Do you allow your teens (15+) to listen to whatever music they like?

[Anonymous]

I allow my kids regardless of age to listen do whatever they want (they are 11+).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, and i listen too. If it's questionable to me, we talk about it or she asks me questions. Mom. what's a WAP?

Your 15 y/o asked? You have to tell us how you responded and then how your kid responded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t let my kids listen to something that truly promulgated damaging ideas, recognizing that just because I banned something doesn’t mean they will stop or get the harmful ideas from somewhere else.

But at the moment my kids are just into Lofi

How old are your kids and how would you enforce that? That’s the thing: if you make a rule, you better be prepared to enforce and that gets harder as they spent lots of time away from you. That’s why you have to get them to understand their own values.

So for me, my 13 and 15 year olds can listen to anything. But I ask them lots questions to keep thinking and conversation open.

[Anonymous]

Of course op.

OMG do not restrict your kid's music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how I would monitor or prevent.

+1 I think this would take way too much time and effort to prevent, and they would find a way to listen anyway. I would worry more about overall trends of appropriate phone use by spotchecking web history, YouTube history and text messaging. Unless the songs they are listening to are all very disturbing, I don’t think there its a problem.

[Anonymous]

I grew up when listening to heavy metal backwards was supposed to contain Satanic messages. My brother tried it. I think he found one Judas Priest song with something there.

I have never restricted my kids' music. They knew what I found objectionable and why. Neither one had any interest in Gansta rap, so we were good. If they had been we would have talked about what the appeal was. Road trips were wonderful for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of message or language? Obviously I’m asking about ones that aren’t squeaky.

Yes, and in fact have introduced her to some of my old school music (which was and remains controversial with some).

Uncle Remus Zip A Dee Doo Dah?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Music is art.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm yes. But when my DS first started listen to rap, I explained that some songs I thought were inappropriate and wouldn't listen to myself or am not OK with him playing when I'm listening or in public (like very derogatory slang against women) etc. But I do not censor his music.

Would you let him listen to fascist, nazi songs?

NP. Can you give an example? I can't think of any, but I guess if my kid started listening to some privately produced, fascist Nazi songs I would handle that the same way I would handle it if they started listening to ultra religious music, which would also be completely out of character and possibly concerning. I would be worried they were having a mental health crisis and/or possibly being recruited by a cult of some sort. So the issue then wouldn't be the music, it would be what was motivating the desire to listen to the music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of message or language? Obviously I’m asking about ones that aren’t squeaky.

Yes. How is this even a question.

[Anonymous]

I don't restrict my 13 year old's music but have plenty of conversations about lyrics and hard topics and she knows what is offensive. I would think it would be pointless restricting an older teens music, they will listen to what they want through their friends etc unless you keep them housebound with no internet access...

[Anonymous]

I would not restrict Nazi or other racist songs. I would hate that he listened to that, but I would not restrict.

First of all, how could I do that even if I wanted to? My DS is almost 18, he drives, spends his days at school and with his girlfriend, and is out of the house almost all day.

When he is home, we are eating dinner, chatting or watching a TV show together and he doesn't share all his music.

When he does share, I explain my dislike for offensive rap, refuse to listen to it myself, and have discussions with him about why I think it's inappropriate, whether or not others will react badly to his choices, etc.

But I don't approve of censoring an almost adult. Maybe there is some middle ground for younger high school kids, but since I can't control, I think conversations about why the songs are horrible and how others might be offended is really more effective anyway.

That said, I'm offended and wish he didn't listen to it. But I cannot control that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ummm yes. But when my DS first started listen to rap, I explained that some songs I thought were inappropriate and wouldn't listen to myself or am not OK with him playing when I'm listening or in public (like very derogatory slang against women) etc. But I do not censor his music.

Would you let him listen to fascist, nazi songs?

You mean Christian rock?

[Anonymous]

I let my 12 yr old listen to music he wants, so yes, I’d let my 15 yr old do so as well.

[Anonymous]

I have never monitored or restricted what my kids listened to.