Parents' Guide to

Darwin & Newts

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 3+

Outdoor adventures mix science, engineering, and fun.

TV Online Kids' Animation 2018
Darwin & Newts Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Darwin and Newts conduct an experiment.
  • Newts and Heni listren in with a telephone they made.
  • Darwin looking at things in the water and rocks.
  • Darwin looks at Heni's guitar.

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What's the Story?

DARWIN & NEWTS is an animated series that encourages children to explore and discover the world around them using the basic rules of science and engineering. The New Zealand import features young Maori siblings Darwin (Sarah Hart) and Newts (Sara Stone) playing outside and having lots of adventures sparked by their imaginations. With the help of friends like next-door neighbor Heni (Faith Gunn), Wapiti the deer (George Henare), grumpy frog Burpee (Mark Hadlow), and Kea, Heni's pet bird, they spend their time having fun while learning about all sorts of outdoor phenomena. They sometimes face some challenges, but with Darwin's science smarts and Newts' creativity, they work together to find solutions and build what they need in order to make it through.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This colorful and lively series is designed to introduce young viewers to basic science and engineering principles while encouraging them to go outdoors and have some fun. Each 11-minute installment features the siblings engaging in activities like fishing, zip-lining, and riding tricycles, all of which form part of a larger adventure full of exploration and discovery. They also encourage imaginative and creative thinking and building in order to problem-solve. Adding to the show are the cultural Maori references they occasionally offer throughout the process. Ultimately, Darwin & Newts offers an entertaining way of inspiring kids to spend some time offscreen finding other things to do.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the interesting things Darwin and Newts learn about when they are outdoors. What kinds of interesting things can you learn about when you are playing outside?

  • What kinds of science and engineering lessons does Darwin & Newts offer?

TV Details

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