TV series · 2005 · Comedy

Is How I Met Your Mother OK for kids?

Q: Is How I Met Your Mother OK for kids?

Not a fit. Under the Kids preset it goes over the limits: nudity is mild, sexual content is moderate, sexualised imagery is moderate and 4 more.

Q: Is How I Met Your Mother OK for teenagers?

Not a fit. Under the Teen-safe preset it goes over the limits: sexual content is moderate.

A father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.

At a glance

Kids preset · gentle limits for younger children

Not a fit

Under the Kids preset it goes over the limits: nudity is mild, sexual content is moderate, sexualised imagery is moderate and 4 more.

Teen-safe preset · room for action and drama, nothing explicit

Not a fit

Under the Teen-safe preset it goes over the limits: sexual content is moderate.

Every family draws the line differently. Set your own rules and see whether How I Met Your Mother fits yours, topic by topic. Free.

Set your own rules

What's in it, topic by topic

Sexual & romantic

NudityMild
Occasional unintentional partial buttock glimpses, non-sexual; characters in underwear or implied naked under sheets; no explicit nudity.
Sources: imdb.com, commonsensemedia.org
Sexual contentModerate
Frequent sex-themed humor, innuendo, one-night-stand talk, and some on-screen fooling around with sex implied off screen.
Sources: imdb.com, commonsensemedia.org
Sexualised imageryModerate
Strip club scenes in some episodes with women in bikinis and corsets dancing suggestively; no nudity.
Sources: imdb.com, pluggedin.com
Kissing & romanceModerate
Romance is the central premise, with recurring kissing and make-out scenes, including a sensual make-out in one episode.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, imdb.com

Language & behaviour

ProfanityMild
Frequent mild words like bitch, ass, hell, damn and bastard; no strong language reported; rated mild by IMDb.
Sources: imdb.com, commonsensemedia.org
Vulgarity & crude humourNo info
We couldn't find enough about this topic yet.
Sources: imdb.com, pluggedin.com, commonsensemedia.org
Verbal abuse & bullyingMild
Plugged In mentions 'demeaning gags,' mostly about how Barney treats women; little detail on bullying or berating.
Sources: pluggedin.com
Discrimination & hateMild
Common Sense says the show has some racist jokes throughout its run; no detail on framing, and it is not a main theme.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org
Disrespectful behaviour & role modelsModerate
Barney constantly schemes to seduce women and brags about it; characters make poor drunken choices, though growth from mistakes is a theme.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, pluggedin.com
Dangerous imitable actsMild
Comic slap bet and a few punches; nothing presented as a risky stunt to copy.
Sources: imdb.com

Violence & intensity

Violence & goreMild
Comic slap-bet gag, brief mild bar fights, and occasional punches; one champagne cork eye injury off screen.
Sources: imdb.com, commonsensemedia.org
Frightening & intense scenesMild
IMDb rates it None; only scary red eyes in some episodes and some emotional backstories.
Sources: imdb.com
Self-harm & suicideNo info
We couldn't find enough about this topic yet.
Sources: imdb.com
Death & griefModerate
Marshall's father dies suddenly in season 6, with on-screen grief; sources did not mention animals dying.
Sources: imdb.com
Alcohol, drugs & smokingModerate
Drinking at the bar in nearly every episode, characters shown blackout drunk, plus occasional smoking and marijuana flashbacks.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, imdb.com, pluggedin.com

Topics some families want to know about

LGBTQ+ representationSupporting
Barney's brother James is a recurring gay character with a husband, marriage, adoption and divorce shown; a supporting role.
Sources: how-i-met-your-mother.fandom.com
Religious contentBackground
Christmas settings recur and one episode features an 'ultra-Christian' cousin played for comedy; religion is not a main theme.
Sources: how-i-met-your-mother.fandom.com, screenrant.com
Occult & magicBackground
A joke about a Stinson family curse told by a character, and red eyes in some episodes; no real supernatural storyline.
Sources: imdb.com
Political & ideological themesNo info
We couldn't find enough about this topic yet.
Products & advertisingNo info
We couldn't find enough about this topic yet.
Messages & valuesMixed
Themes of love, friendship and growing from mistakes, but Barney's womanizing is played for laughs and drinking is routine.
Sources: commonsensemedia.org, pluggedin.com

Rated 30 Oct 2026 by our research.

How we rate

We read parent guides, reviews and official ratings for every title and rate 21 topics, from kissing and profanity to violence, frightening scenes, substance use and the messages a story leaves behind, each with a reason and its sources. Our team verifies what the sources leave out. You set a limit per topic, and every title gets a clear verdict against your rules, not someone else's age label.