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Kid Nation
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 8, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 10. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Tweens may like it, but parents should check in.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10–13
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Kid Nation
Parents need to know that this controversial reality show follows a group of tweens and teens trying to rebuild a deserted pioneer town without any adult supervision. No one actively guides the kids' decisions or steps in to avoid disaster, and the youngsters cook, clean, and govern for themselves. Injuries do occur, and some (burns, broken bones) are serious enough to send the victims home, but on the more minor stuff (muscle pulls, scrapes, etc.), it's up to the kids to play doctor. In one-on-one confessionals, kids often get very upset -- to the point of tears -- about being far from their homes and families (tears also sometimes pop up after yelling exchanges at town meetings). While the show stresses teamwork, it also motivates kids with a cash-value prize that no tween would ever be able get their hands on in real life. All of that said, the series showcases kids' (well, these kids, at least) ability to combat problems with a democratic exchange of ideas and teamwork.
Read our full review by Emily Ashby
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the controversy surrounding this show. Why do you think so many people were upset by the idea of the kids going it on their own, without adults to supervise? Do you think kids are capable of running their own society? Who do you think decided to put these kids on the show to begin with -- the kids themselves, or their parents? Why would they want to be on TV? Families can also discuss reality TV as a genre. How "real" do you think these shows truly are? Do you believe these kids were really completely unsupervised for 40 days? If so, are you impressed by what they accomplished?
Our Members Say
See all 13 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Interesting
It's interesting. What else can I say. I love watching the town work to win challenges and get the town prize, and I love watching them decide between the two options, especialyl the week they chose the religious books.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Most Awesome Show Ever
This is the best kid show ever i would totally be on it if I had the opportunity.Ithink it is wonderful that kids have the chance to prove that kids are powerful too!!!!
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Western Lord of the Flies
It’s pretty frightening to imagine what kind of parent sends a kid to be on this show. That’s child endangerment. Eight-year-old kids living without adult supervision? This show is hard to believe. Do kids do the filming? If someone is dying, loses a limb, et cetera, how might that person get rescued?
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Excellent TV show for Kids
I have been watching Kid Nation since the day it started and in the weeks since the kids have psychologically changed a great deal. Some have gone to being totally lazy and others have started doing everything they can to help others. This may be because of the gold star reward, but that's what real life is about. People do good things because of the rewards they may get, either materially or psychologically. The choices the town council makes of the group prizes that are offered have, so far, been very good choices. Some of these choices do help one group or another, but they all have been fair choices for the long-run good of the citizens of Bonanza, not just a momentary good feeling. In summation, this is a very good TV show and I would recommend it to everyone.
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