Parents' Guide to

Hoarders

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Docu about compulsion is more sensational than educational.

TV A&E Reality TV 2009
Hoarders Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

courageousmom
courageousmom Adult
February 1, 2012
age 9+

Sensationalism & Extreme Situations But Inspires Housecleaning!

I agree that the angle taken on the hoarders that are profiled in this series is more sensational than informative. My son and I watch this and at least it does inspire him to clean his room every time! We have discussions on the importance of organization and cleanliness, which is very important to me. Of course, the situations in this show are extreme, but at least it gives my son a visual of what can happen if you don't keep up with the housework!

This title has:

Too much consumerism
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Each episode of HOARDERS follows two people whose lives have been overcome by their compulsive inability to let go of their belongings. Interviews with the hoarders, their families, and their friends reveal the physical and emotional impact the disorder is having on their lives. Faced with serious problems like losing custody of their children and being evicted, each hoarder attempts to master their symptoms by working with a professional and allowing people to come in and clean out their homes in order to give them a chance to gain some control over their life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (9):

While not as intense as similar series like Intervention and Obsessed, the series underscores the seriousness of this disorder and the different degrees to which people can suffer from it. It also sheds light on some of the reasons that people don't get help, which range from feeling humiliated about their inability to control their symptoms to being in complete denial about their problem.

While the show highlights how difficult it is to live with compulsive hoarding disorder, it fails to offer any in-depth information about what can potentially cause it -- or the various ways that people can be treated after an initial intervention. Meanwhile, the show's images of extremely filthy, vermin-filled homes can take on a sensationalist quality. But in the end, the series succeeds in informing the public about how widespread this disorder is in America -- and detailing the heartbreak that can result from it.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

TV Details

  • Premiere date: August 17, 2009
  • Network: A&E
  • Genre: Reality TV
  • TV rating: TV-PG
  • Last updated: February 11, 2023

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