Parents' Guide to Alter Eco

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Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Series argues that it is easy being green.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Reality series ALTER ECO offers fun, fashionable suggestions for living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Hosted by actor Adrian Grenier, the series follows a team of environmentally conscious people like model/green style expert Angela Lindvall, sustainability educator Boise Thomas, and eco renovator Darren Moore. From building green houses to finding businesses that support the green movement, the group demonstrates how anyone can make more environmentally sound choices in their day-to-day life.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Alter Eco isn't exactly exciting, but viewers interested in environmental issues will likely find it interesting. In each episode, the Alter Eco team defines what it means to be "green" or environmentally friendly, offering lots of information about the benefits of living a lifestyle designed to sustain the environment. It shows how things that are usually thrown away can be repurposed or recycled to reduce waste and promote a greener environment. It also introduces various eco-friendly projects -- like creating their own compost bins -- that people can pursue on their own.

While a lot of this information is helpful, some of it sounds rehearsed and even a little preachy. And the shameless promotion of eco-friendly businesses and products sometimes makes the show seem a bit like an infomercial. As a result, it's sometimes a little slow. But if you can look past that, you'll find a strong, positive message about how easy it is to adopt a greener lifestyle and help protect the world we live in.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the growing trend to "go green" and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Do you think TV shows like this will encourage more people to make earth-friendly changes in their lives? How can the media promote issues like environmentalism without being too preachy? Families can also discuss what changes they could make at home to become more environmentally friendly. Are there any projects your family can work on to make your lives greener?

TV Details

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