Show Too Old for a 6 Year Old?

I saw an episode the other day. They are in HS, not Jr. High. I would say that it is a bit too old for a 6yr old.

I wouldn't be comfortable with my girls watching that when they're six. They're still little kids, they don't need to know about dating yet... and certainly not about short and tight clothes.

No, I would not let her watch those shows. Those are Preteen/Teen shows.

When my daughter was in Kindergarten... there were some girls that dressed and acted, like 9 year olds or dressing and acting like Teens.

Now, the Teachers told me... that they CAN TELL, which kids are watching
"teen" shows or not. Because, they lack the "child's heart" that is what a 5-6 year old should be. But that in the kids that watch older or teen type shows... this child quality.... is not there as much. And they found this sad.
Because, at this age, developmentally & intellectually, children do NOT....understand all the emotional aspects or developmental changes and situations, that these shows display.
Not for a 6 year old.

Personally, when my daughter was that age, I certainly did not let her watch those shows. NO way.

As my kids have grown up, and my son is only 5 years old, I simply tell them "this show is not for your age. It is Teen shows. Not good for you." And that is it.
And all along as my kids are growing up, I talk with them all the time, about what they watch and analyze it with them and teach them to DISCERN things/situations that are depicted. Even per tv commercials.
So they are "wise" now... about what they see.

You control the tv. Not the child.
And with anything/any media influences... the parent has to guide the child.... on DISCERNING... what is appropriate or not.
You teach a child that. Not teaching them that tv is the thing to copy in real life.

I am trying to restrain myself from preaching on the evils of TV...I mean, if an axe murderer keeps knocking on your door, are you going to keep answering it? This may not be the same thing but if you don't think there is nothing appropriate for your daughter on TV, doesn't it make sense to not turn it on?

Take your husband to the mall. As creepy as this sounds, have him walk by Justice or Forever 21...or Gap (if they are still around) or even the food court, and let him see your daughter a few years from now, in the attitudes and fashion of the young girls there. That may give him enough perspective to see just how much he wants his daughter to be influenced by certain behaviors found on TV.

this is why my kiddo's don't watch t.v. I wouldn't allow my nearly 7 year old watch the show...but then again we don't have the t.v. on

We watch the occasional movie and some things online but they are seriously previewed before seen by our childrens eyes.

I know that it is enevitable that we will have to deal with this behavior but I will give my children as much time as I can to learn the right behavior before I subject them to the bad.

I agree with you - although I'm not familiar with that particular show. My feeling is that my daughter never watched shows where the main characters were older than she was at the time. In other words, my 8 year old was in elementary school so she had no business watching shows where the characters were in HS. I just never understand why we rush our kids to start thinking about dating/boyfriends/relationships so early.

My daughter is a very beautiful and mature 12 year old (both physically and emotionally). She thinks that all the boyfriend/girlfriend stuff at school is just a lot of drama and she's 100% not interested. She actually had a boy ask her out (without me knowing) and she told me later that she told him she wasn't allowed to date until she was much older. Our feeling is that there's no need for all this boyfriend stuff at such a young age. We may be viewed as old-fashioned, but we want our daughter to think about having a relationship when she's closer to the age where she may want to start thinking about marriage. Just my 2 cents but our kids are way over sexualized these days.

I think that 6 is too young for that sort of comment and I would find something else for her to watch. There's tons on Netflix for kids. It's not that the girl did the right thing, it's that a 6 yr old doesn't need to wonder why it was said in the first place. Sometimes shows should wait til the kid is older. DD knows that she can watch "kid shows" but when SD is watching something that isn't appropriate, she has to do something else. SD watches a lot of her shows OnDemand/on Netflix when DD goes to bed.

Is your DD still into things like FreshBeat Band? Or Phineas and Ferb?

Hi there,
Have you seen this resource before? They rate all media for children and it's my go-to source to check everything from movies, TV, books and games out.

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/h2o

That link goes straight to their review of H2O. I like to scroll down and see what real parents/educators say about the show. Most of the reviewers categorize it as a 'tween' show, and they give an age of 9 and above that the show is appropriate for. Based on what you've said above, this sounds about right. Good luck!

Probably not an appropriate show for her. Can you adjust the settings on Netflix?

I'm surprised by the posts saying the girl in the scene turned the boy down appropriately; of course she should have turned him down -- but slapping him? In the real world, that could end up in a slap back. Or do that in school these days and see how fast you get suspended, kids, even if you do tell the teachers that the boy was harassing you.

