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Ben 10

(Rated TV-Y7-FV, Children, cartoons, & animation, Where to watch: Cartoon Network, DVD, Download)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Alien-morphing and action -- every boy's dream.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Even with superpowers, this boy turns to his grandfather and female cousin for support.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Punching, kicking, shooting, wrestling, chasing with all or some variation packed in each episode.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Ben 10

Parents need to know that this 10-year-old superhero battles villains using physical violence. If parents have strong feelings about not letting their kids watch cartoons containing violence, then this one isn't for them. When facing evil, Ben is able to morph into one of 10 different alien creatures. This transformation is accompanied by dramatic visuals, dialogue, and music that may frighten younger viewers (especially kids under 7, who may not understand the fantasy vs. reality concept). Some kids may be alarmed when the villains attack, punch, throw, shoot, and do whatever it takes to stop Ben. On a positive note, Ben relies on his Grandpa Max and cousin Gwen to help him get out of dangerous situations.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what makes this kid a hero. Is it his ability to morph into aliens and fight off villains, or is it that he takes on challenges and asks for support when needed? Parents and kids can also talk about when and if it's ever okay to fight back and when other responses are appropriate. If kids are interested in Ben's alien-morphing abilities, families also can use this opportunity to introduce science-fiction books and films.
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See all 36 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 1.0

    Awful Awful Awful

    My 6 year old watches this at his fathers house and comes home and has nightmares at bedtime. When he is in school he is getting into fights with the kids by pretending that he is ben 10 and physically harming others. As a concerned mother,..NOT A GOOD SHOW FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.

  2. Kid Reviewer
    Age 12
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it 1.0

    no way

    don't like it. never will.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 1.0

    Very disturbing - Not appropriate for young children

    My son, who just turned five, has been into Ben 10 for a while. He has some Ben 10 toys, including the watch. And he spends a lot of time with a friend at pre-school pretending they are Ben 10 etc. As his father, I have to admit that I haven't really paid much attention to the show. His mother has watched some of the episodes with him, I wasn't thrilled by some of the things he was telling me about the show and the various characters - it just sounded kind of low-class and thoughtless, but I didn't get really worried about it until last night. As he got ready for bed my son told me that he had seen something on the show that bothered him and made him feel very bad. He told me that there was a scene in which a cook who is preparing some food removes ear wax from her ear and adds it to the food. I couldn't believe that this kind of "entertainment" would be set before our young children by a major network and I thought my son must have been mistaken about what was happening in the scene. But it turns out he was right. The scene occurs in an episode called "A Chance of Face". From the "recap" page at tv.com (http://www.tv.com/Ben+10/A+Change+of+Face/episode/922189/recap.html): "In the cafeteria of the prison, it is lunch time, and Gwen is given a tray of yellowish goop. She asks the server if they have anything that’s organic, and the lunch lady gives her something that “she’s grown herself.” She sticks a finger inside her ear and mixes the earwax into her already disgusting food. The lunch lady tells her that she has more and should come back for seconds." How many parents would think that this kind of gross image is good for young children? Especially young kids who are still learning about what kinds of food are good to eat. Of course this show is rated TV-Y7, which means it might not be appropriate for kids younger than 7. But so is "Transformers" which does not contain this type of disturbing images. And of course the Cartoon Network knows that very young children are inevitably going to be exposed to the show and become absorbed in it, just by the times of day when they show it. So that's how much they care about our kids. A word to the wise: This show is not right for young children. Besides the violence there are very disturbing plot lines and images.

  4. Educator Reviewer
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 1.0

    hi kdwendjn

    dksfahjdserd

  5. Educator Reviewer
    Anonymous
    Lives in Georgia
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 5.0

    it is boringh and for small kids

    this is not violent at alll!it would make the kids less skared because they think there is somoen to reskue them

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