To let DD watch The Simpsons?

[KellyEllyChristmasBelly]

That's its really. My DD is three and we usually have The Simpsons on while I get her bathed and dried at 6pm. Her dad (who let her watch Iron Man!! With her 8 year old sister) said I am a bad parent for doing so. We are not together btw so not to drip feed. Genuinely interested in opinions. She loves it!

That's the thing about "adult themes" to me, they seem to be very arbitrary and normally more accurately "what I don't think my children should learn about/want my children to see/hear" which is fine as obviously everyone has to raise their children to their own conscience but I have seen breastfeeding and birth described as "adult themes", homosexuality etc and I think those things are just life not adult life.

And anything I might describe as "adult" is something I'm not to sure many adults are equipped to see/hear!

Simpsons part of the bedtime routine here as well.
In fact everyday we all climb into bed and watch it together
DS 4 loves it and always says "Is Homer on yet?"

offredI completely agree, and that's exactly what happened when ds watched it and asked about it, some people might not be so up for that conversation over the breakfast table

It's not your normal common or garden cartoon.

Yes DS watched Simpsons from a young age. All fine until now when he is 6 and called someone "gay" as an insult - asked him where he got it from and yup you got it The dear old Simpsons. There are also sexual references and lots of unsuitable themes that will pass right over a 3- 4 yr olds head but not a 6 years old.

It's not great but I'd be fighting a losing battle against both DH and DS to try and ban it.

To those with younger children, I would try to gently wean them off it by the age of about 5, wish I had.

They do filter the Simpsons so that those suitable for pre-watershed viewing get played before 6pm. Those deemed not suitable are shown later. But I do remember them accidentally showing one before the watershed that had the word 'wanker' in it. I don't think it ideal viewing for kids, I try to steer mine clear of it. However, the stuff they love on the disney channel is utter dross.

Mine, who are 7, 6, 3 and 3 watch it occasionally. The 7 and 6 year olds definitely know what gay really means and I have talked to them about gay being used as an insult and what that might mean in society/to gay people.

I wouldn't want them watching the Disney channel but we don't have it so not an issue. If they watch it at someone else's house I'm not bothered. I'd probably mostly prefer them to learn about some things described as "adult themes" like how words are used, bullying, sex, sexuality etc than watch any of the things which are meant for children which I often think are pointlessly upsetting and retain a lot of the features of the things people describe as "adult themes"; sex, violence etc but without exploring or explaining them or giving any reasons for them.

I bought a few cartoon dvds from my childhood - bugs bunny, tom and jerry etc. They are definately worse than The Simpsons! It was strange when I was watching them with DD as I didn't remember them like that which probably goes to show a lot washes over children.

To be honest I think some of the stuff on the Disney Channel are much worse. At least in the Simpsons Bart is a kid being a kid whereas on all the Disney Channel nonsense it's all about dating and looking good and things which makes me feel sad as I think children already grow up too quickly these days!

I thought I was clicking on this thread to watch the OP get flamed. So glad shes not.

DD1 3.10 watches it. Its a refreshing change from cbeebies. I have wondered a few times if she should but most of it washes over her (and the fact her dad wont let her watch it at his seems to make it desirable)

I agree with Offred. Some things people protect children from are things they should really be learning about or learning how to deal with. I felt very sheltered as a child and would rather have been guided than protected.

Yes Tom and jerry carries a mandatory warning!