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The Waltons

(Rated TV-G, Drama, Starring Ralph Waite, Michael Learned, Richard Thomas, Where to watch: Hallmark Channel, Syndicated, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Beloved '70s family classic continues to win fans.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Parents and grandparents are loving and patient and encourage their kids to express themselves and make wise decisions. The strong extended family exhibits love for each other and reliance on their community. Morals and values are high among the main characters. African-American characters are treated with respect. Men and women tend to have predictable, gender-based roles, but it's mostly accurate to the time period.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    When the plot calls for it, there are shots of army training or war scenes involving weapons. For example, in one, soldiers prepare for battle by stabbing a stuffed gunnysack with a bayonet on a rifle. Other injuries are rare, but when they occur, they do result in realistic consequences (broken bones, cuts, scrapes).

  • Sexy stuff:

    Occasional very mild flirting.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Very occasionally, adults (usually males) drink beer in a social establishment.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Waltons

Parents need to know that this classic, long-running drama series is based on a book by Earl Hamner, Jr., who used his own upbringing in rural Virginia as inspiration for the characters and storylines. The show focuses on a large extended family living in a small community during the Depression and World War II and offers a glimpse at how people coped with the time's turbulent changes. There's little content here likely to raise eyebrows, and life lessons abound in every episode, making it a wonderful choice for family viewing with kids who can grasp the timely worldly events.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the Waltons' family life. How is their living situation different from yours? How do they cope with the economic constraints of the time period? Does there seem to be a greater sense of community among their neighbors than what you're used to? What can viewers learn from the Waltons? Do you think audiences got different messages from this show when it first aired in the '70s? The show also offers parents and kids a chance to discuss world and national history on large and small scales. What historical events were going on at the time? How did the Depression and the war affect the Waltons' home life? What's happening around the world today? How are your family's lives changed by these events?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    F-250
    Lives in Idaho
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    Well worth watching!

    With all the questionable programs out there today, I feel very comfortable letting my children watch The Waltons. Just about every episode has an important lesson on family values and social responsibility.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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