Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adventure, affirming messages stand out in appealing series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Craig of the Creek
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 19 parent reviews
Based on 28 kid reviews
Kids say the show offers a mix of imaginative adventures, humor, and relatable characters, appealing to both younger and older audiences, while also featuring important themes like diversity and acceptance. However, some parents express concerns about certain content not being suitable for very young children, particularly regarding themes of dating and a few scary scenes.
- diversity representation
- imaginative adventures
- relatable characters
- age-appropriate concerns
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
CRAIG OF THE CREEK follows the adventures of best friends Craig (voiced by Philip Solomon), Kelsey (Georgie Kidder), and J.P. (H. Michael Croner) in the uncultivated neighborhood play area known as the creek. It's a place known only to kids and legislated by playground rules rather than grown-up law, and it's where all the best quests for glory happen. As the oft-overlooked middle child in his family, Craig craves a place where he can be himself, whether that's silly, serious, or somewhere in between. With his friends by his side and the creek as his sanctuary, there's nothing standing in Craig's path to adventure.
Is It Any Good?
This series has a throwback quality about it that's really appealing in a time of device overload. For Craig and his friends, the creek is a mecca, a place where anything can happen and they can be anyone they want. Imagination and creativity rule the day, and the hassles of real life get checked at the entrance. It's a place where being tagged as "it" can ruin your life, until you and your friends craft an ingenious solution to an age-old problem like the endless game of tag.
Craig of the Creek touches on some issues that could strike a chord with kids, like abrasive sibling relationships and a child's view of a parent's long work hours. The stories usually don't address these weightier issues directly, but their presence does help explain why the kids so readily embrace the freedom and opportunity they find at the creek.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how family relationships are presented in Craig of the Creek. How do the different characters' family structures affect what they seek among their friends? Is any one family structure or dynamic perfect? What makes family relationships complicated?
Kids: Can you relate to Craig's style of imaginative play? How does make-believe help you discover things about yourself that you otherwise might not? What freedom does your imagination allow you that more structured play doesn't?
What positive character traits do you see at play in Craig, Kelsey, and J.P.? In what ways do they demonstrate their ability to persevere in difficult circumstances? When are they brave? Besides these three, are there other good role models in this series?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 30, 2018
- Cast : Georgie Kidder , H Michael Croner , Philip Solomon
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- TV rating :
- Awards : Common Sense Selection , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 3, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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