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Parents' Guide to

Home Made Simple

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Extreme household makeover is fine for kids.

TV TLC Reality TV 2006
Home Made Simple Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

In HOME MADE SIMPLE -- which is based on Procter and Gamble's Web site of the same name -- families learn how to make their households run more efficiently, picking up useful skills along the way. Each week, two \"home mavens\" -- organizational expert June Saruwatari and carpenter Scott McCray -- visit a family dealing with issues like coping with raising triplets or a mom's return to the workforce. With the help of guest experts and the featured couple's friends, Saruwatari and McCray show the family how to organize their home, create simple meals, and set aside family-friendly spaces. In one episode, for example, the mavens showed culinary-challenged Kate, a mother of three boys under 5, how to create delicious, simple meals in minutes. Meanwhile, her husband learned how to transform a dilapidated backyard deck area into a sandbox for the boys.

Is It Any Good?

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

Home Made Simple has many positives: In addition to quick tips that appear from time to time at the bottom of the screen ("For the best zest, use unwaxed fruit"), devoted, caring parents and loving families are highlighted. But while the show is fine for viewers of all ages, Home Made Simple will primarily appeal to adults and older teens with the home improvement bug.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about pitching in. Why does a household run smoothly only when everyone helps out? Even though chores are often a bore, what can kids learn from helping out Mom and Dad? What helpful ideas can you take away from this show?

TV Details

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