People do smoke. There is some violence sometimes even involving guns. In some episodes people die from ilnesses, etc. The show also touches on some deep issues such as prejudice. For example, In one episode I saw Ms. Oleson discriminates against a person just because he was a midget. Of, course the "midget' proves himself at the end by saving Ms. Oleson's daughter. The problems are always solved, so there is always a positive message at the end. Because of its themes, smoking and violence i say this deserves a mild TV-PG-D ( D stands for suggestive dialouge) rating. The show is very good, but younger will probably find it too slow. Also, there are some moments that feel to last generation. Overall: 9+ 7-8 iffy. 4.3/5

I love the show. It has good role models. It teaches you how to deal with difficult people such as a Nellie Oleson. It has good values. It teaches you about perseverance. It teaches you not to make fun of people who are different. It one episode it even teaches young people to stay away from drugs and I think that's awesome.

I love it. Me and my family always watch it. But please watch out for some parts about people at the saloon. Drinking, fighting, gambling, ect. But I think the message is great it teaches kids about how tough it was back then and it should make your kids appreciate what they have and how easy life is now days.

Although I think this is one of the best shows of like ALLLL time, there is some inappropriate stuff that isnt mentioned above. For example, in episodes like the "The Plague" and "The Blizzard" and "The Raccoon", death is a main topic. Nellie is funny , but a HORRIBLE role model. Of course Laura always ends up overcoming her and in the last few seasons Nellie matures and is replaced by Nancy. Laura resorts to calling Nellie names and pushing and hitting her (which some parents may not believe in) but what Nellie and Harriet do is far worse. Drugs and achohal are mentioned and used... There is child abuse in episodes such as "Child of Pain" and Doctor Baker admitts that Graham (the child) could become crippled if his alchoholic father kept beating him. Of course, in the end, Charles helps the father stay sober. Charles beats some people up, but just to protect others. Overall- most episodes are OK but you may want to watch this show with kids under 12. I'm 13 now and when I was younger I only used to watch the episodes centered aroung the Olesons or the kids.

I love having my kids watch this show because the themes are so innocent and because there's really no violence or sexual content. However, beware some outdated themes and ideas--I've found i have to watch with my kids and be ready to turn off the episode. For example, we watched an episode about an African American character, Joe Kagen, who was trying to get the townsfolks' "permission" to attend church (which takes some debriefing with young children to begin with). The two main male protagonists (Pa and Jonathan) were of course on the moral side of the episode's message, arguing on Joe's behalf, but Mrs. Olsen, the antagonist, was arguing against it. I was shocked to hear her begin spouting racist ideas such as "those people practice witchcraft, beat on drums, and EAT PEOPLE!" Then, as if that's not enough, her husband, who is supposed to be on the "right" side of the moral message, states that her view is ridiculous and "this is America, not Africa!" So not only do kids hear racist stereotypes that they might not otherwise hear, but then they're told that those things DO happen in Africa! So things like that, which were considered moral and "progressive" in 1979, are outdated, racist, and horribly ethnocentric by today's standards. Just beware the time lag!

Little house on the Praire is such a good show! The role models are that good that ***I AM NAMED AFTER LAURA*** My parents often say that I turned out more rather like Nellie Oleson. There is always an important message behind each episode stating a rule about sharing and being positive and all that. Dad will usually ask at the end of the episode "What is the lesson this time kids?" We have all the seasons up to No7 and have learnt some interesting trivia such as... - Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush are identical twins that play Carrie. - Willie Olesen and Laura Ingalls are adopted brother and sister and so are Andy Garvey and Albert Ingalls. In later seasons, Laura and Almonzo have a few kissy scenes but it is nothing to get fussed about.