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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What age do you think The Simpsons is suitable for?

37 replies

HuffwardlyRouge · 20/07/2009 10:30

I think it is unsuitable for our 3-year-old.

I think the Itchy & Scratchy violence is horrible. I have noticed dd copying the violence between Homer and Bart. She laughs like a drain when people hit and strangle each other.

She has also taken to pointing her bottom at her father or I and 'talking out of it' like Bart does.

She just loves it. Even when she hadn't seen it for months and months she still asks if she's allowed it every time you ask her if she'd like to watch a dvd.

Dh and I agreed last year that it isn't suitable and we completely stopped her watching it ever. Now I notice she is watching The Simpsons Film with dh now and then.

I ask AIBU because the time they watch it is when dh has got up early with her and I am getting an extra hour in bed (because I've been up all night with ds). I strongly believe that it is entirely up to dh to decide how he wants to spend his time up with the children at 6am or earlier!

But, but, but... I hate her watching Simpsons.

Am I right? It's horrid for young children, isn't it? Or am I being a wally? AIBU?

OP posts:
TitsalinaBumsquash · 20/07/2009 10:35

My 4year old watches it! Hed loves it, but i don't think he understands a lot of it. He has never copied any violence from watching it, we always make sure to confir that Bart and Homer are Being silly or whatever.

MorningTownRide · 20/07/2009 10:38

DC are 2 and 4 and they love the film and watch the series. They don't copy the violence or the language.

Although do be careful your dd doesn't end up saying "Bountiful penis. Amen"

TsarChasm · 20/07/2009 10:42

I agree with you actually Huff.

Mine watch it sometimes now they're older (10and7). When they were younger I didn't really want them to watch it though.

There are so many other (gentler) programmes aimed at 3yr olds, it seems a shame to bypass that stage and go straight into cheeky fart/Bart jokes.

Even I realised that I wasn't going to keep them away from the Simpsons forever, but at 3 there didn't seem any need for it and they weren't really aware of it either then as I remember.

randomtask · 20/07/2009 10:44

My 7 year old loves it but sometimes we 'distract' him during bits that I feel aren't suitable (older jokes etc). He doesn't copy the violent parts but he does laugh at the rude (and the violent) bits. I'm (probably) a bit prudish so I wouldn't let my child watch it until they were old enough to realise it's okay when it's on tv but not real life IYSWIM.

bruffin · 20/07/2009 10:44

Mine watched it from little,part of their bedtime routine and it didn't do them any harm.
They never copied the violence and have grown up nice polite children

ipiratethief · 20/07/2009 10:44

my d has been watching it since the age of about 3, tbh I am more uncomfortable now that she is 7 with her watching it. As she understands more of it iyswim, yet generally, I am ok with it.

bruffin · 20/07/2009 10:45

The older jokes go straight over their heads by the way.

Original poster
HuffwardlyRouge · 20/07/2009 10:48

Exactly Tsar. We have Dora or Tikkabilla or Finding Nemo or Maisy Mouse or any number of nice, gentle, interesting dvds. Why is she so much more impressed with Simpsons?

The Itchy and Scratchy bits are just nasty. And the knowing joke is that Bart and Lisa fall about laughing, totally desensitised to the violence and horror...

OP posts:
ReneRusso · 20/07/2009 10:51

Mine have watched it since about 4 years old. The thing I used to wince at was liberal use of the word crap . If you're really going to overanalyse it, the overall moral message tends to be good.

Dineysor · 20/07/2009 10:53

3 is too young
8 up I would say

Original poster
HuffwardlyRouge · 20/07/2009 10:56

The overall moral message, good or bad, goes flying over my 3-year-old's head. She just notices the strangling, the 'crap', the butt talking, the rudeness and the shouting.

I think I'm convincing myself that I'm right here. Will gently ask dh if they can watch something different. He will happily oblige, I know, which is why I wanted to be sure I'm not being a nag for the sake of it before I said anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
HuffwardlyRouge · 20/07/2009 10:57

God, but she loves it though. Why? Why is it so much more appealing to her than Charlie and Lola?

