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Parents' Guide to

Liv and Maddie

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Jovial family sitcom is simplistic but still entertains.

TV Disney Channel Comedy 2013
Liv and Maddie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 9+

Based on 39 parent reviews

Laurenwetmore
Laurenwetmore Adult
December 16, 2020
age 8+

It affected my daughters behavior

I have watched this show and it is entertaining but I cannot stand the ditzy and self centered betrayal of the teenagers. I noticed my 9 year old starting to emulate the girls on this show. It manifested it self in snarky comebacks, rude behavior and all around dramatics as if she were on the show herself. Also several episodes were heavily focused on the romantic relationships and I think its a bit much. I stopped letting her watch it and all the unsavory behavior literally vanished.
AmyAlexandRuby
AmyAlexandRuby Adult
July 24, 2018
age 12+

Not for recommended age groups from the critics! That's for sure!

This show is for pre-teens and pre-teens only. And not only that, I don't think the constant message of having to have a boyfriend needs to be a paramount theme throughout the show. Especially for kids age 7+ like they say. Sorry, not sorry, that I vehemently disagree. My daughter who just turned 7 this month started watching it when we got Netflix. At first I thought it fine, going by a 7+ age range assigned by the critics. Oh No! And to top it off, it's rated G by Netflix, or Disney, (idk) so I thought we watch a couple of episodes and I'd see for myself. Well now I've gotten myself in quite the proverbial pickle, because she loves it, and I do not agree with the mature content and both the subliminal and overt themes and messages portrayed in the series. So now, I have to do a Liv and Maddie detox on her, and no, it's not pretty. Why is it that the media want children to grow up so friggin fast?! And don't even get me started on the clothing that is offered up for little girls. Notice I said little girls? Well, "they" never got the memo. Because somewhere it is written by "them" that they have to now wear high heels to look pretty. Is nothing worth waiting for anymore? (My oldest daughter had to wait until she was 12-13 to wear even a little heel) And yes, I get it, they ARE fun to wear for dress up. Meaning when they dress up in costumes and play princess. But for everyday life, no. I'm sure the podiatrists are loving the fact that little girls are wearing high heels now. Anyway, there are some positive messages that come from the show as well. Loving others different from you, and understanding or beginning to, differences amongst us. But overall, I'd firmly place the series as pre-teen. Nothing younger. P.S.- My daughter just asked to watch Liv and Maddie, and I told her no and her head spun around three times and she spit food at me! Kidding. But practically.
See all 39 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Identical twins Liv and Maddie Rooney (both played by Dove Cameron) have been best friends their whole lives, but their relationship gets a little more complicated when TV star Liv moves back home to Wisconsin after four years in Hollywood filming a hit series. Polar opposite personalities are just the start of the differences between these two, and it doesn't help that social diva Liv can't resist stepping in to "help" her brainy, athletic sister any way she sees fit. Meanwhile, the twins' younger brothers, Joey (Joey Bragg) and Parker (Tenzig Norgay Trainor), enjoy the fact that the girls' drama keeps the spotlight off their antics; and the Rooney parents, Karen (Kali Rocha) and Pete (Benjamin King) attempt to keep tabs on the whole crew at home and at the twins' high school, where they both work.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (39 ):
Kids say (148 ):

You can't expect a lot of depth from a tween sitcom set up for escapades of the identical twin nature and garden-variety teen girl drama. Factor in a couple of mischievous younger brothers who steal scenes with their comical scheming, and the constant story interruption of confessional-style asides with characters, and there's little time for really meaningful content.

That's not to say that your kids won't enjoy a visit to the Rooney home, and what they'll see and hear there won't strike a nerve with you since it's classically purified Disney fare. This is a place where mostly trivial problems play second fiddle to the funny stuff that's always going on, and solutions are easy to come by, but the characters do acknowledge the issues that arise and solve them. Sure, it oversimplifies a lot, but it also doesn't raise any issues that aren't age-appropriate for your kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about this show's portrayal of the average family. Are the Rooneys a realistic representation of a modern family? How do their problems compare to yours? What does this show say about relationships between siblings? Between parents and kids?

  • Kids: What qualities about yourself set you apart from your friends or siblings? Why is it good to be unique? When is it not fun to stand out in a crowd?

  • Parents can talk to their kids about getting along with others, particularly within a family. How do you communicate your needs at home? How does it feel when someone hurts your feelings? What ways do you have for making up after a tiff?

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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