How do you censor your children? Do you think that children should be exposed to everything, regardless of age, because they will eventually hear about it anyway?

Everything on our TV is V-chipped. He's not allowed to use the computer without me being in the room..

I make very clear to him what is right, and what is wrong. We watch the news together alot, and we talk about what was on the news.

I don't totally censor what he's exposed to, but if he is exposed to something that is questionable, I make sure that he understands why it's wrong, and what the consequences are..

I dont censor too much anymore.......they pretty much have seen and know more than I care to admit. CENSORING while they were younger DID help prolonge the inevitable though.

Violence, cuss words and etc. are censored my kids don't need to hear that or see it. But other then that most everything is discussed. My children will grow up knowing TOLERENCE and ACCEPTANCE they will not grow up knowing hatred. Just b/c I don't think something is "right" doesn't mean that I need to teach that hatred to my children...kwim. I don't belive in god that doesn't mean I will censor it. We don't censor it persay now but we don't introduce it either when the time comes and he wants to learn I will encourage him to explore all aspects of religion and let him make whatever determination he wants.

I won't say that my kids are sheltered but some things I prefer to discuss with them myself when the time is right. I don't go for them hearing from someone on the street.
we do see the news and talk about it. we discussed exactly what dh did in Iraq, We talk about 9/11, Pearl Harbor, curse words, stealing etc..... So I don't think they are sheltered but it isn't and "open" discuss everything everyday kind of thing

I won't say that my kids are sheltered but some things I prefer to discuss with them myself when the time is right. I don't go for them hearing from someone on the street.
we do see the news and talk about it. we discussed exactly what dh did in Iraq, We talk about 9/11, Pearl Harbor, curse words, stealing etc..... So I don't think they are sheltered but it isn't and "open" discuss everything everyday kind of thing

exactly that's what I was trying to say. I don't let them watch certain things but we def. discuss them.

Well, I got hammered for this on this board a long time ago but:

My DS wanted a CD. While at Fred Meyer, we were looking at it and it had the "explicit lyrics" sticker on it so I told him to hold off until I could see the lyrics. Curse words, I could care less because he has probably heard them at home, what I was looking for was violence, etc. At that age, he didn't need that. It turns out it was "just" curse words and we got the CD.

Well, I got hammered for this on this board a long time ago but:

My DS wanted a CD. While at Fred Meyer, we were looking at it and it had the "explicit lyrics" sticker on it so I told him to hold off until I could see the lyrics. Curse words, I could care less because he has probably heard them at home, what I was looking for was violence, etc. At that age, he didn't need that. It turns out it was "just" curse words and we got the CD.
I am totally with you on the CD issue. Especially because they do have the edited versions.

i don't have kids yet but if i know that there will only be age appropriate things on in my home. i can't control what they listen to or see outside of my home in school and such but if a controversial topic does arise then it will be dealt with then.
certain things should be brought up at certain times in my opinion. i.e. the sex talk, if the child asks about it then i believe its appropriate then to go into the full discussion. however i also believe that your child should be exposed to things in increments. you can't just say mommy has a vagina and daddy puts his penis in it and that's how babies are made.

censorship is not just about what they can and cannot do, see or hear in my opinion. i think alot of things are appropriate for all children to discuss or hear about as long as it is explained to them in terms they can understand

i might not have the right experience to be posting but i thought i'd throw in my 2 cents

This topic is incredibly simple for me, and summed up by, of all things, a Metallica song from "And Justice For All..." These lyrics, to me, completely captured the despair I felt growing up in a home and town that didn't understand that I was different than the norm. I wouldn't say I've made this song my battle cry, but it certainly has given me some focus on what I choose to expose my children to, and how I do it.

Dear Mother
Dear Father
What is this hell you have put me through?
Believer
Deceiver
Day in, day out, live my life through you
Pushed onto me what's wrong or right
Hidden from this thing that they call “life”

Dear Mother
Dear Father
Every thought I'd think you'd disapprove
Curator
Dictator
Always censoring my every move
Children are seen but are not heard
Tear out everything inspired

Innocence
Torn from me without your shelter
Barred reality
I'm living blindly

Dear Mother
Dear Father
Time has frozen still what's left to be
Hear nothing
Say nothing
Cannot face the fact I think for me
No guarantee, it's life as-is
But damn you for not giving me my chance

Dear Mother
Dear Father
You've clipped my wings before
I learned to fly
Unspoiled
Unspoken
I've outgrown that f*cking lullaby
Same thing I've always heard from you,
“Do as I say, not as I do”

Innocence
Torn from me without your shelter
Barred reality
I'm living blindly

I'm in hell without you
Cannot cope without you two
Shocked at the world that I see
Innocent victim, please rescue me

Dear Mother
Dear Father
Hidden in your world you've made for me
I'm seething
I'm bleeding
Ripping wounds in me that never heal
Undying spite I feel for you
Living out this hell you always knew

Basically, I would translate the message of hiding the world from our children to "save" them the pain and misery of being human, only to throw them into this world unprepared as a guideline. There's a very fine line between protecting a child and severing reality. My kids will experience all that life has to offer, as long as it doesn't kill them. Experience, not research, is the best teacher.

hatetank i love your little quotes in your siggy lol