When Little Tree is getting cleaned up at Notch Gap school his bare bottom is shown in one shot.

The little girl (Mika Boorem) gets whipped by her father with his belt because she accepted moccasins from Little Tree.

Little Tree get slapped by a teacher with a ruler for describing a picture as showing animals mating.

There is little profanity in this movie. Little Tree uses mild profanity he picked up from is Grandpa, but is told not to do so in front of Grandma. One use of the name "Jesus" in a blasphemous manner. A few utterances of "d**n", "g** d***" and "son of a b****".

Little Tree's Grandpa runs a small moonshine operation, and is a central feature of the plot. Little Tree's grandfather represents the still to be a necessary part of the family's economic survival.

There is a scene where Willow John is telling Little Tree about his history and John is smoking a pipe.

The boy, Little Tree, and his dog are surprised in the woods by three men with badges and guns and yell aggressively and menacingly at him.

Little Tree's new cow suddenly falls over dead, and he is distraught over the death.