Parents' Guide to

The Baby-Sitters Club (2020)

TV Netflix Drama 2020
The Baby-Sitters Club (2020) Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Emily Ashby By Emily Ashby , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Tween-friendly books-based reboot celebrates friendship.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

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  • The Baby-Sitters Club TV Show: Scene #1
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  • The Baby-Sitters Club TV Show: Scene #3

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 37 parent reviews

Threedaughters
Threedaughters Adult
September 4, 2020
age 8+

Great update on a classic

I loved this remake and so did my 8 year old. I’m a little surprised about the reviews opining that the topics addressed are not for children. It’s not a show for very young kids (mostly because they just wouldn’t get anything out of the show), but I thought it was very appropriate for kids 8 and up. I think it’s so great that 2 of the original characters, Mary Anne and Dawn, were cast with girls of color. I loved that the show normalizes transgendered people, blended families, feeling shy, Activism, diabetes, struggling with grades, so many important life things. For those of you who are shying away from these issues, I would point out this show could be a starting point to discussing issues with your kids BEFORE peers, other adults, or other media does it and you will be able to guide the conversation. Anyways I thought this was very thoughtfully done.
carriefh
carriefh Adult
July 14, 2020
age 8+

Wonderful, intelligent, intersectional, and pretty much perfect

I'm watching this with my 8.5 year old daughter and 11 year old son. The 11 year old acted like he thought it was dumb, but stayed in the room, smiling and commenting the while time, so I know he actually liked it. I can't believe how refreshing it is to see a show for kids that's so intelligent and thoughtful, and reflects families like ours. I loved all the different types of families shown: traditional mom & dad, single parents, widowed parents, same-sex couples, families with lots of money, families who are making it work on a budget. The girls are so well acted and written. They have unique personalities, they make mistakes, they deal with difficult friendships and work through real issues. The boys in the show are well written too, not just one-note crushes or doofuses. The episode where Mary Anne advocates for a young trans girl she is caring for had me sobbing. It was such an honest and forthright portrayal of how to do what's right for someone you care about. One of my stepchildren is trans, and it meant so much to my kids to see our family reflected that way, and it really moved me to see a mainstream show take on gender issues with no drama.
See all 37 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB, five friends join forces to create a lucrative business that serves the childcare needs of their community and allows them time to hang out together. The idea first occurred to Kristy (Sophie Grace) as she watched her mom struggle to find a babysitter for her younger brother. She teams up with her friends Mary-Anne (Malia Baker) and Claudia (Momona Tamada) to form a club that meets several times a week to field childcare requests from parents in their community. Soon Stacey (Shay Rudolph) and Dawn (Xochitl Gomez) join their ranks, and the five girls create a club around their shared devotion to helping parents care for the physical and emotional needs of their kids. At the same time, the club becomes a reprieve for the girls themselves as they turn to each other for help in dealing with the challenges in their own lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (37 ):
Kids say (112 ):

Ann M. Martin's beloved book series comes to the screen once again in this engaging show with exceptional messages for girls especially. Into a TV climate that's often saturated with mean girls, divas, and drama emerges The Baby-Sitters Club, resplendent with culturally and ideologically diverse teen girls who prove that character strengths like compassion, loyalty, and a strong work ethic are every bit as enticing. In keeping with the books' style, each episode plays out from a different club member's perspective, which gives viewers a unique glimpse into her life experience. In this way, we learn that Claudia's sweet relationship with her grandmother helps her manage her rocky one with her parents, Kristy struggles with her mom's new romantic relationship, and Mary-Anne feels pressure to please her widower father. This creative format works well in a show that celebrates individuality and emphasizes the value of emotionally secure relationships.

Viewers see fairly quickly that The Baby-Sitters Club does not shy away from difficult and relevant issues, both in the teens' lives and in those of their young charges. Stories center on family matters like divorce, absentee parents, and difficult cross-generational relationships, as well as broader societal issues like transgenderism, homosexuality, and racial prejudice. Every problem is met with honest and thoughtful responses, and solutions often are realistically hard-fought. This updated series tweaks aspects of the books to encourage diversity and change some dated characterizations, but the prominent themes about problem-solving, friendship, and self-identity remain consistent and exceptional for viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the characters in The Baby-Sitters Club distinguish themselves as positive role models, both for the kids in their charge and for the show's viewers. What events stand out to you as examples of how the teens keep cool heads under pressure? To what degree is selflessness important in a caretaker of children?

  • Each of the five teens has a distinct personality and set of character strengths like compassion and self-control that she brings to the group. How does the club benefit from them? How do their unique strengths help them best serve their clients?

  • What issues raised in this show are most relevant to your tween's or teen's experiences? In general, how applicable are messages from shows like this one to real life? Are some shows better than others at making that so? If so, which ones?

  • How is diversity presented in The Baby-Sitters Club? Are there instances of prejudice that stand out? How are racial relations evolving right now?

TV Details

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.

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