OP posts:
Dineysor · 20/07/2009 10:59

move her onto disney? then she can be talking with atuhority about dating

potplant · 20/07/2009 11:01

Mine DTs are 6 and they love it - I don't mind it because a lot of the stuff which is aimed at an adult audience they don't get.

Although I agree with the Itchy and Scratchy comments - they don't know its ironic.

I find things like Ben 10 and Power Rangers much more offensive tbh. Its just complete rubbish.

ipiratethief · 20/07/2009 11:01

cos it's just funnier, and lots of slapstick, always appeals to little ones .

Dineysor · 20/07/2009 11:02

love this about disney chanel

fortyplus · 20/07/2009 11:06

If she's watching the Simpsons film that presumably means you have the dvd? That's hardly steering her away from it is it?

I tried to avoid the Simpsons till mine were about 8 but they did watch it at friends' houses. It won't turn her into a delinquent

FimbleHobbs · 20/07/2009 11:14

Mine are 2 and 4 and they like the TV show, which I let them watch occasionally on evenings when its too early for bed but they're too tired from nursery to do much but veg. Haven't seen the film.

I must admit I like watching something that we can all watch... DH and I will veg out too if the Simpsons is on and its nice. Can't say the same for ITNG etc.

Tinker · 20/07/2009 11:18

LOL (in a non-nasty way!) at "Why is it so much more appealing to her than Charlie and Lola?" C&L are very annoying though aren't they?

I only noticed teh other day that Mr Potato Head sticks his mouth on his bottom when Woody starts talking in one scene

Is Itchy & Scratchy any more violent than Tom & Jerry etc? I wholly approve of The Simpsons for kids.

BonsoirAnna · 20/07/2009 11:22

DD (4.8) watches The Simpsons (dubbed in French) with her older brothers (11, 14) and has done for at least two years now. It is about the only thing she has ever seen on TV - all the rest of her viewing is DVDs selected by me for their great content.

I really don't understand the appeal of The Simpsons for her, but she loves it. I reckon that one or two viewings a fortnight won't do her much harm, especially given the rest of the media she is exposed to.

mumeeee · 20/07/2009 12:14

3 is to young. I think it's okay for over 8's.

proverbial · 20/07/2009 12:15

Mine have watched it forever, they love futurama too. They don't get most of it, have never copied anything other than DS1's new favourite phrase "Unhand me Yankee!" which he got from a recent episode

I far prefer it to the likes of Power Rangers and most of the stuff on Jetix and cartoon network, which is almost completely banned here. The Simpsons I have no problem with, its part of the bedtime routine now, and I'm not changing what works!

neversaydie · 20/07/2009 12:22

DS tends to adopt role models and copy behaviour. DH and I agreed fairly early on that funny though the Simpsons is (are?) we really didn't want to be raising a mini Bart Simpson.

So it is not regular viewing at home. DS is now 10 and enjoys the programme occasionally, but certainly doesn't feel he is missing out because it is not on the regular viewing list.

Family Guy is banned for the under 21's in our house on the same basis!

TitsalinaBumsquash · 20/07/2009 12:25

DP finds it strange that i let my DS's watch The Sipsons but not Power Rangers or Spiderman, Simpsons is light hearted and obviously all a big joke, Spiderman can geta bit dark at times.

serenity · 20/07/2009 12:30

Things like this are difficult - The Simpsons is on at a 'reasonable' hour, DSs like watching it. Do I ban DD from the living room while they watch it, or do I only allow them to watch little kids programmes because of DD? There has to be a compromise once you start spanning age ranges. DD knows that what happens on TV isn't always acceptable in RL (as do boys!) and we've never had any unfortunate side effects so far crosses fingers

As eldest child, I doubt DS1 was watching it at 3 (although I remember an obsession with Tom and Jerry when he was a bit older, and that's just as violent albeit more 'cartoony')