Secret Life/American Teenager...Make It or Break It..16 and pregnant..teen Mom

I have never seen Secret Life/American Teenage or Make it or Break it....so I have no idea what those are about.

But as for 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, when my girls are old enough, I could see letting them watch these. I think the importance that comes from these shows are A) Almost every girl pregnant on the show is a result of not using protection B) You may think you've found true love in high school but in most cases that is not the case and C) Its not easy raising a child especially at a young age. So yes, I do find value from these two shows. (EDIT TO ADD) I don't expect these shows to be the way they will learn about sex and how to prevent pregnancy. But, I think the show does a pretty good job not glamorizing being pregnant.

My daughter was a competative gymnast for many years, so we were excited about Make It Or Break It. Until we watched it, bleck! It does not portray what the life of a serious gymnast is like. Teammates are not all bitchy mean and catty, girl gymnast do NOT sleep with their coaches, nor do Moms, really has very little to do with the sport so no, just watched it once or twice.

The other two you mentioned we have tried to watch together. But they're ridiculous. My daughter's life as a teenager couldn't be any farther from the kids on the show. We like America's Funniest Home Videos on the same channel, so while we're watching that and a promo comes on for the other shows you mention we collectively roll our eyes, oh brother.

We LOVE Cosby, Fresh Prince, Full House, though, watch them all the time together.

:)

I think that it's sad that this is what the world is coming to. Mtv isn't helping with 16 and pregnant either. I do think that our children need to be educated about sex and the consequences and dangers of sex. But I think these shows glamorize the wrong side of the situation. What about 16 and living with AIDS or HIV? What about showing that a guy gets the stud status of beign sexually active and a girl gets the slut status? What about the fact that a guy will dump a girl once he's had his way with her? This happens even after school and all through life. Look at 2 and a half men, Charlie Sheen's character was a womanizer and degraded women and tossed them aside like trash once he had slept with them and that was considered entertainment. What ever happened to keeping it until you know that you are ready to give up yourself in that way. Because once you do lose that side of you things aren't the same anymore. I think that bullying no matter what age you are still exists as well, it's not just in the schools. It's in the workplace, in neighborhoods, in churches, in playgroups, PTA, the list goes on. So really what are we teaching our kids?

As long as you keep your kids on the straight and narrow for as long as possible and teach your kids about respect both giving and receiving respect. Then you have at least accomplished more than most parents have. Talk to your children about shows that they watch at friends houses and what they think, the earlier you open the lines of communication the better your kids and you are. Your kids will feel free to talk to you about anything.

No No No NO uh uh No way man

Nope, I DO NOT let my children watch shows like that - why? Because I don't want them thinking that THAT behavior is ACCEPTABLE - it is NOT.

We watched ONE episode just so I could gauge my kids - they thought it was in poor taste and the people were just, EWW - or snots....

They don't understand how someone could WANT a baby at 16...

There are many others shows to entertain, inform and educate the children, I would definitely leave the reality shows OUT of reach for them. They DON'T NEED reality shows and it should be up to the parent to introduce or explain difficult/complicated matters as the ones shown on tv - when the child is ready and his sensitivity and maturity can be respected. Leaving that role to the TV is madness. Also age appropriateness is the key: one thing is a 6 y.o. watching (whaat??), another is a 16 y.o.- though I would just signed them all off anyways...we can really live without, luckily!

Does MTV still do that "Real World" show? (think that was the name - just remember seeing an episode and telling teen that if they thought that was real world they were in for a RUDE awakening!)

These newer shows I haven't watched yet - dgd is only 6 and doesn't need to see such things yet. Sometimes times I think will be "safe" for her to watch, I've had to go change channel or turn off!

I watch the series personally, my son is 4 so it is not realistic for him to watch, and I think the show has some valid points that it does make, talking about Secret Life. I think it is a show that a parent/teen should watch together and have a dialogue ... Maybe not every episode/commercial break discuss what is going on, but it is a good conversation starter. I really think Secret Life is made for teens and thier parents to watch together, I can not comment on the other options. They do show many perspectives and ways for parents to successfully/unsuccessfully handle issues depending on your perspective. I think is not best to leave it up to your kids to watch on their own and expect them to learn from it, even one of the stars, Molly Ringwald, admits this is a conversation starter show and is most effective when families watch together and discuss.

Did any of you watch 90210 or Melrose Place? I did when I was a young teen ... same thing!

We never watched the Secret Life, but myself and my daughter watch 16 and Pregnant and teen moms together. I myself was a teen mom, so my daughter and I are very open about a lot of issues. We've had "the talk" along time ago. She knows the precautionary measures that needs to be taken to prevent pregnancy, stds, etc. I feel that if your child has the right frame of mind, the show is really just a re-enactment of what they've already been taught. Unfortunately a lot of teens are mis educated or just aren't concered enough about themselves to take sex/relationships seriously enough. The show tells different stories and situations that these girls are going through. Not all of them have happen endings and almost all of the girls wish that they waited until they were much older to become parents.

Personally, I wouldn't let them watch Secret Life. I've watched it, and yes, all they talk about is sex and then marriage. I don't think it's a positive show for a teen to watch.
16 and pregnant and Teen Mom, however, I would let them watch. It shows what teen pregnancy is REALLY about. You can't hang out with your friends, you have to juggle finishing school while having a baby, you have to deal with disappointing your parents, most of the time the boyfriend doesn't stick around, friends leave, some of the characters don't even have a home to live in. It doesn't just show the cute parts of having a baby. I think it really educates teenagers about sex and pregnancy, and what the reprocussions are.
Yes, High School is different now, because I would say the teens are different now. It has to do with the media, more kids growing up without positive role models, and them trying to "fit in" with the other kids. But, sex is not the only thing they talk about. They talk about school, friends, family, anything that is going on with them, they talk about.

Your SIX year old's friends are watching these shows?? Wow. I wonder if it's just her school then bc I haven't come across that with my 6 year old at all. She's still on cartoons and I think her friend are too... I can't comment on the shows you're asking about bc I haven't watched them but did want to say not all 6 year olds watch this stuff. My friend does let her 13ish old daughter watch 16 and Pregnant to show her that it's not an easy path to take...

I have watched some of these with my teen aged kids and they think Secret Life is sort of a slap in the face to real teenagers. My daughter said, "Wow. They make it look like all teenagers ever talk about is sex. Sure they talk about that some, but we are more likely talking about the Chemistry test or what Mrs. So and So made us do in class." I don't like that the second character in a relatively small group of teens is pregnant and so many of them are talking about marriage. They also rarely say, "I love you" to each other, so why are they having sex or talking about marriage if they don't have the feelings to back it up?
I feel a little conflicted about 16 and pregnant and teen mom. I think in theory it is a good thing to show others kids what can happen, but in actuality a lot of these teens are being called celebrities and are in air-brushed photos on half of the magazines in the checkout line at the stores. For a kid feeling unnoticed and lonely, this might seem like a heck of a way to get some cash, attention, and a lot of "friends."