Let her stay six. She won't if she's watching older girls behaviing as older girls do. I haven't seen the show but what you and others describe sounds inappropriate. Sure, it could be a "teaching moment" as someone said, but do you really want to (1) watch every episode with her to be sure you catch all those moments and (2) have to explain things that you just don't want to explain yet?

It's not overprotective to restrict your child's TV watching and to ensure your child watches what is age-appropriate. This is one reason why we do not have cable -- no Disney Channel or Nick or whatever. My daughter watches videos that we can preview before she sees them, and we can control what's on and for how long.

I liked the post saying to take your husband (without your daughter along!!) to a mall and showing him the messages in the windows of Forever 21 and stores like that. Add Abercrombie's nearly-pantsless guy photos and Victoria Secret's mannequins posed like....um, ladies of the very late night, and he might understand what you will be fighting against all too soon.

If your daughter's thoughful and can sit through a movie, preview "Nim's Island" or any of the American Girl films and see if you think she would like them. Much, much better girl role models than in this show.

Our oldest daughter is going to be 13 this July and she is NOT allowed to watch H20, I find nothing amussing about that show, is it cute? Sure, but its full of nonsense. Ant farm is cute, silly, and funny. My oldest also watches Jessie and I HATE that show, they seem more like adults rather than teenagers-children. But I will allow her to watch it although I don't approve of the constant "kissing" and worrying about a date thing. Also, look at the majority of the girls in those shows, they look like models and wear too much makeup and dress waay too old for their age. I feel your right on about your thoughts and maybe you just need to explain alittle more to your hubby on why you feel like this. I'm actually surprised her feels that way, my husband is against anything that has to do with image meaning the way a girl is "supposed" to dress, dating at such a young age, theres alot to it and thats what we want to gear them away from.(or atleast that how I feel). Girls-kids need to act their age, be young and enjoy being a kid and alot of those shows arent showing any of that. I do think that 1st grade is still waay too young to be watching H20 and Jessie. I'm with you on this one!

I would agree with you. I think kids should watch shows that are intended for them. this show is obviously geared towards jr. high school aged girls. since the character responded appropriately, sounds like it might be a good show for older girls. call me crazy, but my daughter will be exposed to all that girl/boy/teenage stuff eventually, why start now. right now, she should be exposed to educational/little girl stuff. She is 4.5 and we don't let her watch movies that are PG. while they are sometimes mild with only the occasional "idiot" or over their head jokes, i feel that she doesn't need extra exposure at my doing. i can't help what she hears at school or in public, and we teach when those moments come up, but how counteractive to expose her to it and then have to teach about it.

I don't know the show, but based on what you described - the girl had the right reaction, so maybe the show has some good lessons.

I've never been uptight about what my kids watched, but I've been solo in most important decisions, so you're not alone there.

I'm with your husband. I think I would have turned it off if the girl in this scene had said "Yeah! I'll wear a tight red miniskirt and fish net stockings, Loverboy." Instead, the girl in the scene gave the good reaction for such a comment. I maybe would even have used this as an opportunity to have the "Never let a boy talk down to you like that" lesson. I am not sure what is so horrible about it.

I let the kids watch a lot of stuff. I do not let them watch shows where dating is the main thing they are dealing with. Even on ANT Farm there are boys that like girls and vice versa but it's not yet one of those shows where they actually go out together and interact. It's basically a school show and about dealing with that kind of interaction.

We do not watch Shake it Up, they get a way with many disrespectful attitudes and behaviors. Too bad, the kids do dance and would love to see a show about that instead of a show about what it is actually about. The parents in all the shows I am mentioning are stupid, gullible, and not what I want my kids to see an adult act like.

We do not watch I Carly, Sam is rude, obnoxious, gluttonous, and just a bad all round roll mode.

I think she's too young for it. I have always been very strict about what my kids watch on TV. My daughter is constantly saying she's the only one at school who isn't allowed to watch this or that. I don't care. Shows like iCarly are just trash and there is no need for my daughter to be exposed to that. Kids absolutely mimic what they see on TV. I think you're doing the right thing.

I've not seen the show, but to me there was a message there that I would want my DD to see/hear. The girl slapped him and turned down the date - exactly what I would want my DD to do! Now, had she agreed and actually shown up for the date wearing something tight, that would have been the end of watching that show.

