--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started having kids, I thought, 'I…" description: "\"When I started having kids, I thought, 'I don't want to do anything they can't watch.'\" — Dick Van Dyke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/dick-van-dyke-2430_anything_when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-d_1564703.jpg" --- # When I started having kids, I thought, 'I don't want to do… ![“When I started having kids, I thought, 'I don't want to do anything they can't watch.'” quote by Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/dick-van-dyke-2430_anything_when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-d_1564703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/dick-van-dyke-2430_anything_when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-d_1564703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/dick-van-dyke-2430_anything_when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-d_1564703.jpg) > “When I started having kids, I thought, 'I don't want to do anything they can't watch.'” [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He wanted his children to be safe from harmful content, reflecting parental protective instincts. **In simple terms:** Parents often limit kids' media exposure. Key Takeaway Set clear, age‑appropriate boundaries. Themes parenting media protection Mood concerned protective Type advice reflective When to use this quote - family movie night - screen time rules - online safety Key Concepts child development media literacy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance safety with exposure? - What media can teach kids resilience? A Different Perspective Over‑protectiveness can limit children's curiosity and learning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Having kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-kids/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [When I first came in, I partied and had a good time. I used to spend $500,000 on chains that don't make no sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/when-i-first-came-in-i-partied-and-had-a-good-time-i-used-to-spend/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [A couple of my friends started having babies, and I thought, 'Maybe one day, with the right guy.' I have to find the guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/a-couple-of-my-friends-started-having-babies-and-i-thought-maybe-one/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I didn't want to be on the road for 210-220 days per year. That was one of my first things when I started having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-del-rio/i-didn-t-want-to-be-on-the-road-for-210-220-days-per-year-that-was/) [Alberto Del Rio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-del-rio/) > [I'm 36-years-old and I'm learning about definitions that I should have known when I started having sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-parker/i-m-36-years-old-and-i-m-learning-about-definitions-that-i-should/) [Nate Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-parker/) > [I started having a lot of problems with my voice in my mid-30s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/polly-bergen/i-started-having-a-lot-of-problems-with-my-voice-in-my-mid-30s/) [Polly Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/polly-bergen/) > [Probably a few weeks after I was born I started having casts put on my legs to straighten them out. After that corrective shoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/probably-a-few-weeks-after-i-was-born-i-started-having-casts-put-on/) [Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/) > [“The uniform said they didn’t want me anymore,’ interrupted Lockie. Tina could hear some anger underneath his faltering words. ‘He said they weren’t even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-trope/the-uniform-said-they-didn-t-want-me-anymore-interrupted-lockie-tina/) [Nicole Trope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-trope/) > [I would have 47 kids if I thought I could get away with it. I love children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-would-have-47-kids-if-i-thought-i-could-get-away-with-it-i-love/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [As kids, we all thought Bob Marley was Maori.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taika-waititi/as-kids-we-all-thought-bob-marley-was-maori/) [Taika Waititi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taika-waititi/) > [Before I had kids, I thought you should never lie to a kid. But now I've had them, I realize you almost lie to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-donoghue/before-i-had-kids-i-thought-you-should-never-lie-to-a-kid-but-now-i/) [Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-donoghue/) > [So... A 8 year old girl came up to me today explaining what a round of applause is... 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You had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-thomas/the-kids-who-thought-of-snappy-things-on-the-spot-never-had-to-worry/) [Matthew Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-thomas/) > [I was one of those kids who always thought that we should know how the world works around us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-perlmutter/i-was-one-of-those-kids-who-always-thought-that-we-should-know-how/) [Saul Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-perlmutter/) > [“Throughout my childhood I believed that what I thought about was different from what other kids thought about. It was not necessarily more profound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/throughout-my-childhood-i-believed-that-what-i-thought-about-was/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## More by Dick Van Dyke > [Today, with the subject matter that's around politically, and internationally and everything, I think Carl Reiner would have a ball. I think the format…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/today-with-the-subject-matter-that-s-around-politically-and/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [We used to get 27, 28 minutes to do a story in, and now they're lucky if they get 18 or 20 minutes. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/we-used-to-get-27-28-minutes-to-do-a-story-in-and-now-they-re-lucky/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I did a 'Golden Girls' once, which shot in front of an audience, and that went well. I had a good time. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-did-a-golden-girls-once-which-shot-in-front-of-an-audience-and-that/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [A lot of the guilt didn't help my drinking at that point. I never expected a divorce to happen in my life particularly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/a-lot-of-the-guilt-didn-t-help-my-drinking-at-that-point-i-never/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [No, no, it was the relationships. That was that group. People believed that Rob and Laura were really married in real life. 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You need the audience to do their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-found-doing-that-kind-of-comedy-without-an-audience-is-just-for-me/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I learned everything that I know about comedy and about show business and a lot about life from Carl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-learned-everything-that-i-know-about-comedy-and-about-show-business/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I've had a lot of writers, in particular, who said they got into writing because of the 'Van Dyke Show.' They said it looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-writers-in-particular-who-said-they-got-into/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I cannot tell you what it means when children recognize. This is about the third generation for me. 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I had so much fun, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-think-the-van-dyke-show-and-mary-poppins-are-two-of-the-best/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [I think it's being thrown at the wolves, we call it in our business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-think-it-s-being-thrown-at-the-wolves-we-call-it-in-our-business/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [My favorite unknown movie is 'The Comic.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/my-favorite-unknown-movie-is-the-comic/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) [Explore all 166 Dick Van Dyke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. 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That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/) [Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/) > [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/) [Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/) > [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/) [Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/) > [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/) [Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/) > [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/) [Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/) > [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/) [Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/) > [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/) [Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started having kids, I thought, 'I don't want to do anything they can't watch.'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Van Dyke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-don-t-want-to-do-anything-they/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anything" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-don-t-want-to-do-anything-they/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/dick-van-dyke-2430_anything_when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-d_1564703.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/dick-van-dyke-2430_anything_when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-d_1564703.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/dick-van-dyke-2430_anything_when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-d_1564703.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I started having kids, I thought, 'I don't want to do anything they can't watch.'” — Dick Van Dyke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dick Van Dyke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I started having kids, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-don-t-want-to-do-anything-they/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/when-i-started-having-kids-i-thought-i-don-t-want-to-do-anything-they/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```