Common Sense Media Review
By Dana Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Videos and activities are fun, accurate, and valuable.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Videos and Photos
BrainPOP
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 19 parent reviews
Parents say that the educational platform offers a variety of engaging and informative content for students, particularly in subjects like science and language arts, which many children enjoy. However, concerns have been raised about the accuracy of some information, age-appropriateness of certain topics, limited tracking features for parental oversight, and access issues with the subscription model, leading to mixed reviews regarding its overall effectiveness and safety for younger audiences.
- engaging content
- age appropriateness
- information accuracy
- parental monitoring
- access issues
- learning tool
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 30 kid reviews
Kids say that the website is a valuable educational tool, combining humor and engaging content that many find beneficial for their learning, especially those with special needs. However, they note issues with lag, graphics quality, and a subscription fee that some feel makes it less accessible, while also expressing concern about the mature topics addressed in some videos.
- educational resource
- humor and engagement
- subscription fee
- accessibility issues
- mature content
- graphics quality
Summarized with AI
Privacy Rating Warning
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
Privacy Rating
Our expert evaluators create our privacy ratings. The ratings are designed to help you understand how apps use your data for commercial purposes.
Pass
Meets our minimum requirements for privacy and security practices.
Warning
Does not meet our recommendations for privacy and security practices.
Fail
Does not have a privacy policy and should not be used.
What's It About?
Check out BRAIN POP'S daily featured topic before deciding whether to subscribe. Kids start by watching the few minutes-long video for an overview, then choose from a wide variety of enrichment activities such as quizzes, making concept maps, downloading a printable worksheet, creating a movie, or using code to show off what they've learned. Content is organized by theme such as science, social studies, English, math, Arts and Music, Health and SEL, Engineering and Tech, or New and Trending. Each theme has units (e.g., scientific inquiry) and is further broken down by topic (e.g., computational thinking). The games section within the topics offers unique games that explore concepts in math, science, health, technology, and more.
Is It Any Good?
This resource is a standard-bearer for quality, self-directed online educational content for older grade school-age kids. BrainPOP includes videos, audio prompts, graphics, games, and use-what-you-learned activities in a blended format that will be very familiar to most kids. Kids can spend hours on this site exploring many of the main topics that contain more sub-categories, like the science and math sections. There are some sensitive topics addressed here, such as war and terrorism, but kids are warned to get a parent or teacher to watch that video with them prior to clicking play. There's more than enough content here to keep kids busy, engaged, and learning for a long time.
Most games are clever, creative, and address learning concepts not traditionally explored in this format, such as the Judicial Court where kids argue court cases at the Supreme Court. Many topics also offer kids the opportunity to use what they've learned to create something from simple organizational tools like concept map creators, to more complex tools like videos and games kids create with a movie maker or through coding. All these activities offer kids a really nice and unique way to actively engage deeply with the subject matter.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about any of the videos on BrainPop that pique your kid's interest, but especially those that are emotionally or intellectually challenging, such as those that address difficult times in history like war and terrorism, social problems, as well as personal health topics that contain warnings about smoking cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol use, or the social emotional learning topics such as managing stress.
Talk about the different ways of learning. Do you remember more when you have an activity to do after watching a related video?
Families can also talk about other educational sites that benefit learning and where to find reliable information online.
Website Details
- Subjects : Language & Reading : reading , storytelling , text analysis , vocabulary , writing , Math : algebra , arithmetic , geometry , measurement , probability , ratio , Science : astronomy , biology , ecosystems and the environment , energy , gravity , life cycle , motion , Social Studies : citizenship , cultural understanding , events , government , historical figures , history , the economy , Arts : dance , drawing , film , music , painting , photography , sculpture
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , making conclusions , part-whole relationships , thinking critically , Self-Direction : academic development , self-assessment , Emotional Development : handling stress , identifying emotions , Communication : conveying messages effectively , multiple forms of expression , Tech Skills : coding , digital creation , Health & Fitness : balanced diet , mental health , movement
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : STEM , History
- Pricing structure : Free to try (Plans start at $129 yearly or $15.95/monthly. 2-week free trial available.)
- Last updated : December 2, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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