 | 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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Switched at Birth
- ABC Family
- Genre: Drama
Common Sense Media says
Family drama's responsible messages are good for teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this thought-provoking drama promotes family-friendly themes like respect, responsibility, and coping with adversity. Two sets of parents approach child rearing in different ways, but both have strong value systems that they impart on their kids, and they make clear their expectations of them. Expect some rebellious teen behavior (some of which is criminal and goes unchecked), references to drinking and pot, and language ("hell" and "damn," mostly). A main character is deaf, and her struggles to assimilate into a hearing family and social settings raises awareness of deaf culture and society's tolerance of difference.
What's the story?
From the outside, Bay Kennish's (Vanessa Marano) life as the privileged daughter of an ex-pro athlete, John (D.W. Moffett), and his devoted wife, Kathryn (Lea Thompson), is idyllic. But inwardly, she's always felt a little out of place in her family. Even so, nothing could have prepared her for the shock of learning that a hospital mix-up when she was a newborn sent her home with the wrong parents. When the truth comes out and she comes face-to-face with her working-class birth mother, Regina Vasquez (Constance Marie), and her parents' biological daughter, Daphne (Katie Leclerc), who is deaf, Bay feels as though her world is spinning out of control. Tensions rise when financial pressures force Regina and Daphne to move in to the Kennishes' guest house and newly blurred boundaries suddenly challenge the value systems that each family holds dear.
Is it any good?
SWITCHED AT BIRTH is a thoughtful drama series that explores family relationships, teen issues, and the challenges and rewards of connecting with someone who's vastly different from you. Although the story centers on a unique (and improbable) challenge that two families face, its messages resonate with a much broader audience, and families of any make-up can use the story to talk about how the show's themes of tolerance, perseverance, and battling stereotypes relate to issues they face in their lives. True, the show does gloss over the intense emotional fallout that this scenario would raise in real life, but it doesn't shy away from conflict altogether, forcing the characters to overcome their differences and great adversity to find common ground.
Beyond the main story, there's also a subplot surrounding Daphne's deafness, which gives a candid portrayal of society's response to disabilities and fosters respect for different ways of life. Sporadic language ("hell" and "damn," mostly), teen rebellion, and references to pot and teen drinking are present, but the overall messages of responsibility, communication, and respect are what will stick with teens.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about tolerance. What challenges arise when you try to relate to people from different backgrounds? What situations have forced you to do so? Why is it important to try?
Tweens: Do you find the families in this show believable? Can you relate to their problems? In what ways do the characters draw on their family structures for strength? Do you do the same?
How does our society as a whole respond to people with disabilities? What strides have been made to better accommodate people's differences? How far do we still need to go? What stereotypes exist regarding people with disabilities?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Great Show!
The first episodes were better on Switched At Birth, now its almost become too much about jealously. However, its still a good show and has positive messages and role models. It's good for mature eleven-year-olds. I'm thirteen and I watch it with my mom, younger sister, and sometimes my cousin every time its on. It's overall a good show, but if your under eleven I would recommend watching it with an adult. It's TV-14, but its just good to know your kid before letting them watch it. It's a fun show to watch Tuesday nights at 8/7 central and I would highly recommend this show! The show does get you sucked in and you really want to know what happens. Bay drinks underage, but Regina is trying to always get her out of it. Daphne, and Daphne's real brother, Toby, Bay, and even Wilky at times are my four favorite characters!!! I wish they'd bring Liam back into it. And now I really want to know what is going to happen!
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AGE
AWESOME SHOW!
I LOVE this show and it is awesome it talks about real life situations and how it is hard dealing with money.It has good role models and i really love it and you should to.
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AGE
Great show for 12 and up with parent discussion
I love many aspects of this show for my 12 year-old daughter. The teens (and parents for that matter) aren't perfect and don't always get along or make the best decisions, but it usually ends up with a great message about tolerance (for the deaf, each others imperfections, or differing parenting philosophies). This is the most mature show my daughter has watched, and it has given us a lot to discuss about decision making. One place where I think the review is a bit off is in regards to the sexual content - it shows one of the moms in bed with a man she is recently dating and one scene involves the 15 year-old main character trying to get her new crush to sleep with her. They don't, but it's because he stops her by saying he "doesn't have anything". Kind of too bad for the middle school set that the main character is willing to impulsively decide to have sex, even though it doesn't actually happen.
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Kid, 11 years old
June 17, 2011
AGE
understand.
i love this show its so exciting and it tells a story nothing bad about it except bay does things like get a piercing and try to smoke but her mom stops her and it shows smoking is bad i highly love the show and i think ten year olds can see it if they understand.
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AGE
Switched at Birth is a great show!
I thought this show was going to be really bad. But it ended up being a really wonderful show to watch! I love it!!!
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AGE
Highly recomend this show
I really like this show. I never usually watch ABC family, but I liked this show. I think that my only concern would be the amount of drugs. None of the teens use drugs, but Bay had a fake ID and her biological mother is a recovering alcoholic. The way it is handled is very good, because of how Regina tells Bay she never wants her to end up like one and no matter what, she is an alcoholic, it was a mistake, and she can recover from it. On the positive side, Daphne is deaf, and it does open eyes as to what deaf people are really like. Good show .
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Kid, 12 years old
July 12, 2011
AGE
Great Show!
I love this show! It has positive messages and when ever a character does something bad they are punished and they learn a lesson. In one episode, there was a lot of talk about sex because Bay (the girl with dark hair) came home at three am after making out with her boyfriend. It is also a great way to learn about deaf culture since some of the characters are deaf.
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Kid, 12 years old
August 19, 2011
AGE
The Best
I soooooooooooooooooooooooooo luv this show i watch it every monday best show ever i love it so much. i cant wait for season 2. awesome shoe
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AGE
SO far.......
I just got done with watching the first episode, now I'm watching the second episode.... so far it's realllly good!
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | ABC Family |
| Cast: | Katie Leclerc, Lea Thompson, Vanessa Marano |
| Genre: | Drama |
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