Kids shows are designed for children to watch, yet somehow there seems to be a lot of controversy that surrounds their content. More often than we'd like,children's shows are criticized for containing contentorelements don't align with the audience they were created for.

The truth is that many parents rely on the distraction of television to entertain their kids while they multitask around the house, so it's pretty important to be able to flick on a children's show and walk away, trusting that the content is going to be age-appropriate. Let's take a look at some of the most popular kids shows that are riddled with controversy.

Ren and Stimpy is a cartoon with a fan base comprised of both adults and children. That may be because of the fact that there's enough adult content in there to remain entertaining to the grown-ups, but too much to be comfortable for parents. The characters are often depicted in situations considered to be grotesque and inappropriate for young viewers, not to mention the dangerous stunts and actions they're constantly displaying.

In one particular episode, Bob The Builder was experiencing difficulties while wallpapering, and out of nowhere, viewers swear they heard him drop an F-bomb. The network denied the claims, stating his words were intentionally muffled, but DailyMail reported on the occurrence and the backlash from angry parents around the world.

Does Dora have parents? She certainly doesn't ask them for permission before she goes anywhere. Parents of young children who tune in to this show have complained about the fact that Dora seems to just leave when she sees fit as she embarks on wild adventures. This may seem like a simple concern, but parents can't risk their children mimicking this behavior and leaving home without consent the way this show demonstrates.

It's easy to let our guard down around Barney. He's a big purple dinosaur that sings about loving one another and making friends. While this may seem harmless, not all parents are aligned with his vision. In one particular episode, Barney educates viewers by saying "a stranger is a friend you haven't met yet", encouraging kids to talk to strangers. It's pretty clear why this wouldn't sit well with parents trying to keep their kids out of harm's way.

Spongebob Squarepants may be a show better reserved for older children. The content and actions of the characters may not be suitable to younger audiences that can't differentiate between fact and fiction. The characters frequently perform stunts that young kids may be apt to mimic. There are so many entirely adult-based jokes that appear on this show, that Screen Rant dedicated an entire segment to them.

Paw Patrol appears innocent at first glance. There aren't many parents that would complain about this show, however some perceive it to be a bit too "frantic" for their children. There's always a tragic occurrence followed by a rescue, and some of the incidents involve crashes and tense moments. Kids internalize these scenes with far greater sensitivity andthe content may be too traumatic for some youngsters.

As a whole, Sesame Street has earned a lot of trust and respect from parents. However, the guest appearances that keep the show fresh and fun can oftentimes introduce a very adult layer of complexity. Human behavior can't be controlled the way puppets can be, Mike Rowe being a prime example. He appeared on the show and made made the comment; "I always wanted to go in through the back door" when speaking to Oscar. Most children wouldn't catch this point of reference, but it still left parents angered and dismayed.

The debate about racial depictions within the Curious George show is a deep-rooted and long standing one. Many scholars have weighed in on this topic, citing the fact that Georgerepresented a slave, and that the showwas promoting white supremacy.BU reports that academics and parents alike have questioned the show's subliminal messages for many years.

This show is an entertaining one, but it's tough to deny the fact that it portrays some downrightdisturbing things.Common Sense Media reports on an episode which was described as "creepy and dark". At one point "a lady breathes in Captain K'nuckles face and his skin peels off". In another instance, "K'nuckles has a daydream were Flapjack pours candy down his throat and a barber threatens to stab Flapjack in the face with a spear."

This show has more hate on social media than we can describe. Common Sense Media describes parent reactions to this show as being immensely negative. While a few butt jokes here and there may be funny, kids are likely to take them way too far. There are also numerous references to death, hangovers, and skinny dipping - none of which seem appropriate for young viewers.

Related:20 80s Movies And The Controversial Scenes That Wouldnt Fly Today

It's really hard to admit that this show isn't appropriate, because we all love it so much. Somehow the older generation seemed unscathed while watching this, but as awareness surrounding children's exposure to topics on TV heightens, it's easy to see that this show is inappropriate. There's an abundant use of guns and weapons and an ever-present array of moments in which the characters are being lumped on the head and repeatedly hit with blunt objects.

Related:20 90s Movies And The Controversial Scenes That Wouldnt Fly Today

The hits keep coming when it comes to parental debate against this show. Adventure Time is riddled with sexual connotations and exploitative language that is inappropriate for many young viewers. NME highlights moments using terminology such as "it goes in my butt", "don't flaunt it if you're not gonna give it up", and "I wanted you to bite me." We're pretty sure there's no further explanation required on this one...

Another classic is now under scrutiny! This show was passable in the past, but is now heavily "under fire" for its use of weaponry and depiction of ongoing violence. It is riddled with the use of guns, weapons, and sharp objects, all of which are frequently used to visibly strike other characters. Clearly this is not ok for young viewers to internalize or mimic in their daily lives.

Related:10 TV Shows You Want Your Kids To Watch (And 5 To Avoid Entirely)

Ranker reports that this show is riddled with issues and is under constant scrutiny, making us wonder how it has managed to stay on-air as long as it has. In an example of clear disregard for young viewers, the episode Tentacool and Tentacruelaired a mere 4 weeks after the 9/11 attacks, despite the fact that it depict aTentacool destroying a skyscraper. Clearly this wasn't very well thought out, nor should children be subjected to this sort of content.

This may be viewed as being "too fussy", but if you live in certain parts of the world, you know better than to make jokes about being exposed to spiders. An episode of Peppa Pig titled "Mister Skinny Legs" clearly tells viewers that "spiders can't hurt you", and The Guardian reported on the fact that it had to be taken off-air. In some parts of the world, spiders absolutely can hurt you, and this message to children was riddled with the potential for serious harm.

Next:Our Kids Love Watching These Movies (But Theyre Super Controversial)

Next15 Surprising Facts From The Set Of TLC's Cake Boss

Go here to read the rest:
15 Seemingly Innocent Kids' Shows That Are Littered With Controversy - TheThings