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Parents' Guide to

Diary of a Future President

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Look at go-getter's tween years tackles some mature topics.

TV Disney+ Comedy 2020
Diary of a Future President Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 11+

Based on 22 parent reviews

Stephanie S.
Stephanie S. Parent of 11-year-old
October 7, 2021
age 11+

Amazing show for middle school girls

This is a fantastic show for parents willing to talk to their middle school daughter about things they *should* be talking about. The menstruation talk is awkward for my husband but he watches anyway because the show is so funny at both an adult and tween level. My daughter is in 6th grade now. We're on the 6th episode and the show never fails to reinforce lessons I try to teach her. Case in point, when she started middle school a couple months ago I warned her about girls who try to reinvent themselves and align with a queen bee. They'll be mean (or silent) when with the queen bee but nicer when she's not there to see it - which can be confusing and hurtful. And then we watch this show and there she is, in Jessie/Jessica. Beginning to end, this show is funny, smart, heartfelt, and not as exaggerated as we'd like to believe. I especially want to address Episode 3, which repeatedly references "Miami third base" and seems to have freaked out enough parents here that I watched with (undue) hesitation. Undue because an ongoing joke is that the boys are not even sure what it is. There is a scene with a bra on a pillow, but you don't see the boys touch it - what they think they're supposed to do with it is left to the viewer's imagination. The son gets caught and earns himself an (off screen) sex talk, and (spoiler) the potential girlfriend ultimately reminds him that the bases are outdated and patriarchal. Bam! Is this show diverse and progressive? Yes! It represents the world our children live in. Do yourself a favor and watch this with your tween/teen daughter, for entertainment and to open the doors to important conversations.
Iiana
Iiana Adult
August 4, 2022
age 11+
the show is very good. i wish it didn't get cancelled because i was very invested with the current plot lines and i found myself wanting that third season. the acting is good and the writing is good the whole show is just really good. i would absolutely recommend this to anyone over the ages of 11!
See all 22 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In DIARY OF A FUTURE PRESIDENT, Elena Cañero-Reed (Gina Rodriguez) revisits the musings in her middle school diary, reflecting on how the challenges she overcame at that point in her life helped prepare her for a political career that brought her to the White House. As she reads and remembers, the setting changes, and we meet 12-year-old Elena (Tess Romero), her widowed mother, Gabi (Selenis Leyva), and her older brother, Bobby (Charlie Bushnell). Having just started middle school, Elena finds it filled with uncertainty, disloyal friends, academic pressures ... and then there's a curveball she's not expecting at home! As Elena's life takes one turn after another, she details the ups and downs in the diary that years later helps tell her story.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (22 ):
Kids say (66 ):

Romero's charisma helps elevate this show, which otherwise runs the risk of being overlooked because of its overall mellow vibe. There's no shtick, no gags, no hyperbolic silliness for laughs; instead it's a straightforward and relatable look at the unpredictable late tween years, happily guided by a smart, industrious, well-rounded kid. Because the story gives away the ending at its start with Elena's ascent to the presidency, it's easy to settle in and watch things transpire without wondering where events will take her someday.

From puberty matters to social drama to winging it on an assignment after mixing up the due date (yikes!), Elena's day-to-day issues hit close to home and mostly keep to appropriate topics, but the extent of some discussions, especially surrounding periods, may not be for all families. But talk about crushes, periods, and other timely concerns don't overwhelm Diary of a Future President's content -- there's still plenty of room for strong messages about family relationships, adjusting to change, and working hard toward your goals.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Elena's strong self-awareness in Diary of a Future President. What do you think accounts for it? How does it help her weather the storms that come at home and at school? Can you relate to Elena's self-confidence? In what kinds of real-life situations would this strength be most valuable?

  • What influence does Elena's Cuban heritage have on her determination to succeed and achieve? How do her mom's stories of coming to America help inspire Elena? What family traditions do you have that reflect your own cultural background? Why is the United States called a "melting pot"?

  • A recurring theme in this story is adapting to change. Why are resilience and perseverence such vital characteristics in success? When have you learned valuable lessons from change that was difficult or unwelcome?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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