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Popular Mechanics for Kids

(Rated TV-Y, Educational, Where to watch: Discovery Kids)

  • 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

    Reality adventures in how things work.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 5 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Promotes curiosity and learning, but it's not always strictly educational.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Occasional simulated violence, for demonstration purposes -- like how cops break a door down, or how karate movies are made. Some gross-out segments, too (eating raw seal, cutting the head off of a cockroach). Nothing is ever gratuitous; it all has a purpose.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Popular Mechanics for Kids

Parents need to know that the series' gross-out factor might be disturbing for some very young kids -- one host eats raw seal, a cockroach's head is cut off to demonstrate its ability to continue to live and move without it, etc. There can also be apparent violence in demonstrations: for example, showing how police teams disarm a hostage taker or how martial arts movies are made. Although it's made clear that these are just demonstrations, they could be confusing to young viewers. Episode descriptions might help you determine whether a particular episode will work for the whole family.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the large mechanical systems in their community work. Did you understand the explanations of how a big-city sewer system works, or how a roller-coaster operates? Parents can also discuss the extreme sports and activities the hosts try. Would you want to try skydiving? Why or why not?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Jordynd94
    Lives in Colorado
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    All fun and learning

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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