Child Genius

Child Genius evolves similarly to many other reality contests, juxtaposing contestant interviews with fly-on-the-wall footage of the kids and their families before, during, and after each aspect of the competition. There's something addictive about it, partly because of the kids' unbelievable mental prowess and partly due to the families' unique dynamics. And there's always the promise of high drama. Let's face it: If you put 20 of the country's most intelligent kids and their equally invested parents shoulder to shoulder in one room, it's going to be intense.

There are some pretty decent lessons families can take away from this intriguing show. For all their enviable IQs, these kids certainly aren't perfect, and it's somewhat relieving to see evidence of this, both from a parent's and from a child's point of view. The contestants also exercise different strategies throughout the contest, playing to their strengths while acknowledging their weaknesses to compete effectively. Finally there's the toughest lesson of all -- winning or losing with grace -- which isn't always easy when you're used to being the best. The bottom line? Younger kids won't get the draw and the quizzes will be above them, but families with older kids may enjoy watching these impressive kids in action.