Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mixed-media show's cartoon hero helps kids resolve feelings.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Adventures of Napkin Man
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE ADVENTURES OF NAPKIN MAN! is a Canadian series set in a classroom where preschool students work out emotions with the help of their teacher, Mr. Anthony (Yannick Bisson), and his stories about a superhero named Napkin Man. Each episode opens amid learning or play time in the classroom before focusing on one student who's wrestling with a difficult feeling like fear or embarrassment, which he or she communicates to Mr. Anthony. Together they invite the help of Napkin Man, who leaps off the pages of Mr. Anthony's illustrations along with other characters who present a story with a relatable lesson that the student can apply to his or her own situation.
Is It Any Good?
This unique mixed-media series does an exceptional job addressing feelings that can cause stress for young kids and encouraging constructive resolution. The show's format is simple and straightforward: Kid experiences emotion, communicates honestly with adult figure, adult figure uses animated characters to spin thematic story, kid uses resulting lesson to take control of stressful situation. By assigning the teaching content to the highly engaging Napkin Man, the show never feels like it's lecturing; instead the kids and their teacher learn its important messages together.
All of the emotions explored in The Adventures of Napkin Man! likely will be familiar to kids, and even if they've not had firsthand experience with all of them, the overarching theme of resolving issues through self-expression can't be overstated for this age group. What's more, the show is written in such a way that it's not an abrasive watch for parents, making it a fantastic tool for opening the lines of communication between you and your kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about emotions that can cause trouble for kids. How does it feel to be angry? Scared? Nervous? How do these feelings interfere with your ability to be part of a group? Why is it important to talk about your emotions instead of bottling them up?
Kids: When your parents aren't around, to whom do you turn for advice? Does talking to friends help as much as talking to a grown-up does? Are there constructive ways for you to handle your feelings without enlisting someone else's help?
What kinds of activities usually put you in a good mood? How does physical activity, eating right, and getting enough sleep affect your emotional state?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 1, 2013
- Cast: Yannick Bisson
- Networks: Kids Central , Kidstream
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Superheroes , Great Boy Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: June 13, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
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.
Suggest an Update
What to Watch Next
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.
See how we rate