The Simpsons.

[Justbecauseofit]

Just wondered what people thought of this.

So The Simpsons has been a long running cartoon which has been on at around 6pm on ‘general tv’ for a very long time. I remember watching it as a kid myself, it was a normal thing just to be on the tv ‘in the background’ in our home.

A lot of the jokes of course, very political, went over my head, way too young for me to understand. When I was an adult I of course saw the programme in a different light of understanding. But otherwise, it was a common thing for us children to watch on my home and for others at school in my youth, so much I even remember sitting at my friends house and watching it with her family when I went over for tea (primary school).

So my DD is 10. Being a cartoon she’s sat and watched it briefly a few times when nothing has been on and she’s either eating her tea or just generally pottering around.

We have Disney plus, which she’s been watching more. Most recently, I’d say over the past few days she’s been watching the old reruns of The Simpson’s. I noticed the r rating was a 12 - which I didn’t think too much of, some mild sweating which she knows not to repeat but me and my partner sat down to watch with her the other day (it’s been years since both of us watched it!) and was surprised at how much we forgot the inappropriateness for a child of her age!
The swearing and the showing of cartoon ‘butts’ doesn’t bother me, it’s the constant references to sex I didn’t realise exactly how much there was - probably because when I was younger it completely went over my head enough for me to realise what was going on! I cringed at one point at a scene with Ned Flanders and a typical ‘tall sexy blonde’ and as much as she has not asked about sex yet I know she probably has somewhat of an idea, she does okay with older children at school. In my view now, some of the scenes are enough to guess that sex is a thing between adults and it happens frequently.

She has not mentioned anything I’m very surprised she did not turn around and ask what it was.

As much as I don’t usually mind her watching 12 rated things at 10 depending what it is - it had been enough for me to question this so I was wondering what everyone else’s take on it is? Do you or would you let your children of the same age watch it?

[quote Justbecauseofit]@mooongooose

I think that I’ve overthought it that much that I didn’t know whether I was being a shit mum by exposing her too early to that stuff or overreacting. It’s clear from the responses that it’s probably the latter!

She has said she wants to watch a horror film soon… mum can I please watch Annabelle?

Errr… no!!

So I’ve been looking at some not too scary but appropriate ones for her to watch and the best I could come up with was Signs 😂[/quote]
What about The Others with Nicole Kidman? Spooky, but not horror as such. It is a 12 rating though.

We used to be avid Simpsons watchers, but now we just don't watch it. I hate the violence between Homer and Bart and how Marge is so put upon. Sometimes it has some clever moments, but they seem to be less and less.

A lot of older tv (and songs) has ALOT of sexual references. Watching a lot of the older stuff on gold etc with kids is a bit now. But it was just normal and went over our heads.
I wonder if some of these are older ones as well as the censoring issue.

DS3 had sex education talk at school in year 5 when he was 9. DS2 taught himself from books from about 6, apart from asking about a few practicalities when he was 9.

*What about The Others with Nicole Kidman? Spooky, but not horror as such. It is a 12 rating though.

We used to be avid Simpsons watchers, but now we just don't watch it. I hate the violence between Homer and Bart and how Marge is so put upon. Sometimes it has some clever moments, but they seem to be less and less.*

I can't comment on the other shows you mentioned as I haven't seen them, but to me all the handwringing over the simpsons is a bit Helen Lovejoy. I just can't see the issue. Kids will see stuff like lingerie adverts out and about. We'd probably roll our eyes at a parent being precious over something like that, you know? Especially when kids are whispering much worse on the playground

It's all relative of course but I just think that basically everyone grew up watching the simpsons. The strangling with homer isn't good, but the fact it's a cartoon- it will never have the same impact as a live-action character doing the same.

I'm probably biased because I love the older simpsons episodes. It never occurred to me that a show like this would be inappropriate because I was playing GTA at 10 years old and turned out fine

What about The Others with Nicole Kidman? Spooky, but not horror as such. It is a 12 rating though.

I was going to suggest that but actually thinking about it that's exactly what my parents thought when I was at that age and it terrified me! I would be much more worried about horror than sexual themes, it had much more of a negative affect on me as a kid.

I think you need to sit her down and talk about sex with her to be honest. She's old and for you to not have had the discussion is odd. Better to hear it in a safe way from you than from others...

Simpsons wasn't allowed in my house growing up. My mother has no time for anything animated, annoys the hell out of her. I never liked itchy and scratchy so that was fine by me.
I still remember my SIL having this exact conversation with my mother, that she'd put it on for my nephew and was shocked at how mature in places it seemed.

I grew up watching the simpsons, most of the sex talk and innuendos went over my head completely, even when Marge was shown to be naked in bed with Homer I never really thought anything of it

However, I remember as a teen watching an episode with my much younger siblings where Marge and Homers sex life is dwindling so they start having sex in public because of the thrill. This then features a scene of them cuddling naked (homers ass Is visible so there’s no doubt about what they’re doing ) in a windmill on a mini golf course , they get discovered and flee through the town naked and then end up in a packed football stadium with every one photographing them , so they stop trying to cover themselves with their hands and relish in being photographed completely naked with all the eyes “leering “ at them. When the photos feature in the paper They try and explain it to the kids but end up getting turned on by the memory of it all and rush out of the house to go back to the golf course leaving the kids home alone.

