Smart, funny series teaches kid-friendly science concepts.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Educational Value
a lot
Excels at presenting science topics in creative ways that will maintain kids' interest and teach them about concepts like memory, emotions, ocean life, space, digital science. Handy life hacks encourage healthy changes for better energy, comprehension, memory.
Positive Messages
a lot
Makes complex scientific concepts accessible to kids with engaging content, humor, graphics, special guests, relatable topics. Much to learn in every episode. Overarching message is that learning doesn't have to be boring (yay!), and scientific awareness helps us better understand many different aspects of our lives. By incorporating diverse guests and cast members, show challenges traditional stereotypes about experts in sciences. When content invites it, series also includes affirming messages about emotional well-being and self-esteem -- e.g., life hacks to increase motivation and energy.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Cast members -- including host and experts who explain nuts-and-bolts stuff of topics discussed -- are youthful and excited about show's content. They use graphics, video clips, evidence to support explanations in tangible ways and speak to learning level of grade schoolers without watering down vitals of material presented.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Youthful, majority-female main cast and South Asian host. Their clear, thoughtful explanations demonstrate self-confidence and legitimacy as scientific experts and educators. Supporting cast includes various ethnicities and many women. Content is mostly apolitical; in particular, history of science typically isn't included -- leaving out potential ethnic and gendered controversies.
Parents need to know that Brainchild is a science-inspired educational series that teaches kids about concepts like the senses, neurology, marine biology, and gravity through entertaining visual aids, expert insight, and fun facts. All of the topics are presented at a level that's relatable for kids (especially young tweens), using experiments and creative presentation strategies to reinforce the material. And the youthful host and helpers (a science expert and a sleight-of-hand magician) keep the show engaging throughout. Not only does this series aim to teach kids about science, it also undermines stereotypes about science enthusiasts themselves in the form of its young cast members, two of whom are female. Plus, it offers strong social and emotional messages about self-esteem, self-identity, and being your best you.
Unfortunately, it still is showing measurements under the old imperial measurement, like inches and miles. It would be great if they showed the new measurement like of centimeter and Kilometer etc.
Being a science show I would have thought this would be up to date. Otherwise, it is a great show.
Brainchild is a fun and educational show which my kids enjoyed. I would recommend it for ages 8 and up. There were times they made it appear as though someone was swear but later showed the man was just babbling. They always explain at the end if you don't understand what is going on. They make a good point of explaining both sides positive and negative in the "Motivation" episode. With any show use your discretion and when in doubt view before you allow your child to watch. If I do run across anything that does not aline to my morals/values I always sit down with my kids to discuss it. Again I do suggest viewing before hand because episodes like "Dream" does go into the five things most dreamed about. This included a boy in the nude blurred out in class also in this episode they had people painted and shaped like animals as a form of artwork. Overall my kids and myself both enjoyed this show and I really wish they would bring it back.
What's the Story?
BRAINCHILD is an educational series that teaches grade schoolers about the scientific concepts they encounter every day, from the truth about germs (Does the five-second rule really work?) to the science behind emotions. Hosted by Sahana Srinivasan, the show introduces a different topic in each episode and explores how it might relate to viewers' experiences. Using a variety of visual aids and some in-depth expertise from "Science Friend" Alie Ward and entertaining demonstrations from magician Ben Seidman, the show teaches kids how and why things work -- and sometimes don't -- in the world around them.
Learning science has never been as fun as it is in this smart show. This cleverly designed series is a treasure trove of wisdom for kids. Its target audience is early tweens, but there's nothing stopping kids as young as 6 or 7 from enjoying Brainchild's truly welcome and thorough blend of entertainment and education. They may not understand all of it -- especially if they're not solid independent readers yet, as some supporting content like definitions of new vocabulary is written on the screen -- but what they do absorb may spark science-related interest to be cultivated.
With topics that alternate between tangible and intangible scientific concepts and content that entertains as much as it teaches, Brainchild is one of those rare shows that's truly family friendly. Tune in with your kids, and you'll likely learn a little bit about a lot of things along with them. This isn't a thorough educational resource, but it's a smart, engaging series that shows science to be fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how character strengths like curiosity drive discovery and invention. How does science give us tools to solve problems and improve our lives? What topics are your kids most curious about with regard to STEM concepts?
How does Brainchild demonstrate measurement or analysis processes for intangible concepts like emotions and dreams? Is the study of these topics as valuable as that of more traditional ones like biology, chemistry, and digital science? Is it realistic to imagine we will find all of the answers we seek, or will there always be questions to pursue?
How do the shows you watch portray women and girls relative to STEM topics? Are women and girls shown as scientists or mathematicians, or is that unusual? What TV characters do you know of who challenge traditional gender stereotypes?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
