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SpongeBob SquarePants

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Edgy underwater comedy may be iffy for young kids.

Themes in this show include:   friendship

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 6–8

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The show is intended to entertain rather than to educate.

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    There are some messages about topics like friendship and self-respect mixed into the plot, but the show's overall silliness -- and the characters' tendency to resolve conflict physically and/or with disdainful comments -- often make them hard to find.
  • Role models:

    Characters frequently solve disputes with physicality. There's also a lot of ridicule and outright disdain between certain characters, though feelings rarely appear hurt by it. On the plus side, the lone female character is well-rounded and accomplished.
  • Violence & scariness:

    Fairly frequent cartoon rough-and-tumble scenes include characters falling off of cliffs and being pummeled by stinging jellyfish. But their recoveries usually span only a scene or two. Characters frequently resort to physical "solutions" when faced with conflict.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    No real profanity, but words like "stupid" and "idiot" might be iffy for very young viewers.
  • Consumerism:

    SpongeBob is such a huge franchise of toys, clothing, and even food that the show could be viewed as a commercial in and of itself.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of SpongeBob SquarePants was written by Emily Ashby

Parents need to know that this cartoon includes violent, dark satirical humor that will confuse kids who can't separate fantasy and reality. Characters' relationships are marred with name-calling and mockery, but no one ever seems affected by the exchanges. Anger and frustration often lead to physical  resolutions that leave no lasting effects (though in the real world they'd be harmful). Messages about friendship, perseverance, and self-respect are mixed into the plot, but the overall silliness of the show and the main characters' annoying behavior often make them hard to find. All in all, this is a real "know your kid" situation.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about being a good friend. Which characters are good friends? How do they show they care about each other? What do you do to show your friends you like them?
  • If your kids tend to believe everything they see, watch this show carefully with them and ask them about what they see and what they understand.
  • How does the show reflect real marine life? What type of creature is each character? How do their depictions differ from their real-life versions?
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More on SpongeBob SquarePants

What’s the Story?

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS (voiced by Tom Kenny) lives in Bikini Bottom at the floor of the Pacific Ocean. He works as a fry cook at the Krusty Krab restaurant and spends his down time with those he considers his two best buddies: a woefully unintelligent-but-lovable sea star named Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke), who returns SpongeBob's friendship; and a grouchy, six-tentacled octopus named Squidward (Rodger Bumpass), who doesn't. SpongeBob and Patrick embark on self-misguided adventures that always land them in some sort of absurd situation, but their spirits are never dampened by their off-the-wall predicaments. Nor are they ever put off by the constant ridicule and disdain they encounter from Squidward, who tries to steer clear of their antics but often finds himself in the middle of their messes as they try relentlessly to win his friendship.

Is It Any Good?

He's yellow, porous, and perpetually happy, and he'd likely be called a kitchen sponge more often than a sea sponge, but there's no doubt that SpongeBob is one of the sea's most famous residents. Since the cheery fellow's debut in 1999, his cartoon series has earned a spot at the top of Nickelodeon's ratings chart and maintains a huge fan following that includes kids and adults. The show is sweet, well-intentioned, and full of zany humor and silly scenes that will appeal to many viewers. It also offers plenty of positive message about friendship, hard work, and loyalty.

But some aspects of SpongeBob will leave parents wanting to preview the series before letting their kids watch. Characters often speak sarcastically and act rudely to each other -- and, unlike in real life, no one seems bothered by the mean-spirited things that are said. What's more, situations are often resolved with violence, and the frequent songs sometimes touch on iffy subject matter like bombs and making fun of people. Parents also might be put off by SpongeBob's often-annoying personality and his tendency to take jokes too far. While his antics are funny onscreen, kids' SpongeBob imitations will probably drive adults crazy in the real world.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    Good for kids and but toddlers might not understand what they do

    Good show for everyone.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language

    Hilarious!

  3. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it 2.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models

    can't win w/Spongebob

    My kids love this show so it's too much of a fight to keep it off - but they also know they cannot use alot of the words that are used on the show.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative role models
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Tweens and teens will review...

    Spongebob is the best! I love it, but I laugh when they show animated butts and stuff, and I can't stop watching it! For others, kids 2-7 try to handle bad words like "Stupid" "Awful" "Halfwit" and "Idiot" For ages 8-12 it's fun 2 watch! For ages 13+ they may find gayness.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 8
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    KISS ME SPONGEBOB!!!!!!! KISS ME!!!!

    I'M IN LOVE WITH SPONGEBOB!!!!!!!!!!!

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