Is the sims appropriate for kids?

That is totally down to the parent, and further which gen of the game one is considering. Games 3 and 4 are pretty watered down. There is a good list above of all of what is in the games. I personally did not let my children play The Sims 1 or 2, and I think my son was 13 when 3 came out and I was okay with it then.