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Subscribe to RSSIn only two seasons, the Fox’s musical sitcom “Glee” has become a bona fide sensation, stacked up a pile of awards and spawned a series of soundtrack albums. Simultaneously retro and contemporary, the show appeals to fans of “Grease” and “High School Musical” alike by being a family program that has something for kids and adults. But is it appropriate for all viewers?
In another installment in a series of segments that ask parents when they think certain activities are permissible for their kids, Matt Lauer sat down with Jess Cagle of Entertainment Weekly, Cat Schwartz of HiTechMommy.com and psychologist Jeff Gardere to discuss at what ages it’s appropriate for young children to watch shows like “Glee” and a few others.
Parents, how closely do you monitor the programs your children are watching? What parameters have you set? Do you watch with them? Watch the video and share your thoughts in the comment section.
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Are you kidding me? Letting a 7 and 8 year old watch Glee? The topics of this show and the images of this show are in no way appropriate for kids this age and I was shocked that your "expert" thought so. I'm totally shocked! This is what is wrong with parent's today - exposing kids to age inappropriate media. At least he is watching it with his kids however, those topics are for discussion YEARS from now. This show should be on later in the evening. My children are 5, 9, and 11 and since it's a school night, they are all in bed at this time.
I do watch at least one episode of each show my kids want to watch on TV. Then we discuss it together as a family to see if we all think it's appropriate and why - or why not. Is it entertainment that is really worth our time or not?
I have watched Glee numerous times with my 12 year old. We have discussed all of the many topics addressed by the show - and I am exhausted! We're done! I do feel that it is extremely important for our kids to be aware and informed (by their parents) of all of these issues but this is simply too much exposure too soon! I will let my kids watch it (with me) when they are a little bit older. Let kids be kids.
If you are questioning the appropriateness of kids watching "Glee," why not question shows currently on TNCK channel like "Degrassi" and "Gigantic." These shows (even the commercials) are VERY RACY--showing circumstances that I feel are definitely not appropriate for children. And, I am not talking about toddler- and elementary-age children; I do not feel older children (13-18 year olds) should be shown these situations. I feel it is our (parents') responsibility to protect our children. I do not feel these shows help our society at all. To me, it encourages children to act as a "Paris Hilton" etc. I am not sure if the creators, producers, etc. are parents or not; but, I (as a parent) would have a very guilty conscience if I were to play a role in promoting these types of shows.
There has been a lot of controversy surrounding this show. When it first came out, I really enjoyed watching it, especially the music scenes. However, it soon became clear to me that this show did not promote our family values. I have two sons, 14 and 11, and what they were mostly getting out of the show was jiggling boobs and a lot of talk about sex, and homosexuality. We did have some discussion about homosexuality, in which I was able to explain our values. We are born again Christians and do not believe the homosexual lifestyle is OK. The clincher for me was a scene near the end of last season where Quinn is living in the basement of Kurt's house with Kurt, who has a crush on him. Quinn expressed being uncomfortable with taking a shower, sharing a bathroom with Kurt, etc. Kurt's dad blasts Quinn with being hateful to his son, and kicks Quinn out. As a parent of a 14 year old boy, I would NEVER let my son share a room with a homosexual boy. No, I'm not a hater. I know of homosexual boys who have harassed heterosexual boys, and I would never allow my child to be put in that situation. Since then, I have rarely watched the show, and only for the music scenes. It's just too much for my kids.
This show is not appropriate for children or adults. It glorifies lifestyles most of us (those concerned about moral values) would never want for our children. It's not wholesome entertainment. It degrades women, degrades people who are religious, glorifies sexual immorality (EVERY episode and in several ways), places much emphasis on the self and hurting others to get what you want (also in every episode), frowns upon those who do display moral values, etc. etc. etc. Yuck. I'm done. There also seems to be a homosexual agenda here - and I'm not a hater either! - but it's been covered in depth on every episode, much more than the other characters' stories. I kept thinking it would move on to other topics, but nope.
"Homosexual agenda"? YOU ARE A "HATER" and very uninformed. Some "values" you have. It's obvious you know nothing about homosexuality. It is NOT a choice. This show is finally normalizing what should have always been considered "normal". Study up before you make such judgments...
You sound like another judgmental, hypocritical "Christian".
Is there something wrong with the writers giving a lead role and character development to a minority? Usually it is the same types of characters that are the leads, but in glee we are able to see a character we do not get to see much. A gay teen who is struggling with his identity, acceptance and bullying. I think their characterization of Kurt is incredible for teens because it lets them know that whatever struggles they may be facing, whether they are gay or not, they are not alone and will be ok. They are not glorifying any type of lifestyle on the show. "homosexual agenda?". Like I mentioned earlier, is there something wrong with having story lines about homosexuality? Many different types of lifestyles seemed to be addressed in the show, but I think that homosexuality is a very important one especially these days since there have been many incidents of suicides caused by teen's inability to cope with the bullying and nonacceptance of the way they were born. I think the show has been able to reach out to teens that otherwise would feel lost.
"Well [God] makes me gay and then has his followers going around telling me it’s something that I chose as if someone would choose to be mocked every single day of their life.” - Kurt
I am thankful that a show wildly popular, has placed so much emphasis on tolerance. The popular jocks and music geeks working together for the club, the club supporting Quinn throughout her pregnancy, their support for Kurt while his dad was in the hospital, accepting of other's religious views and not trying one way or another to force their opinion, embracing all types of people including homosexuals, and following their hearts regardless of what others say (Santana and Brittany). They have frank discussions about many things that teenagers themselves have not talked about or been honest about.
I think the crowning jewel of this show is that it does normalize problems that teens face everyday, instead of pretending that these problems don't exist and if you were to encounter them then something is wrong with you. This shows allows for a more honest examination of oneself, and as I've always said honesty is the best policy.
More unbelievable than the fact some parents are allowing young children to watch Glee without first viewing an episode themselves to determine if the particular episode would be appropriate for their child is the all too casual way in which these four highly paid individuals discuss the ipad as a child's toy. In what world is a piece of technology which retails for 500.00 on the low end considered an appropriate child's toy? Many generations grew up learning colors, numbers and their first words quite well with books; something that is not ruined when a clumsy child with rudimentary motor skills drops it from their high chair or uses it as a teething implement. Let's step back from obsessing about the content of this show over that show and think about first, just what kind of media in general is appropriate for children and family development. The addiction of the U.S. society to technology is widening the gap between families. And with "experts" now suggesting toddlers should be learning their colors from an ipad, the first word for a whole new generation won't be "mommy" or "daddy," but "wifi."
"It's okay because I watch it with my child," the man (a.k.a. idiot) on the video said. Does that also mean "it's okay that my kids smoke pot because I smoke it with them and tell them you shouldn't do it."? I mean that's basically the mentality here. These people who are allowing their children to watch this show have no remembrance of innocence it seems. Another thing parents say to justify their behavior is that the kids learn more than this from kids at their schools. Probably my kids are learning this stuff from YOUR kids because you allow them to watch junk like this at YOUR house. Thanks for indirectly polluting my children's minds by directly polluting your own children!
You're an uninformed homophobe...some "values".
You're an uninformed homophobe...some "values".