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Home Made Simple

  • 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?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Extreme household makeover is fine for kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    With hard work and patience, every home can run more smoothly. Everyone needs to pitch in and help out.

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Procter & Gamble's Homemadesimple.com Web site is pitched regularly.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Home Made Simple was written by Lucy Maher

Parents need to know that in each episode of this home-improvement reality series, a team of experts helps a family simplify their home lives. Friends pitch in to help, and everyone learns new ways to make their households more user friendly. It's fine fare for young viewers, though only die-hard home improvement buffs will be entertained.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about pitching in. Why does a household run smoothly only when everyone helps out? Even though chores are often a bore, what can kids learn from helping out Mom and Dad? What helpful ideas can you take away from this show?
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More on Home Made Simple

What’s the Story?

In HOME MADE SIMPLE -- which is based on Procter and Gamble's Web site of the same name -- families learn how to make their households run more efficiently, picking up useful skills along the way. Each week, two "home mavens" -- organizational expert June Saruwatari and carpenter Scott McCray -- visit a family dealing with issues like coping with raising triplets or a mom's return to the workforce. With the help of guest experts and the featured couple's friends, Saruwatari and McCray show the family how to organize their home, create simple meals, and set aside family-friendly spaces. In one episode, for example, the mavens showed culinary-challenged Kate, a mother of three boys under 5, how to create delicious, simple meals in minutes. Meanwhile, her husband learned how to transform a dilapidated backyard deck area into a sandbox for the boys.

Is It Any Good?

Home Made Simple has many positives: In addition to quick tips that appear from time to time at the bottom of the screen ("For the best zest, use unwaxed fruit"), devoted, caring parents and loving families are highlighted. But while the show is fine for viewers of all ages, Home Made Simple will primarily appeal to adults and older teens with the home improvement bug.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 3.0

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