Honestly I found that was the episode for me where the simpsons crossed over from “family viewing”
Another was Marge getting a boob job and everyone gushing over her huge boobs , there was even a song about it. compared to say the episode where Homer dances with the stripper or when Bart works at the burlesque house - while those dealt with adult themes the later episodes just seemed so much more explicit

Monster House is good. Such a sad story at the end.

It started when I was 10 and I’ve always watched it…. so much went over my head that I didn’t get.
It is pretty much DHs favourite show and he and DD (6) watch it together almost every evening. Loads goes over her head, some things prompt questions and some she finds funny.

On another note….. at nearly 10 sure your daughter needs to be told about sex?? Just some basic info. Otherwise she’s likely to hear a lot of inaccurate info from other kids.

she’s played pretend ‘dating’ games with her step sister before where they pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend and they have pretended to ‘snog’
😲

@CreamFirstThenJamOnTop
It’s something that’s crossed my mind to sit down and have the talk with her. I remember my mum doing it (around 11/12?) wayyy too late. My dad even later at 16 tried to and I just laughed at him . Proper cringey memory! I will have a look in to having a sit down and a formal chat about it I’d no idea where to start or how to even go about it though

@bubblebath62636 just to clarify, they don’t actually kiss, just make kissing noises at each other and call it snogging!

@HarrietsChariot

The Simpsons has been censored on TV for many years, Disney has the uncut versions. Things like Skinner saying "wankers" and Moe signing on as a sex offender, or Marge realising how good she looks with a handgun tend to be edited out of TV broadcases.

People seem to ignore the fact it's not a kids' show.

OMG I had no idea!!! I've been watching it since I was quite young.

Can not believe skinners says wanker! Heading over Disney plus for some unedited fun!

There's sex in most things that aren't cartoons for very young kids. There has to be a point at which the lines are blurred as boundaries are crossed and I think the Simpsons does that quite well.

There's sex in Coronation Street and EastEnders, but no one decides to shield their 10 year olds from that.

I think your approach is right. Usually on these threads there are some posters who come along and won't entertain the idea of someone watching a 12 when they're 11 - as if they suddenly mature on the morning of their 12th birthday - and go on to preach about 'lazy parenting'.

There obviously are some aspects which may be a little on the nose, but in general something like The Simpsons would be suitable for those your daughter's age.

As others have said, she'll know about sex at her age, and some jokes will either go over her head or they'll embarrass her and she'll skip that part next time she watches.

I didn't let mine watch it until y5.

I've watched the Simpsons since I was about 5, and seen the 'unedited' versions multiple times. I don't remember any occasion where Principal Skinner says 'wankers'.

There are episodes where swearing is bleeped out (Homer shouting 'fuck' where only the F is heard and the rest is covered out by other noises) but not explicit swearing.

DS (12) has loved it for a few years now (so, since he was 9 or so). I grew up on it so was happy to have something I actually liked watching to watch with him. I agree, it's a bit too much boring innuendo but it has gone over his head for the most part.

I can highly recommend Phineas and Ferb on Disney Plus if you've got it btw. Very clever, just kids filling their summer with creative shenanigans. It's DS's other favourite show and would be great for a 10 year old.

Not principle skinner but I’ve just googled and found this m.youtube.com/watch?v=i1mciwNRVT0 homer says it

@cakewench
We are massive phineas and ferb fans. One summer we tried to complete the theme tune list.
Just managed it! With a bit of license for interpretation

My 10 year old has recently started watching the simpsons too. I was really suprised at how much sexual reference is in the episodes, especially the newer ones.

We made the decision, after a couple of paticularly sexual and drug related episodes, that he has to wait untill he is older to watch anymore.

I was never allowed to watch The Simpsons as a kid - and when I did start watching it in my mid-teens I can see it's really not appropriate for young children!

It's a great cartoon and very clever but it's not a show for children.

@icedcoffees

I was never allowed to watch The Simpsons as a kid - and when I did start watching it in my mid-teens I can see it's really not appropriate for young children!

It's a great cartoon and very clever but it's not a show for children.

I think that really depends on the child tbh. I watched The Simpsons from being a young kid and can confirm it did me zero harm.

I think that really depends on the child tbh. I watched The Simpsons from being a young kid and can confirm it did me zero harm.

Just because it's not harmful doesn't mean it's appropriate.

@PoolNooodle what's wrong with that scene? Is it the innuendo around 'do not touch willie' (which I always found amusing)

Funily enough 'the others' was first film I thought of too! But thinking on it, no, the 'possession' scene is wayyyy too scary for a 10 year old.

I'd stick to monster horrors. Vampires abs werewolves.

But no ghosts films or she'll never sleep again lol.
And probably no slasher films either as they often contain sex/torture scenes. ...though some of the Halloween films might be OK?