how the facts get mixed up on the playground. There are oral sex parties going on in the middle school crowd. Kids use very foul language with their friends (my gf's dd hangs out with my dd, the "smart, geeky, choir kid crowd," and her dd gets made fun of because she won't curse. They play a game called F*ck, Kill, or Marry, from Howard Stern - my gf's dd tells her everything). I can't imagine what's going on with the "populars". I have never heard any of my kids curse, ever.

Am I the only one who sees the correlation between these behaviours and allowing children to watch age inappropriate shows, movies, songs, video games etc ??? Knowing about sex etc is educational and prevents teenage pregnancy and STD's but what you are describing goes way beyond. And mjkacmom, no I don't believe you condone any of this behaviour, I'm just using your comments to illustrate my points, because I do think these things are going on everywhere.

These are of course just my opinions, what other people do and allow in their own homes is up to them. I just wanted to see what the majority of parents were allowing.

Thank you for all your comments, I appreciate them.

 

[Fintastic]

A 14-year-old? Sure. Nothing on that show would be new to them anyway.

 

[IDoDis]

No, I wouldn't. It has to do more with being a parent instead of a "friend" and setting a good example. My DH and I do not watch it and we're adults who can make our own decisions. I find if offensive and crude. No wonder our world is filled with racism, hatred and middle schooler kids playing those games that a PP mentioned.

Your DS may end up watching it anyway with his friends or on youtube, but at least he knows your morals and values and will respect you for it later in life when he's a dad.

 

[Jennasis]

When I was a kid, we snuck my parents LP's of Eddie Murphy nd Robin Williams' RAUNCHY as heck comedy acts and listened to them in the basement. I didn't understand half of the jokes but laughed because the audience did...same thing with Mel Brook's Comedies. My point is, if your son wants to watch the show, he will find a way in this information-immediately age. Why not wtach WITH him so you can at least have a discussion afterwards (barf...how awkward for the kid, but it's a suggestion).

I am not messed up from sneaking those adult comedy albums. And as an adult I certainly to not have any additional respect for my parents for not allowing us to have them.

 

[Gina]

You seriously watch this show and think the subject matter is appropriate for young children? I'm not pushing my nearly 14yo to be that advanced in his education. I find their shows to be very adult in nature most of the time and ok for maybe 15-16yo high school students but certainly not 10-12 yo kids. I'm pretty liberal and have had very open conversations with my son but their inuendo is so sexual or violent towards each other sometimes not to mention graphic verbally. I just can not see myself using this show for educational purposes.

I didn't say educational... I'm saying he can, will, and does see worse on the daily news and everywhere else in life. But teens don't take well to seriousness, so if we're watching something funny it's easier to open that door to conversation, even later.

My mom -- and I love her to death -- swore that my brother and I would end up robbing convenience stores with pantyhose over our faces if we watched "The Three Stooges." We had to sneak into the tv room early in the morning to watch. Surprisingly, we both turned out just fine, and to this day I still the Three Stooges.

"Family Guy" isn't going to ruin my son... I'd sooner let him watch that than the nightly news.

 

[olena]

For those who do let your teens watch, do your kids even get all the jokes? When I watch it, I have a great laugh at the parts making fun of the stuff from when I was a kid in the 70s & 80s. Does that stuff go over their heads?

 

[MichelleVW]

We are a family of Family Guy fans. The show is horrible and I will say that at least once during the show, but we watch it and laugh anyway...

The girls have been watching it for probably a few years, they don't usually turn it on, but they will watch it with DH if it's on.

 

[jemgumby]

I am NOT ashamed to say we watch Family Guy together as a family and LOVE it!!!! Yes, there is some sexual references but they go over my DD's head. Let's face it, the sexual references are hard to avoid. They are in pretty much every movie, t.v. show, etc. What I like about Family Guy is it makes fun of narrow minded bigots like Peter Griffith. It really shows how stupid their way of thinking is and then it slams them!!! AWESOME!!! One of my favorites is when Meg wants to make friends and she and Peter are having a heart to heart talk and she says "I guess if I want people to like me I will just have to be myself" and Peter says "No Meg, nobody likes a girl who is just herself. They only like you if you act like THEY want you to be"......To me it is like All in Family just in a cartoon way......Now this is just my opinion but I feel South Park to be offensive while I feel Family Guy not to be. SImpsons doesn't bother me a bit. South Park to me is just crude humour without any kind of point. I just don't find that funny.

 

[AristocatFan]

No. DS(15) had it on the other evening and it was the first time DH and I had seen any of it. It was terrible! We found it very bad and made him turn the channel. DS(17) watches sometimes on his own when younger siblings aren't around. And that's okay, he's older and knows we don't like it, so he will change it if we walk in the room.

But I do have to admit. We(not DD(10)) watch Two and a Half Men together and I always comment on how horrible/onery that show has become, but we still laugh like crazy!

 

[Cinderella94]

My parents let my 11 year old brother watch it. I'm pretty sure they think he's too dumb to get the jokes .

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I wouldn't have a problem with it, unless there were some other circumstances, some kids aren't ready for it but I think most 14 year old probably are ready to be able to handle the content in family guy. I can't believe when adults watch it on the other hand... all along I was thinking it was geared towards 14 year old boys Then again I know plenty of grown, successful adults (my DH included) who also watch spongebob and other nick cartoons

 

[CathrynRose]

For those who do let your teens watch, do your kids even get all the jokes? When I watch it, I have a great laugh at the parts making fun of the stuff from when I was a kid in the 70s & 80s. Does that stuff go over their heads?

Yeah - they get it. But we watch a lot of and make references to a lot of "80's" stuff.

 

[HunnyPots]

Would and did. I personally can't stand the show but both kids and my husband like it. They also watched Southpark and grew up on the Simpsons.
I remember when my daughter (now 22) was 2 and my more uptight friends were shocked at her knowing who Bart Simpson was!

 

[rparmfamily]

I personally can't stand the show but will watch it for a bit w/DH, and he always ends up changing the channel. I can't imagine letting my kids watch it anytime soon, like for at least 10 yrs LOL.

 

[rie'smom]

While I would not allow a 7 yo yo watch it, I would allow any child (depending on maturity level) to watch it from age 12. I think it's idiotic and my daughter has never wanted to watch it.
South Park we've been watching together for a few years and she is 15.