Parents' Guide to

Modern Family

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Poignant comedy series has mature content, stereotypes.

TV ABC Comedy 2009
Modern Family Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 11+

Based on 71 parent reviews

Grade6CriticsCorner1
Grade6CriticsCorner1 Adult
November 8, 2021
age 12+

Modern Family Craze

Award winning T.V show “Modern Family” is amazing yet disappointing at the same time. The actors. Where do we begin? Well first off, they are Spectacular! They do the show so well it doesn’t seem like they are acting like a family, they look like a family! Are you squirming in your seat impatient to find out where you can watch the best show ever? Well, you’re in luck! You can watch “Modern Family” On many different platforms! Some might be worried about the quality of the show. Well, the great thing about “Modern Family” is that they have great quality for every platform! I recommend this for people who need something to cheer them up.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
bernie210
bernie210 Parent of 14-year-old
July 4, 2020
age 16+

Beautiful show with flawed characters (+ occasional revealing clothing); requires parental guidance on relationships

Every episode of modern family ends with a short heartfelt speech about marriage/ family. However, parents should know that couples featured in this show often lie or go behind their partners' back to do something that they want to do, which isn't exactly harmless, but may give children an incorrect idea about how relationships should be. Also, Gloria and Haley dress quite provocatively in every episode, with considerable cleavage showing. There are also quite a number of scenes in which the family is at the beach and one episode (in S8) featuring a strip club that Manny lost his graduation sash in. One of Haley's (many) relationships started with the guy cheating on his long-time girlfriend with Haley, so parents should perhaps look out for that as well. Otherwise, this is a heartwarming, feel-good show because even though each family member has their own flaws, they always come through for each other at the end. With proper parental guidance here and there, I feel this is a humourous show that teenagers will come to love as well.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
See all 71 parent reviews

What's the Story?

MODERN FAMILY centers on the daily lives of three different but related families. There's Jay (Ed O'Neill) and his second, much younger wife, Gloria (Sofia Vergara), and her son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Jay's grown daughter, Claire (Julie Bowen), lives nearby with her husband, Phil (Ty Burrell), and is a full-time mom to their three teens. Claire's brother, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson), and his life partner, Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), are raising their adopted daughter a stone's throw away from the rest of the family. The series chronicles the ups and downs of parenting, marriage, and family relationships. Later seasons have seen developments such as Claire and Phil's oldest daughter leaving for college, Mitchell and Cameron's attempts to adopt another child, and an unexpected baby on the way for Jay and Gloria.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (71):
Kids say (351):

This show is well scripted, the cast is superb, and it doesn't shy away from a down-and-dirty look at family life. It's no surprise that Modern Family has picked up several accolades since its debut in 2009. Balancing the good times and bad times isn't always an easy task in a comedy, but this series always ends on a heartwarming note that reflects the beautiful imperfection of family relationships. At the same time, it offers a contemporary picture of the modern American family in its presentation of three very different -- but equally loving -- household structures.

That said, Modern Family isn't for everyone. There are a lot of stereotypes to weed through, and the plot often deals with sex, which is discussed openly in teens' company, as well as other mature themes such as death, divorce, and, to some degree, prejudice. Much of the humor revolves around Mitchell and Cameron's life together and Jay's unconventional marriage to his young Colombian wife. Take into consideration your family's values before opting into this series, but if you do watch with your teens, know that its ultimate message is one of tolerance and the lasting connection among family members of all manner of backgrounds.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Modern Family compares to other family-centered shows. Does the content seem more or less realistic than others'? Do the central relationships seem nontraditional to you? How are they different from other sitcom families?

  • How does your family compare to the characters in this show? What aspects of your family might be considered nontraditional? How do the characters change over the course of the series? In what ways does this show emotional growth on their part?

  • How does the media portray relationships in general? Is it ever appropriate to use stereotypes as a way of portraying them? Why do you think topics such as unplanned pregnancy, divorce, sex, and sexual identity are dealt with so frequently on TV shows and in movies?

  • How do the characters in Modern Family demonstrate communication and humility? Why are these important character strengths?

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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