The young characters often get into trouble through rebellion and their adventurous spirits, but their consciences always lead them to make the right choices and to set things right in the end. Adults command respect and expect obedience, but they are loving with their children and supportive of them through thick and thin.
Positive Messages
a lot
Morality and traditional family values are central to the show. The characters’ actions always result in realistic consequences, and their struggles are relatable to viewers of all ages. Themes include humility and integrity.
Educational Value
a little
The show exposes viewers to a different historical and geographical setting and offers feel-good messages about friendship, family, and growing up.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Road to Avonlea is an award-winning series based on books by L.M. Montgomery. It's in much the same vein as Kevin Sullivan's best-known production of Anne of Green Gables. It is filled with wholesome entertainment for all ages, and although its slower pace might not appeal to every kid, those who do tune in will be treated to positive messages about family, friendship, and learning life's lessons. The show's setting in early 20th century Canada exposes viewers to another time and place and prompts discussion about how things have changed in the past century.
I watched this show in the 90s and couldn’t wait to watch it with my children. It’s still very sweet and enjoyable, but I am surprised at how nasty and spiteful the people are to each other. The girls and women in particular are terribly unkind. I don’t want my daughters watching this and thinking this is the way women should behave. Sarah Stanley gets revenge when her cousins tease her instead of turning the other cheek and this isn’t corrected.
Also, the children are disobedient and aside from losing their supper or having their ears twisted, there are no great moral consequences for their defiance. In fact, the children are often rewarded for doing the wrong thing (like trespassing). In one episode, the teenaged Felicity lies to her parents and sneaks off to an event to see and older boy. She ends up kissing another boy. Tame stuff by today’s standards, but not exactly wholesome.
Additionally, it’s a little strange that the children call adults by their first names. That certainly wouldn’t have happened in the 1900s.
My final gripe about the show is the church - aside from a scripture on the wall, there’s nothing visibly Christian about the building. There’s no cross, nothing to show it is a place of Christian worship.
So while I enjoyed this show before I was a believer, I’m looking at it with the eyes of a Christian parent and I’m not sure that it’s entirely benign for kids to watch.
This show won awards in the 90s for a reason. It's not just for kids but adults also. The acting is great, the music is memorable, the scenery is amazing, the costumes are perfect, and the stories are entertaining.
What's the Story?
ROAD TO AVONLEA centers on Sara Stanley (Sarah Polley), a young heiress whose father sends her from Montreal to the picturesque town of Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, to live with her maternal aunts, Hetty (Jackie Burroughs) and Olivia (Mag Ruffman). Sara's adventurous spirit makes for plenty of fun with her cousins, Felicity (Gema Zamprogna), Felix (Zachary Bennett), and Cecily (Harmony Cramp and later Molly Atkinson), who live nearby on their family's farm. The series ran for seven seasons, with latter episodes changing focus from Sara and her cousins to the lives of other Avonlea residents.
Watching this series is like being treated to comedy, drama, romance, and natural splendor, and the show's good, clean content is uplifting to the soul. Its leisurely pace might be a tough sell on your kids, but if they will give it a chance, they may be surprised at its entertainment value. Creator Kevin Sullivan skims the very best of L.M. Montgomery's beautiful stories from books like The Golden Road and Chronicles of Avonlea and weaves them into a series that's pleasing for the senses.
If you're coming to Road to Avonlea as an existing fan of Sullivan's best-known works, Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, rest assured that you won't be disappointed in this related work. Everything from the tone to the music remains consistent, and some of the original cast members -- including Jonathan Crombie and Colleen Dewhurst -- return in some capacity. Watching this delightful series with your kids is a real joy, and it encourages discussions about history, family relationships, friendship, and growing up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about family. How has the definition of family changed over the years? What examples of different kinds of families exist in Road to Avonlea? How is family a source of strength for the characters? For you?
Kids: What differences did you notice between your lifestyle and that of the kids on this series? What are their hobbies and interests? How has technology changed how we spend our free time? Do you think one way is better than the other? Why?
Did this series attempt to teach you anything? If so, what? Were there any lessons to be found in the characters' actions?
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?
