Is Hamilton Appropriate for Kids?
When people started talking about the Hamilton stage show we ran to download the soundtrack. I heard nothing but good things about it! We were a homeschool family back then and wanted to make history education fun. We played every song and memorized them all! Then we found out in the midst of everything, Disney Plus was releasing Hamilton for us! But here’s the question, is Hamilton appropriate for kids?
Is Hamilton Appropriate for Kids?
Click to Jump to the Free Printables
Please keep in mind that this is only one opinion and if you have concerns if it is best for your children, watch the movie before showing it to them to be sure.
Was there cursing in Hamilton?
The film version of Hamilton is a filming of the stage show. This means that all lyrics stay fairly close to the show that was performed on the stage. The only exception to this rule is that Disney plus required that there be no F-bombs in Hamilton. There are many implied F-bombs but they don’t come out and say it. That said, there are multiple curse words throughout the show. If you are concerned with cursing for some or all of your children, this is 100% not the movie for you. They don’t curse just to curse but it does fully integrate into the music throughout the entirety of the movie.
Was there sexual innuendo in Hamilton?
Because this is a fairly accurate telling of history, Hamilton keeps to the truths of a lot of that time. This means that there will be themes of sexual innuendo and there will be scenes revolving around an affair. While there will be no scenes that show the actual actions, you will see some pelvic thrusts and other suggestive dance moves. These are meant to illustrate the reality of the situation. You will see a song where the guys are out catcalling a lot of the girls and being overly vulgar in their tone. In our house, we have a ten and thirteen year old who just rolled their eyes at this and ignore it. You will have to decide what level of content you want to expose your children to based on their ages.
Was there violence in Hamilton?
Yes. This is set in the middle of the revolution which means that the theme of war is very present. There is no blood or gore as this is a stage show that doesn’t rely on those methods to convey a situation. That said, there are many themes in the storyline that are representing violence and death. With dueling, battle, and ultimately multiple murders, there is definitely an element of violence to this storyline. With this in mind, I do think this is a great way to illustrate the way that our country came into being and the politics behind it. If you believe your children can handle it, I love the way it brings history to life.
Will Hamilton scare my kids?
This will depend a great deal on the age of the child. Many of the themes represented in this stage show can be intimidating. While most younger children would probably not understand them, smaller children may be afraid of some of it if they were more sensitive to certain things.
Was there alcohol in Hamilton?
There is alcohol and conversations about being drunk. There are also men in the bar talking about ideas and at some points they behave as if they are drunk.
Were there any themes children might not understand in Hamilton?
In the first scene, there is a direct reference to suicide. This can be very difficult for children to see or understand. Some of the other themes represented would include adultery, war, and murder. If your children have questions, please take some time to honestly answer them.
But, was it a good movie?
Watching this brought so many emotions out of me. In light of the current situation of our world, so much resonated with me on a deeper level. I was absolutely blown away by the powerful vocals and the strength of each performer. The stage setup was incredibly impressive as it helped to take a larger than life story and fit it into a stage that wasn’t large enough to hold it. I was absolutely amazed by the technical side of things. Each stage move and technical shift supported the story so perfectly.
What really took my breath away?
I’ve listened to the songs countless times. I know many of them by heart. However, seeing it on stage took it to a whole different level. I laughed so hard I couldn’t take it when the king sang. Seeing him act it out just added such a fun twist to it. The thing that really hit me though, was the scene where we lose a son of someone important to the storyline. I ugly cried as the reality of that moment hit me. The reality of the loss of a child. The reality of the forgiveness it implied later in the storyline. Those were things that I knew were core to the story but didn’t realize.
My Personal Recommendation
I highly recommend watching this movie on your own before watching it with your children. Every parent has a different ruler they measure things against. It is best to see it on your own for the first time to be sure that you feel comfortable sharing it with your children.
Hamilton Printables
Are you looking for a special touch to add to a Hamilton party or a special way to include a quote in the house? I put together these free printables that I am happy to share with you.
- Just you wait – “There’s a Million things I haven’t done, just you wait”
- Legacy Quote in Color – “Legacy. What is a legacy?It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”
- Legacy Quote – “Legacy. What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.”
- Story – “Let me tell you what I wish I’d known When I was young and dreamed of glory You have no control: Who lives Who dies Who tells your story?
- Unimaginable – “We push away what we can never understand. We push away the unimaginable”
Looking for more?
When my daughter was younger we worked through some of the Hamilton songs in unit studies. We did not do all of the songs from the show. However, here are the ones we did do.
Alexander Hamilton Unit Study Party 1
Alexander Hamilton – Aaron Burr
