Parents' Guide to

Frozen Planet

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 6+

Stunning tour of the poles is great for the whole family.

TV Discovery Channel Educational 2012
Frozen Planet 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 7+

Based on 1 parent review

titanius719
titanius719 Adult
July 19, 2012
age 7+

A Need To See Series

This series is absolutely stunning! If it weren’t for my Dish Remote Access app I wouldn’t even have known it exists. I had always pictured the Polar Regions being desolate, but this series has completely changed that foundation. If seeing is believing than Frozen Planet will certainly give children, as well as adults, a new found appreciation for nature. A talk about he birds and the bees is certainly suggested before watching a few of the episodes. There is predator capturing prey footage but I think if your kids have seen the Lion King they should make the transition fairly easily. I do a lot of business traveling for Dish but this series has shown me places and animals that I may never observe myself.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

FROZEN PLANET is the third nature series from the team behind Planet Earth and Life. A project four years in the making, this stunningly beautiful documentary narrated by Alec Baldwin turns the camera lens on the planet's polar regions, chronicling the seasonal changes that instigate massive migrations of animals by sea and air and set in motion choreographed breeding rituals and concentrated feeding frenzies. Arctic wolves, polar bears, albatross, killer whales, and many more share center stage in this inspiring glimpse of the world's little-known extreme North and South. Thanks to motion-controlled, time-lapse cameras, and a dedicated crew of videographers who risked the harsh polar elements, these climate changes and fascinating animal behavior are captured for viewers' enjoyment.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (1):

Move over, pampered Real Housewives and commercialized American Idols -- this vibrant series is reality TV at its best. These new stars of the small screen will not only captivate viewers of all ages, they'll actually inspire them to look at the world differently and want to learn more about it. Topics you -- or your kids, for that matter -- probably never found interesting suddenly come to life in Frozen Planet. Weather patterns? The habits of solitary caterpillars? Crime rates among Adelie penguins? Viewed through the lens of this series, these are fascinating topics.

Drama, suspense, comedy, tragedy, and romance all have a part in the stories that comprise this masterfully rendered nature series. For families, this makes for a rare gem: TV that's equal parts entertainment and education and offers something for viewers of every age. That said, this series doesn't gloss over the harsh realities of life, so if your kids are sensitive to the plight of prey, be warned that there are many scenes that end in one animal killing and eating another. On a similar note, if you haven't had "the talk" yet, you may want to preview each episode to screen for segments that discuss breeding and, in a few cases, show polar bears, elephant seals, and other animals in the act of reproduction itself.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the scenes of nature in Frozen Planet. In what ways do you like to connect with nature? Does your family enjoy hiking, gardening, or fishing? How much access to natural surroundings do you have where you live?

  • How do the animals in this show adapt to cope with the challenges of their surroundings? Do they band together or split apart when times get tough? In what ways are their actions similar to humans'? How are they different?

  • Families can discuss how they can institute conservation practices in their home to help the environment. Do you recycle? How do you conserve energy? When you buy clothing or food, how can you make choices that both satisfy your needs and help the environment of your community? How might these choices impact the planet's future?

  • How does Frozen Planet promote curiosity? Why is this an important character strength?

TV Details

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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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