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Hoarders

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Where to watch: A&E)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Docu about compulsion is more sensational than educational.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The series sheds light on compulsive hoarding -- albeit sometimes in a more sensational way than an informative one. It offers limited medical or psychological explanation for the disorder.

  • Role models:

    Therapists, organizers, and families attempt to help people control their compulsive hoarding and lead a better life. The hoarders themselves run the gamut from wanting help to being in denial of their problem.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Hoarders occasionally get defensive, snippy, and/or argumentative when pressured to discard items. Some of the hoarders' personal stories can be pretty upsetting.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    The hauling service 1-800-Got Junk is prominently featured throughout the series. Logos for stores like Target and products like Yoplait and other food items are sometimes visible amidst hoarders' possessions.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Hoarders

Parents need to know that this series about people who suffer from compulsive hoarding and are undergoing an intervention really isn't intended for young kids. While it offers some limited educational information about the disorder and treatments, the extensive scenes of extreme filth and vermin-infested rooms are both sensational and disturbing. Some of the hoarders' personal stories -- including having their children taken from their home due to the clutter -- may also be difficult or frightening for some viewers.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the difference between being a “pack rat” and a hoarder. What causes people to compulsively hoard? Where can someone go for help if they have this problem?
  • What is the difference between documenting events and sensationalizing them? Do you think the media blurs the line between the two? Why or why not?
  • Why do people with sensitive problems decide to broadcast them on television? Would you ever do that?
Tools and tips that can help

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    snowytears
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0

    I don't see anything wrong with it, It's an interesting show.

    This review...

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

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