Do You Allow Your Kids to Listen to Mainstream Music?

September 16, 2008

A song lyric containing a swear word slipped from my daughter's lips the other day, and I was taken aback. At four, she loves music and listens to it daily. But since lyrics blare just about everywhere — on the radio, in people's cars, at the mall, and on television commercials — it's hard to edit everything my kids hear. Do you go with the flow or try to censor sound?

25 Comments

milosmommy 4 years

We pretty much just listen to whatever we like on the radio, but I've never heard any swears in any of the music we listen to yet. But at home I keep the sirius on in his room to the Spa Channel. Very relaxing to help him sleep.

blackjade 4 years

I remember when I was finally old enough to understand the words of the Prince songs I used to sing along to...I asked my parents how they coudl let me sing along with it in the car. They knew I had no idea what I was saying...and they were right.

LadyLiLa83 4 years

Usually when my daughter's in the car, we listen to the Backyardigans on my iPod, but when we can sneak a drive without her realizing that her music isn't on, we listen to whatever. I don't see what the big deal is.

luckyme 4 years

We listen to a little bit of everything and she loves all of it. I have a hard time with some of the kids music (it gets stuck in my head waaaaay too easily and becomes super annoying super quick). Fortunately for me, she likes to listen to what we listen to, she's a big blues fan, has been since before she was born. She would kick like crazy when there was blues playing. She'll fall asleep almost immediately to Jamie Cullum's 20 Something CD. She also likes Ben Harper A LOT.Anyway, I know we censor out profanities, etc., but other than that, we'll all listen to what's on our Ipod.

luckyme 4 years

We listen to a little bit of everything and she loves all of it. I have a hard time with some of the kids music (it gets stuck in my head waaaaay too easily and becomes super annoying super quick). Fortunately for me, she likes to listen to what we listen to, she's a big blues fan, has been since before she was born. She would kick like crazy when there was blues playing. She'll fall asleep almost immediately to Jamie Cullum's 20 Something CD. She also likes Ben Harper A LOT. Anyway, I know we censor out profanities, etc., but other than that, we'll all listen to what's on our Ipod.

momma tikita 4 years

my daughter (4) loves music so i cant torun off the radio while we're in the car. of course radio doesnt allow certain words!like her favorite songs are closer-neyo, take a bow- riahnna, dangerous-akon.BUT she was singing Weezy's lollipop the other day and i didnt really like it.

momma tikita 4 years

my daughter (4) loves music so i cant torun off the radio while we're in the car. of course radio doesnt allow certain words! like her favorite songs are closer-neyo, take a bow- riahnna, dangerous-akon. BUT she was singing Weezy's lollipop the other day and i didnt really like it.

Autumns_Elegy 4 years

I haven't got kids yet, so I can only comment on what my parents raised me with.It was always the radio, mainstream stuff, there was never any swearing or profanity and the worst we were exposed to was hard rock music. Nothing too bad.Granted my parents didn't like it when I started listening to metal and punk rock. Apparently it was nothing but "devil talk and swear words."It can get a bit rude but its not THAT bad. :D

Autumns_Elegy 4 years

I haven't got kids yet, so I can only comment on what my parents raised me with. It was always the radio, mainstream stuff, there was never any swearing or profanity and the worst we were exposed to was hard rock music. Nothing too bad. Granted my parents didn't like it when I started listening to metal and punk rock. Apparently it was nothing but "devil talk and swear words." It can get a bit rude but its not THAT bad. :D

anniekim 4 years

lol Greggie on the NIN closer--that would sure speed up the birds and bees talk!

anniekim 4 years

We listen to both kid's music and music that I enjoy. I've got a kid's playlist set up that is mostly songs I like and my girls like--it ranges from Laurie Berkner to the Ramones, but I have chosen carefully as to lyrics etc.I'm not sure how to define "mainstream music" anyway--if it's top 40 none of us hear it.

anniekim 4 years

We listen to both kid's music and music that I enjoy. I've got a kid's playlist set up that is mostly songs I like and my girls like--it ranges from Laurie Berkner to the Ramones, but I have chosen carefully as to lyrics etc. I'm not sure how to define "mainstream music" anyway--if it's top 40 none of us hear it.

californiagirlx7 4 years

Well I'm not a mom yet but MY mom censored my music. She always had to approve the music I listened when I was a kid and then she censored a couple of my Spice Girls songs :) I don't censor my little sister's music, but I try to turn down the speaker if I know the f-bomb is coming or I talk really loudly over it. She doesn't repeat the words anyway, but I don't like her to hear it.

Twinkle 4 years

Well, here in Finland, anything goes on the radio, so I try to keep the car radio tuned to family friendly music (i.e. no profanity) or just listen to CDs.

lolalu 4 years

My baby is still a baby ; ) , but I've noticed how I censor everything/everyone when they're around the baby. No swearing/dirty jokes, violent tv sounds lol,

HeidiMD 4 years

I'm the stepmom, so I don't make the "official" rules (which is how I want it, trust me!), but I don't have any problem with my eight-year-old stepdaughter listening to most mainstream music, and neither does my fiance and her mother. I've never heard her listening to anything excessively vulgar or strange (like death metal, ha). I think if I did, I would just mention that I found the song inappropriate or offensive. This hasn't been a problem so far.

lickety split 4 years

i try to filter out the songs that are innapropriate. my then 4 year old asked me once "why does he like to taste her everytime they meet?" and i don't like that song about "i wanna have you naked by the end of this song" (jt) or "please don't stop the music".

LiLRuck44 4 years

We listen to a ton of adult music and kids music, but I censor questionable lyrics in my own house. There's so much great music out there that isn't dirty.

DesignRchic 4 years

It's funny how having a child changed my perspective on music. I no longer listen to songs that allude to sex (but have a great beat) or ones with swears in them. Just yesterday I created a Beatles playlist for my son, all happy music :).

badkitty 4 years

My kids listen to everything just like I do. I love music much too much to have to listen to kids music.

Mommy of Three 4 years

They usually listen to either the XM kids station or Radio Disney. I also get them the Kids Bop CD's - popular music but sung by and 'sanitized' for kids.

Greggie 4 years

Often. It's pretty much all they listen to, actually. I'm curious as to what song it was as well though. Not much on the radio has what I'd consider profanity, it's pretty much censored. I'm not having them listen to NIN's Closer or anything.

POPSUGAR Fitness 4 years

I really can't stand kids music and am lucky that my girls love listening to classical and the soundtrack from "The Sound of Music." But, I play my music when I am cooking and they both love Madonna's "4 Minutes to Save the World." They call it the tick tock song.

SugarKat 4 years

I listen to sirius in the car channel 116-kids stuff. I like those songs and so does my daughter. Hubby listens to whatever even with my daughter. It doesn't bother me...

luvhouse07 4 years

I'm curious as to what the song was.. hardly any have no profanity... at least what's played on the radio.

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