Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids get hands-on with food from the ground up.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In each episode of CHEFS A'FIELD: KIDS ON THE FARM, a professional chef and his (or her) kids head out to a nearby farm to learn how the foods they use every day are raised before being distributed to consumers. They interact with the farmer -- who also often has kids in tow -- and get an up-close look at how the regional fruits, vegetables, and (occasionally) livestock are cared for and prepared for sale. The group then heads back to the chef's restaurant, where the kids don aprons and lend a hand preparing a delectable concoction or two featuring the farm-fresh foods they brought with them. And, of course, what food series would be complete without a taste test? Occasionally the kids' reactions are mixed, but usually they're impressed by what they've created (though, true to form, the desserts tend to be their favorites).
Is It Any Good?
To say that Chefs A'Field is low key is an understatement (it is PBS, after all), and it isn't likely to have viewers leaping out of their chairs in excitement. But it may well inspire your kids' interest in gardening or cooking as they see how much fun the kids on the show have selecting produce and working in the kitchen. It's even better when the focus is on some of their favorite foods, like fresh strawberries served with homemade scones and whipped cream. Though well-suited for family viewing, Chefs A'Field: Kids on the Farm will probably bore older grade-schoolers who already know the basics of plant biology, but for the 5- to 8-year-old crowd, it's an intriguing glimpse into a process they likely take for granted.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the foods they eat get to their home. Kids: Have you ever thought about what goes in to growing and packaging fruits and vegetables? Where do you think the foods you eat come from? Are any of them grown locally? Why would that matter? Which foods are your favorites? What recipes do you like them in? This show offers families a great reason to tour local farms in their area, buy some of their fresh produce, and join forces in the kitchen to prepare a favorite dish or two.
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 3, 2007
- Cast : Jed Duvall
- Network : PBS
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Cooking , STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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