Animal Exploration with Jarod Miller - TV-G

Fun show will get kids curious about critters.

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TV Rating: TV-G
Network: Syndicated
Cast: Jarod Miller
Genre: Educational

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there's nothing to worry about in this fun, fast-paced educational series about animals, insects, reptiles, and other fascinating creatures. Host Jarod Miller handles all of the animals with great care and respect as he identifies their unique traits and abilities and discusses their natural environments. Just remind kids that Miller is a pro and that it's never a good idea for them to approach and/or handle unfamiliar animals without supervision.

Families can talk about the animals featured on the show. Which ones did you most like learning about? What did you learn about how they live, eat, and interact with others in their species? What special qualities do they have? Why is it important to learn about the world's diversity? What does it mean for a species to be "endangered"? How do humans affect animals' lifestyles?

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Message

Social Behavior:

Miller introduces viewers to a variety of animals and discusses their unique traits, natural environments, and lifestyles. Respect for the animals and their instinctive behavior is central to the discussions.

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Miller and guest experts occasionally talk about being injured by animals, but they always remind viewers that the aggression is instinctive behavior.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Emily Ashby

In ANIMAL EXPLORATION WITH JAROD MILLER, zoologist Jarod Miller goes face-to-face with critters both great and small to find out what makes each one special. He travels around the world to meet the animals, chat with other experts, and share his discoveries about creatures' special traits and lifestyle with his audience. Through his hands-on experience, viewers will gain new respect for the diversity of the animal world and learn about how humans affect its continued prosperity.

Is it any good?

Animal Exploration is steeped in kid-friendly educational material. Miller and the other experts often exchange interesting facts -- some of which are also displayed in pop-ups on the screen -- that are sure to stick with kids long after they turn off the TV. Each episode also has a central theme that groups critters of all shapes and sizes by some shared trait ("Camo, Ammo, and Other Amazing Skills," for example). Viewers will be surprised to find similarities among seemingly unrelated creatures like insects and large mammals, and they'll start looking at the animals they see in a different way because of it. (Who knew that a butterfly's speed could give a cheetah a run for its money?)

This fun series also works well for kids thanks to its fast pace and Miller's obvious excitement over the animals he meets; his giddy enthusiasm will encourage kids' own interest in the subject matter. Miller also isn't afraid to connect with his young audience via a bit of silliness; in one segment, for instance, he hung from a branch next to a two-toed sloth to see how long he could last in the animal's lifelong position.