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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?
Tools and tips that can help

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Wizards of Waverly Place?

  •  I think this show is

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See all 84 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Jlms Girl
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Perfect for 8+

    Me and my sister like this show. Nothing wrong with it

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    karl the wizard
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    perfect

    i love it want to be on it. I am 12 and a good actor perfect

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Jdogrules
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative role models

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Good show for 6-11 age range

    Parents need to know that this disney show potrays j innocent magic,but that may be a problem with some christian ppl.Alex often has a different boyfriend/love intrest almost every 2-5 episodes and in one episode she randomly kissed a guy she didnt even know....just to get her first kiss.The role models arent too good.....in one episode..the parents decided to leave thier daughter in the hands of vampires and save her friend instead...other than that,the parents usually try to set rules and stop thier kids from playing with maic(which doesnt always work).Their arent really any messages,but the message of rosponsibiility upon all others,thiers also the message of treating you brother/sister good.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    SomeGirl
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Disney!!!!!

    DIsney so it's not gonna be too bad is it?

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    4kittiesrock
    Lives in New Hampshire
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Love it

    I love this show! So does my brother. He sings along. It's so cute!!

    This review...

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

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