Old Enough
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Young kids learn independence in charming series.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Old Enough
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Excellent, sweet (controlled) experiment
What's the Story?
The Japanese TV hit Hajimete no Otsukai, aka OLD ENOUGH, is a reality series that follows very young children going on their first solo errand. The Netflix version of the series edits down the normally three-hour installments to 10-minute episodes. Each one features a child (or a pair of children) between the ages of 2 and 6 being given instructions by a parent on where to go and what to do. Then the child is responsible for going to the location, successfully completing the tasks, and returning home by themselves. From going shopping to buy flowers and sweet curry, to being sent home from a mandarin orchard to squeeze some juice for the family, cameras follow each child throughout their solo adventure.
Is It Any Good?
The sweet unscripted series, which is wildly popular in Japan, features very young children gaining a sense of confidence after successfully completing their first parent-free mission. Each adventure requires them to communicate with others, overcome their fears, and problem solve when things go wrong. As the children go about completing their tasks, the host's humorous banter, along with canned laughter and cheering, celebrates each part of the journey, But despite the obvious pre-production planning and camera crews on the scene, Western audiences may find watching young kids walking a mile from home, crossing busy roads, and navigating crowded open-air markets alone a little harrowing. However, Old Enough is also meant to underscore the role the Japanese community plays in bringing up their children, which is evidenced by the way local adults watch out for them while reinforcing their need to learn how to be independent. It's a lighthearted, family friendly series, but one that contains very positive messages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different ways people from different cultures and communities raise their children. Is there one right way to bring up kids? How do children benefit from having entire communities looking out for them?
Did you know that Old Enough has been on Japanese TV for 30 years? Why is it so popular? Do you know what the differences are between what is aired there vs. Netflix's streaming version? Why were these changes made?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 31, 2022
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Adventures
- Character Strengths: Communication , Courage , Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-G
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate