Look, Dance Moms is a cultural phenomenon and genuinely addictive reality TV. Kids say it's entertaining, parents say it's watchable, and everyone agrees it's full of drama.

But let's be clear: this show built eight seasons on filming an adult verbally and emotionally abusing children. Abby Lee Miller yells, insults, plays favorites, and publicly humiliates young dancers—and the producers framed it as must-see TV rather than a safeguarding issue. The mothers aren't much better, constantly fighting while their daughters watch.

If your tween is begging to watch because everyone at school talks about it, fine—but watch together and talk about it. Use it as a teaching moment about toxic coaching, unhealthy competition, and how adults should never treat kids. Just don't pretend it's good for them. It's junk food TV that happens to feature talented young dancers who deserved so much better than what this show put them through.