How It's Made

 Review

Common Sense Media says

What goes into building a skateboard? Find out.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fascinating fact-based educational series demonstrates how all sorts of items are constructed. Occasionally segments focus on potentially disturbing products, like hatchery chicks, in which baby chickens are seen hatching and then being sorted by hand and machine onto giant conveyor belts for eventual shipment to farms (and subsequent slaughter). Little kids might not be interested or have the attention span to follow the different segments, but children who like to know how things work may very well be entranced.

  • Encourages curiosity about the world. No mention of working conditions in the factories where the products are made.
  • Brief mention of topics like animal slaughter.
  • Segment on hatchery chicks talked about fertilized vs. unfertilized eggs.

What's the story?

This fascinating educational series for all ages reveals how every day products are made. Using clear, factual language, the narrator describes the steps involved in making food products, household goods, and more as viewers watch the production onscreen. Episodes usually feature four products, from car radiators and phyllo dough to aluminum foil and hatchery chicks. In the phyllo dough segment, for example, cameras capture the mixing of ingredients as the narrator explains the proportions of high-protein flour to low-protein flour. A machine shapes the dough into cylinders that workers then shape into balls by hand. The dough is then flattened, dried, stretched, cut, and packaged -- some by machine and some by hand -- until it becomes what consumers recognize from the supermarket.


Is it any good?

 

Curious kids and adults will learn from the show, and some segments can really broaden your perspective. For instance, the segment on hatchery chicks might encourage a discussion about where meat comes from or families' opinions about industrial versus sustainable food production. With its emphasis on facts, some might find How It's Made lacking in personality. Some segments will appeal to viewers more than others, depending on your interest or familiarity with the featured item.


What families can talk about

Families can talk about everyday products they're curious about. What things do you want to know more about? Which products seem mysteriously constructed? Have you ever thought about where your food, car, furniture, sporting goods, etc. came from? How do you think people would get by if they were responsible for obtaining and/or making everything they needed themselves?


This review was written by Sierra Filucci
Teen, 15 years old
July 5, 2009
 
a great show
i love this show its just so interesting

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent of 5 year old
December 9, 2010
 
My son has loved this since age 3
Lots of the content is beyond him, but he loves it anyway. He and his dad watch it together.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
January 8, 2010
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
January 6, 2011
 
A+
Even young kids will like it.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Loved it, but loss respect with the chicks program!!
I have always loved this show but, I have a huge problem with the way baby chicks are treated. Not only should "How it's Made" Not have ever taped or aired it. We should all get together and fight how the plants treat these living creatures as tennis balls! I know I am.

Flag as inappropriate 
Parent of 10 year old
April 9, 2008
 
6yo son LOVES this show
Personally it bores me to tears with innane commentary, over use of stock video footage, and slow pace but it fascinates my son. I let him watch while I go do something else. Absolutely nothing bad on this show. Kids may learn something too.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
Great Show to Foster Curiosity
My 5 year old adores this show. Every time he watches it he wants me to ask the show to demonstrate how another product is made! He even puts on his own "How It's Made" skits for me.

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 10 years old
September 18, 2010
 
Its perfect for how to make stuff!

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
A must for most ages
One of the top educational shows on television and great for most ages as they do not talk down, but have the writing ability to educate without information overload that seems to turn most people off. The subjects are those that many people have never thought of, and without such a show, they would not seek it out. Keep up the good work in educational programming. Karen

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
 
Very interesting.
Very educational show! Suitable for all ages.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
Topics:science and nature
TV rating:TV-G
Network:Discovery Channel
Cast:Brooks Moore, Lynne Adams
Genre:Educational

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!


About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

vote now

Will you see How It's Made?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it