Parents' Guide to

Jon & Kate Plus 8

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Twins and sextuplets keep real-life parents hopping.

TV TLC Reality TV 2007
Jon & Kate Plus 8 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 11+

Based on 30 parent reviews

beybi
beybi Parent of 5-year-old
July 16, 2010
age 17+

ana

obozavam you have excellent
altec
altec Adult
September 29, 2009
age 8+

So sick of this show..

I'm sick of it. everytime this is on I'll change my channel right away. I don't know why TLC is keeping this program.. So sick of it..Please take it off..
See all 30 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jon and Kate Gosselin and their boisterous brood -- twins Cara and Mady and sextuplets Hannah, Alexis, Leah, Collin, Joel, and Aaden -- have spawned a mini-industry of "multiples" reality shows. The early episodes proved that when it comes to managing a hectic family life, where there's a will, there's always a way. But the 2009 season polarizes the parents' relationship with accusations of infidelity and a fall-out that includes filing for divorce. While the bulk of what you'll see will still revolve around birthday parties and seasonal outings, the series does somewhat exploit the daily ups and downs of life with two energetic sets of multiples. Expect to see plenty of footage of the physical and emotional challenges of balancing the children's individual needs with the struggle for harmony at home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (30 ):
Kids say (34 ):

We can't imagine why kids would want to see this show. But we can see how parents might get some enjoyment out of it, since they can relate to many of the issues Jon and Kate face (if on a slightly smaller scale). But some parents may be turned off by the frequently snide comments that Kate makes about Jon, both in his presence and out of it. ("He takes longer to get ready than I do, and that's really irritating," or "Can you please help me instead of playing with toys?") Her seeming negativity, while understandable in her situation, often becomes the focal point of the show, and young viewers won't fully understand the stresses that lead the adults to talk to and about each other the way they do.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the media portrays families. Is there a "standard" family type in today's TV shows?

  • We recommend that parents who do let their kids see this show talk about the issues is raises and inject their wisdom and experience into the scenes the show portrays.

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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