Is Dance Moms Kid-Friendly? An Expert Guide for Parents
As a fellow parent, I know it can be tricky evaluating whether popular reality shows like Dance Moms are suitable viewing material for our kids. From heated conflicts to revealing costumes, there‘s a lot in this show that gives parents pause.
After closely researching this topic as a data analyst and parent myself, I don’t recommend Dance Moms for viewers under 14. While it highlights young dancers‘ skills, the pervasive adult drama promotes unhealthy attitudes and behaviors inappropriate for most tweens and young children.
However, with mindful guidance, parents can permit mature teenagers to watch Dance Moms while filtering out negative influences. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll share insider knowledge to help you make the best viewing decisions for your family!
What is Dance Moms Actually About?
On the surface, Dance Moms follows a group of talented young dancers at Abby Lee Miller‘s studio as they train for competitions under Miller‘s stern direction.
But the show derives most of its drama from heated conflicts between Miller and the dancers‘ moms. Arguments frequently break out over Abby‘s harsh teaching methods, perceived favoritism toward certain dancers like Maddie Ziegler, and rigorous rehearsal demands.
These disputes regularly escalate into shouting matches and tears, modeling hostility and poor conflict resolution for young viewers. Adult language also requires bleeping at times.
According to Nielson, the average Dance Moms viewer is 36 years old. The show‘s content reflects this mature target audience more than a tween viewership.
Questionable Themes in Dance Moms
Beyond flashy competitions and dazzling dances, concerning themes pervade Dance Moms:
- Instructors insulting children‘s dance abilities
- Mothers viciously competing through their daughters
- Explicit favoritism shown toward "teacher‘s pet" students
- Dancers pushed past healthy physical limits
- Frequent lectures about dancers‘ weight and bodies
These dynamics could negatively impact kids’ self-confidence, enjoyment of dance, and relationship skills. Parents are wise to thoughtfully assess if their child can handle these complex pressures.
Poor Adult Role Models
The frequent blowups between Miller, the moms, and rival coaches model some alarming behavior for kids:
- Direct insults and hurtful comments
- Passive aggressive power plays
- Physical posturing and violent threats
- Manipulating children‘s emotions
- Undermining others‘ confidence
Young viewers need guidance to avoid mimicking these damaging interaction patterns.
Are the Competitions Rigged?
Despite drama over rival studios, some allege the dance competition results on Dance Moms are pre-planned for maximum entertainment value. If true, this could promote dishonesty and undermine the hard work the dancers put into perfecting their performances.
Over-Emphasis on Winning Over Friendship
With so much rivalry manufactured between the dancers outside of the studio, the show risks teaching kids to prioritize competition over camaraderie.
Backstabbing and hurt feelings between young friends could influence viewers more than uplifting cooperation and teamwork. The show portrays support as weakness instead of strength.
Dance Moms vs. Other Dance Shows
To offer additional perspective, let‘s compare the content in Dance Moms to other dance-focused shows:
Dance Academy features some important life lessons around pursuing your dreams, but with minimal adult themes. Rated PG.
Shake It Up is a lighthearted Disney Channel comedy about teen dancers appropriate for tweens.
Dance Moms Miami displays similar adult conflicts as the original Dance Moms.
The common thread is Dance Moms emphasizes drama between grown-ups rather than age-appropriate content for young viewers.
Potential Positive Messages
Amidst the manufactured drama, Dance Moms does contain some positive messages if kids can stay focused on the dancing:
- Taking a committed, hardworking attitude toward pursuits like dance
- Persevering through setbacks on the journey to improvement
- Maintaining poise and confidence even in high-pressure settings
The show can motivate aspiring dancers to keep chasing their dreams with dedication and grace.
The Costs of Competitive Dance adds Up
Dance Moms spotlights the huge investments competitive dance requires. Here‘s a look at the expenses:
| Dance Classes | $4,000-$5,000 per year |
| Costumes | $75-$200 each, multiples per competition |
| Competition Entry Fees | $35-$50 per competition x 10-15 annually |
| Travel for Competitions | Hotels, flights, transportation |
These costs can total $10,000-$16,000+ yearly, a massive commitment for families. Kids need guidance to avoid placing extreme pressure on parents for investments in potential dance careers.
The Pressures of Competition
Dance Moms highlights the mental and physical toll competitive circuits exact on dancers pursuing titles, acclaim, and progression to more elite levels:
- Five or more grueling dance classes per day
- Rigid control around food intake and weight
- Training through pain, injury, and extreme fatigue
- Harsh critiques from instructors
The show risks portraying these demands as normal and required to advance as a dancer. In truth, moderation is vital to avoid burnout and unhealthy attitudes about body image.
Questionable Costumes and Makeup
Dance Moms frequently shows the young dancers wearing heavy stage makeup, along with costume choices like midriff-baring tops, short shorts, and leotards cut high on the leg.
Parents may understandably find these overly mature outfits inappropriate for girls as young as eight. The sexualized makeup and costumes could send unhealthy messages about beauty expectations.
Tips for Making an Informed Choice as a Parent
To help you evaluate if Dance Moms is suitable for your kids, I recommend:
- Preview episodes yourself before approval so you can assess maturity levels required.
- For kids under 10, the show‘s complex themes almost certainly require avoiding the show entirely.
- For ages 10-14, co-view new episodes together and openly discuss any concerns.
- Candidly explain elements exaggerated for entertainment versus real competitive dance.
- Focus on the positive messages around persistence, confidence, and skill.
- Ensure your child dances first and foremost for their own fulfillment over any external acclaim.
With mindfulness of its shortcomings, parents can permit mature teens to watch Dance Moms while shielding younger viewers.
Healthy Dance Hours Per Age
Beyond TV choices, how much youth dance training is appropriate? Here are tips from veteran dance teachers:
Ages 3-6: 1-2 recreational classes per week to build fundamentals in a fun environment.
Ages 7-10: 2-4 classes weekly focusing on enjoyment and modest skill development.
Ages 11-14: For devoted dancers, potentially 5-10 classes per week including private coaching. Avoid over-commitment.
Ages 15-18: 10-15 classes weekly for aspiring professional dancers. Monitor for signs of overtraining or obsession.
Regardless of age, kids‘ dance pursuits should remain balanced with schoolwork, socializing, and other activities to avoid burnout. Moderation is key.
The Bottom Line – Use Caution with Dance Moms
While Dance Moms shows amazing young dancers honing their talents, the prevalent adult drama makes it better suited for mature teen viewership in my opinion as a dance parent and data analyst.
For kids under 14, the combative behavior modeled, sexualized costumes, and over-emphasis on competition are concerning without the right guidance. With active parenting, it may offer some motivation in the proper context. Yet on the whole, the cons seem to outweigh the pros for young viewers still developing relationship and value judgement skills.
I hope these insights help you make informed viewing decisions for your family! Feel free to reach out with any other questions.