"When is it O.K. to introduce challenging cultural material — whether it is sexy or profane, creepy or violent, or simply adult and intense — to your children? These are judgment calls, issued on a case-by-case basis, and sometimes dictated by feeble and selfish rationales. (Me: “We have to see the new Tarantino tonight.” Wife: “We have no baby sitter.” Me: “Let’s bring the kids! They’re almost in middle school, right?” Wife: “[unprintable].”) All parents want to find a happy medium, to make our children feel, as A. O. Scott, my wise colleague at The New York Times, has written, “both adventurous and protected, comfortable and sophisticated.” He pointed out too that parents are judgmental about what other parents let their kids consume. My wife and I have sometimes felt the pointy end of that critical eye."
— Deciding How to Expose Children to Challenging Cultural Fare - NYTimes.com
