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Building the Future

(Rated TV-G, Educational, Where to watch: Discovery Channel)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Conservation-minded docu is educational but dry.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Teaches about the efforts being made to balance preserving the earth's resources with meeting the demands of a growing population.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Occasional scenes show the aftermath of natural disasters like floods and earthquakes.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Satellite photos include a credit to provider Google Earth.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Building the Future

Parents need to know that, as educational as this series is, its fairly dry subject matter isn't likely to interest kids or tweens. But families who do tune in will learn a lot about the factors straining the earth's resources and the efforts being made to preserve what still exists. And you may well find yourself inspired to pitch in by recycling and conserving energy, too. Expect some images of the aftermath of natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the importance of conservation. What natural resources do we rely on in our daily lives? How would our quality of life change without some or all of them? Are there alternatives for any of them? How do humans strain the earth's resources? What can individual people or small groups (like families!) do to help?
Tools and tips that can help

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