Little House on the Prairie – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Little House on the Prairie

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1974

62%

WISE Score

7.5

IMDb

Wholesome frontier family drama that's genuinely good for values but honestly tough for modern kids to sit through.

7.5/10

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Little House on the Prairie

show

TV-PG, 1974

62%

WISE Score

7.5

IMDb

Wholesome frontier family drama that's genuinely good for values but honestly tough for modern kids to sit through.

7.5

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the truth: Little House on the Prairie is genuinely wholesome, with stellar family values and zero content concerns. It's the kind of show parents dream about—no surprise violence, no inappropriate jokes, just a family working through frontier hardships together.

But we have to be real: it's 50 years old, and it shows. The pacing is slow, the production feels ancient, and modern kids raised on Bluey and Avatar are going to struggle to stay engaged. Even parents who loved it as kids often find it harder to rewatch than they remember.

If you have a kid who loves historical fiction, Little Women, or Narnia-level earnestness, they might click with it. But for most families, this is a 'try one episode and see' situation, not a guaranteed hit. The values are there, but the watchability penalty is real.

Age Fit

Common Sense Media suggests 7+, which tracks for content, but realistically this plays better for 9-11 year olds who can appreciate the historical context and have the patience for slower storytelling. Teens will likely find it boring unless they're into nostalgia or assigned it for school.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models strong family bonds, kindness, cooperation, and resilience in the face of hardship. Parent reviews consistently praise healthy relationships, no bad language or sexual content, and genuinely funny humor. Strong Christian values and emphasis on helping neighbors and community.

Imaginative

Depicts 19th-century frontier life with period-accurate details and challenges that invite curiosity about historical living. However, it's primarily a drama about family relationships rather than a show that sparks creative play or exploration. Limited by its grounded, realistic storytelling approach.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for age 7+, with mild content across all categories (violence, profanity, alcohol use, frightening scenes). No sexual content or bad language. Some episodes deal with serious topics like illness, death, and hardship that may need parent context, especially in later seasons. Generally predictable and appropriate for family viewing.

Enriching

Offers historical perspective on American frontier life, models problem-solving, perseverance, and moral decision-making. Strong emphasis on family values, community support, and working through adversity. However, entertainment value is limited by dated pacing and production style that feels slow to modern viewers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Models incredibly healthy family relationships, kindness, and community support without being preachy
Historical window into 19th-century American frontier life with real challenges (crop failures, illness, economic hardship)
Zero bad language, sexual content, or inappropriate material—parents can relax completely
Teaches perseverance and problem-solving through realistic adversity, not manufactured drama
Strong moral compass without feeling dated on core values like helping others and working hard

⚠

What to Watch For

Production quality and pacing from 1974 feels glacially slow to kids raised on modern streaming content
Some episodes tackle heavy topics (death, serious illness, racial prejudice) that younger kids will need help processing
Later seasons apparently get darker and more intense—stick to early seasons for younger viewers
The earnestness and lack of irony can feel alien to kids used to meta-humor and faster storytelling

Conversation Starters

"How do you think kids your age had fun before TV, phones, and video games?"
"The Ingalls family lost their crops and had to start over—what would our family do if we lost everything?"
"Why do you think Laura and Mary fight sometimes but still help each other when it matters?"
"What's something hard the family went through that we might not have to deal with today?"

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