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Schoolhouse Rock!

(1977, Rated NR, Family and kids, Starring , Bob Kaliban, Lauren Yohe)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 5.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Classic, clever, kitschy songs that teach.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Generally, characters learn from their mistakes and are shown as smart. Girls are presented as strong people, and the "cast" of cartoon children is racially diverse.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Some mild comic violence: White blood cells punch germs. Static electricity shocks people, showing their skeletons. A mouse is hit in the head with a pool ball. A man walks out of his skin to show his skeleton.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Two characters who are in love kiss briefly. In "Tax Man Max," a chorus line of women is dressed skimpily and they have unrealistic bodies. In another song about mathematics, a man is said to have 12 wives, just as he has 12 camels.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    In one song, a cat smokes a cigar.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Schoolhouse Rock!

Parents need to know that these mild and warm-hearted songs about grammar, math, history, and science are almost universally fun and smart, and likely to keep kids riveted. Mostly, the cast is diverse and girls are shown as strong and equal to the boys. There are a few exceptions, however: In one song on the number 12, a man is said to have 12 wives, just as he has 12 camels. A song on taxes features scantily clad women in a chorus line. A few of the scenes might be scary for particularly young children, like when a man steps out of his skin to show his bones, or when cartoon people are shocked by electricity. It's also important to note that the songs on American history are reflective of text books from when parents were kids, exploring only the European-American experience.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about their own history in America. How does it compare with the history that the songs describe? Kids are likely to develop favorite songs, and those songs may encourage them to find out all they can about their subject matter.
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