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Wizards of Waverly Place

(Rated TV-G, Comedy, Starring Jake T. Austin, Selena Gomez, David Henrie, Where to watch: Disney Channel, DVD, Online)
  • 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?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Magic, mischief, and lessons for young tweens.

Themes in this show include:   family relationships, friendship, growing up

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The show is primarily intended to entertain, but kids will take away pointers about being a good friend, sibling, and family member.
  • Messages:

    The show has positive messages about family, responsibility, friendship, honesty, and making good decisions, and each episode includes a lesson that's emphasized at the story's end.
  • Role models:

    Characters aren't perfect by any means, but they always learn from their mistakes. Typical teen and tween behavior includes sibling arguments, mild rebellion against parental authority (a girl tricks her father so she can go to a clothing sale, for instance), and bickering among female peers. Many teen girl characters are obsessed with physical image, clothes, and shopping.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Magical mishaps sometimes result in some bumps or collisions, but it's all fairly benign, and injuries are rare.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Some episodes deal with mild boy-girl issues like flirting, crushes, and first kisses.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

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

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Wizards of Waverly Place

Parents need to know that there's little to worry about in this Disney sitcom about a trio of siblings with magical powers. Each episode offers positive messages about responsibility, honesty, and making good decisions, and characters learn from their mistakes. Teen girls are sometimes portrayed as image-driven and shopping-obsessed, and some mildly rebellious behavior (a girl uses magic to help sneak out of the house for a clothing sale, for example) is common. Older tweens might find the squeaky-clean package a bit on the cheesy side, but it's fine for younger ones.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how siblings relate to each other. Kids: Do you think the characters' relationships are realistic? If you have siblings, how are the show's characters similar to you and your brothers and sisters? How are they different?
  • Is it ever difficult to get along with siblings? Why? What do you do then?
  • Do you think you would be closer to your family if you all shared a secret like the young wizards in the show do?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Wizards of Waverly Place?
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See all 90 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 3 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    It is great for toddlers too

    All my kids love it!!! My 3 year old thinks every thing Alex does is really funny she laughs at it all.And both my boys like it too.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    Not a Wholesome Show to Watch

    I don't like it. It teaches children to rebel against grown-ups, and it makes them think that they have the power. They will ask for magic powers to create what they want. It is like when Satan tempted Jesus Christ in this same matter in Matthew 4:4 when he said that he could turn the rocks into bread. He tried to get him to practice that same thing that they are showing our kids to practice themselves; that is magic. Satan tried to tempt Jesus to do wizard's magic.

  3. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0

    I don't like it. It teaches children to rebel against grown-ups, and it makes them think that they have the power. They will ask for magic powers to create what they want. It is like when Satan tempted Jesus Christ in this same matter in Matthew 4:4 when he said that he could turn the rocks into bread. He tried to get him to practice that same thing that they are showing our kids to practice themselves; that is magic. Satan tried to tempt Jesus to do wizard's magic.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    I really used to think this was a decent show and even enjoyed watching it with my kids. But this last season things started to change, not not for the better. In the beginning the main character, Alex, was a typical (for a wizard) trouble making kid who's scheming always ended up backfiring in the end. So it seemed like a good show with a light message about responsiblity, yet not in a preaching way. But as of this last season, Alex has transformed into an image obsessed teenager who puts little to no effort into anything yet still comes out on top in the end. Not exactly the best role model for kids. For example, in the Wizards movie, there is a competition between Alex and her brother, for which he has been preparing most of his life, all the while she was just out having fun. Of course she ends up winning, giving the impression that it's easy to be successful in life even if you don't work for it. I highly recommend you watch several episodes with your kids, especially if you see that they are made in 2009 or later.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Perfect! Younger kids love it, but most teens watch it to, but they don't think it is a cool thing to admit to!

    I think it s perfect for children of all ages as it shows good messages for children about honesty and friendship and family values. Love it, It gets a big thumbs up from me!

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