I too monitor what my GD watches. Like she does not ever get to watch those adult-type cartoons like American Dad or whatever it's called. There are also some cartoons that I cannot stand. Can't recall what it's called, but the kids were bullying and picking on other kids and my GD thought it was funny! I took that opportunity to have her practice some empathy (take a minute and put yourself in that character's shoes - how would you feel if someone did that to you?) We turned it off and I've told her I don't want her watching it anymore.

So, there are some cartoons out there that I won't allow her to watch, but the scene that you're describing I would have wanted her to see and I would have started a discussion on it.

6 is tough and there aren't to many show to fit that age group. Look for TV Y 7 show for her. I have a 4 year old and a 10 year old. The only show I like them to watch together is Phineas and Ferb. I've seen enough Ant Farm and Jesse are the better side. Good Luck Charlie-if they have shows about the baby and the little brother, instead of the big sister. Hate Shake it up-and won't let me 10 year old watch it. I would stop H20, I don't like my 10 year old to watch it. I DVR them and delete the ones the boyfriend content. That way we both win-You aren't thinking too hard about TV. Dad's think too little about things like this. Keep up the good mother roll.

This is a situation where I would probably go by the show's rating. I assume there is a rating on the Netfix show?

i LOVE H20, but my daughter is 11. We watch it together.

My daughter is pretty mature - and we've watched since it started - I think she was 8 or 9?
6 might seem a bit young - but I would probably watch it with her and talk through stuff. My daughter and I have watched "Glee" since the 1st season, which deals with issues MUCH older than her..... but I think it's an EXCELLENT platform to spark conversation.
We watch TOGETHER and many of our conversations about sex and tolerance have come off the Glee show (this last one was the toughest for her).

I digress

Back to the topic..... one of the things I like about H20 is that those 3 girls (don't know about the new mermaid yet...... ) but for sure Rikki and Cleo are really good girls at heart and even though they WANT to rebel, they do the right thing in the end. You get to see examples of Cleo's little sister being bad and Cleo explaining the consequences to her.

It doesn't set parents in the best light - as Rikki's dad is a mess and Cleo's dad is a bit ditzy.

I would think at 6, much of the innuendo might go over her head. at 8, though, you'll have to start having the tough conversations about why that boy shouldn't have told her to wear something tight and why she should have chosen another reaction rather than to slap him - so as long as you're prepared to put in the time, I think it's a good show for girls.

You're right. Too young. There is no need to allow children to watch things that are beyond their current level of development and understanding, UNLESS a parent is choosing something specifically to teach a lesson or concept OR the parent is there to monitor and explain things as needed.
Otherwise, there are many other age-appropriate shows or videos to watch, or, better yet, so many great toys to play with and books to read.

My youngest son, who is 7 now, has had friends who were allowed to watch movies with violent and sexual material (superhero movies) at ages 3 & 4, but we are not okay with him seeing these movies until he is much older.

We told our son early on that different families make different choices, and in our family, we believe these movies are not appropriate for his age. Same with Sponge-Bob, and similar shows. He didn't like it at first, but now he knows and just accepts that those are our rules.

If our kids watch things meant for preteens and teens when they are elementary age, when they are preteens and young teens, they'll be done with that and want to watch things meant for older teens and young adults.

It's a sad fact, but people who behave badly in movies/shows and on reality tv get a lot of attention (think Snooki and other reality show "characters"). Magazine covers, appearances on other shows, commercials, fame, money. I've never watched Jersey Shore, but I know what the show is and who Snooki is. This type of attention is intoxicating for young teens and preteens, who often fantasize about becoming famous and getting that kind of attention. So what our children learn from these powerful media images (in addition to bad attitudes and disrespectful language) is "if I act outrageous enough, I will also get that kind of attention.... maybe not from the media and from the entire world, but possibly from that cute boy, who hasn't noticed me....YET..." Is that the message we want for our daughters? Is that how we want our sons to view women?

I realize your daughter is not near preteen age yet, but if you don't carefully choose what influences you expose her to now, you open her up to even more negative influences later on. At age 6, she really doesn't need to know why a boy would ask a girl to wear short, tight clothes.

Despite what your husband thinks, it is not only okay to filter what your daughter sees, it is your responsibility, and his.

Hope this helps and best wishes to you and your family.

J. F.