The Simpsons parents guide: A great family gathering to watch

The Simpsons have been cracking jokes and providing satirical spins for over thirty years. The animated sitcom follows working-class Homer Simpson and his family, who comprise his wife, Marge, their three kids-Bart, Lisa, and Maggie, and the inclusion of their beloved dog and cat, Santa's Little Helper and Snowball II. Together, the Simpson family encounters whacky adventures and everyday life in Springfield. There is never a dull nor unlaughable moment with The Simpsons, and there have been many incredible ones in the series' long run.

With D23 Expo 2024 announcing Disney+ will have four new exclusive episodes for Christmas, Halloween, and beyond, season 36 premiering on Fox in late September, and season 35 rolling out as part of The Simpsons catalog on Disney+ come early October, you might be thinking about doing a rewatch for a catch-up. That's totally cool, but should you allow your kids to watch The Simpsons?

The show carries a general TV-PG rating and, in some cases, TV-14 if the episode's material is raw. However, much of the content is family-orientated and uses real-life examples (and those famous predictions) to advance the story. With that said, let's meltdown the specifics of The Simpsos' rating and its embedded content.

The Simpsons parents guide: Explaining the TV-PG and TV-14 ratings

If there's one thing parents must know about The Simpsons, it has relatable adult scenarios and satire. In many cases, though, kids watch it with their parents. In my family, five years old was the average age at which to begin the show, but do what you feel is appropriate for your children.

Sex and nudity: Bart has plenty of 'mooning' moments throughout the series and lounging in his undies, as boys do sometimes. Homer is additionally shown in his underwear, and in a season 3 episode, runs outside in them, but for all intents and purposes, the snippet was crafted to be funny.

For points of intimacy and sex, Homer and Marge sleep together and call their relations "snuggle time." Nothing is shown, with the exception of Marge in her nightgown. Plus, lots of characters kiss, but nothing's over-the-top, and while there have been examples of near-adultery, Homer and Marge never turn against one another and remain committed in their marriage.

Violence: The Simpsons can get a little violent, especially pre-season 31 when Homer continuously choked Bart for his behavior or when he annoyed his father. While the running gag was a characteristic of the show, it has since been retired due to societal progression.

It turns out that Homer truly adores an loves his children, despite his nonconformist ways of showing his affection.

Another violent example would be "The Treehouse of Horror" franchise. These 3-part episodes air annually around Halloween, and although cult classics in their own right, the stories contain some level of holiday-themed gore, such as zombies, vampires, and horror inspired by mid-20th-century films and shows.

Of course, there's The Itchy and Scratchy Show, which is filled with violent cat-and-mouse games. However, the slapstick and violence are designed for humor and shouldn't be taken seriously.

Language: General profanity, such as the "H," D," and the "C" words, are often used in everyday language. You might hear references of Chicago humor (sarcastic and blunt) or other regional jokes. There have been a few instances of the female dog term and the unmarried father term, and some audience members may find them offensive.

Drinking and drugs: Homer frequents Moe's Tavern and drinks his Duff after work or whenever the moment pleases him. As a repercussion, he gets drunk and, because of that, partakes in stupidity. But most of the time, he cleans up.

Marijuana is shown but has been used for medicinal necessity, and while there have been characters having the stuff, they are not shown using it. What's more, there's minimal underage drinking or doing drugs. Smoking has been shown, too, but as the years have passed, it's becoming less in the episodes.

Overall verdict: What age is The Simpsons appropriate for?

The average age for The Simpsons is between five and eight years old, with the younger kids watching it with their older siblings or parents. Sure, it might be a bit intense on the subject matter, especially in the earlier seasons, but you can use some of the topics as learning lessons, as there's plenty of potential for the opportunity.

Here are a few child-friendly episodes to start out with:

• "The Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire"

• "Lisa's First Word"

• "Manger Things"

• "Brick Like Me"

• "Itchy and Scratchy Land"

• "Kamp Krusty"

• "TreeHouse of Horror I"

Be on the watch for family-friendly content and more right here on The Parent Watch!