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Parents' Guide to

Elizabeth Stanton's Great Big World

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Celebs' philanthropic travels are great for curious kids.

TV Syndicated Reality TV 2011
Elizabeth Stanton's Great Big World Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Steven E.
Steven E. Adult
January 29, 2023
age 18+

The Berlin wall was built to "separate people"??? Please, do not use this for History lessons...

I have only seen a few of these episodes while scanning channels, but one episode that I had to comment about was shown yesterday, January 28th and was titled "German Adventures". It was mainly about touristy things to do in Berlin and one of the main segments was about the Berlin Wall. It was a typical segment until, on multiple occasions, Elizabeth remarked that the Berlin Wall had been built to "Separate People" from East and West Berlin. All I can say is, Elizabeth, please take some more history classes about the Cold War and please, if you ever go back to Berlin, report that the wall was built by the East German Communist Government in the early 1960's to keep an increasing number of people from East Berlin (and East Germany) from defecting to West Berlin. These East Germans were not just trying to go to West Berlin because they were "separated" from their family and friends. They risked death and major injury from East Berlin solders brutally shooting at them with machine guns as they tried to make it across the wall to West Berlin because they didn't want to live in the "communist paradise" that had been established in East Germany with the help of the USSR (please look that country up, now relegated to the "Dustbin of History", if you haven't heard about it). If this is series being shown on any PBS station, there should be a disclaimer about not using this in any way, shape, or form as a part of a school's history classes.
OG
OG Adult
June 18, 2016
age 6+

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous

The children will not get real factual information. Sidekick Garrett has a running gag of providing 100% misinformation. That is funny for a few times. But after awhile, it is a distraction and then downright misleading. It is not a NatGeo. It is a Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous show. It will give the youngsters a feeling that it is normal for kids to travel all over the globe. No family could afford such extravagances. Bottom line- If the children watch the show they may be ill informed about the reality of other parts of the world.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Elizabeth Stanton and a team of her celebrity friends -- including Drake Bell, Chelsea Staub-Kane, and Ace Young -- travel to the far reaches of the globe to experience exotic cultures, learn about world history, and lend a helping hand to a variety of charitable causes on location in their host countries. Whether it's pitching in to feed the poor in Kenya or learning how to fit hearing aids on some of Vietnam's hearing-impaired children, these "voluntourists" prove that a little caring goes a long way to bring smiles to the faces of those in need. And when the work is done, they're more than happy to delve into the local cuisine and tour some famous places nearby.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

ELIZABETH STANTON'S GREAT BIG WORLD! lives up to its name inasmuch as it exposes viewers to the awesome diversity that spans the globe. From the sparkling white beaches of the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the rugged Chinese mountain peaks, no two stops on the tour are alike. Each one boasts distinct natural richness and beauty, not the least of which is evident in the local people and their customs.

This kid-geared show goes a step further to promote cultural awareness and good will by incorporating philanthropy in a unique way, and there are obvious positive messages for kids to get from watching some of their favorite TV stars -- along with the exuberant host -- roll up their sleeves for a good cause. Don't be surprised if the show raises some questions from kids of all ages about issues like poverty, birth defects, and malnutrition, since these are the kind of topics that pop up during the course of an episode, so use the opportunity to discuss the subject of charity as a family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about helping others. What physical and emotional needs exist within your community? What can you do to get involved in helping others? What benefits do you get from doing so?

  • Kids: Why is it important to learn about other cultures and ways of life? How does doing so affect how you see your own lifestyle? How do you think people from other countries would view how you live? Do you feel fortunate to have what you do?

  • If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? How might the people be different from what you're used to? Would you need to learn a new language? What cultural concessions (specific dress, local customs, etc.) would you need to adopt?

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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