Is the sims appropriate for kids?

How young? How mature? I've known 7 year olds who I think would be able to handle the Sims just fine, and I've known 16 year olds who couldn't handle the more mature aspects (I've known a couple of adults I would say weren't mature enough for The Sims...)

Also in the US, the game is rated T for Teen, not E for Everyone.

That said, I think 8 would be about the earliest I'd tell another parent "yeah, the Sims should be fine for your kid" Kids tend to be much more resilient to "adult themes" than adults give them credit for.