Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kid interview series with laughs and insight; some promo.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Recess Therapy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Host Julian Shapiro-Barnum interviews precocious New York City kids about wide-ranging topics. The candid interviews sometimes touch on serious themes like what happens after we die and what to do about mean kids in school. Interviews veer into silly territory equally often, as kids tell stories about things like kindergarten "boyfriends" and fighting zombies. The comedic factor is amped up by text and animations that are super-imposed over the interview footage. Episodes are often co-hosted by celebrities like Rihanna, Sesame Street Muppets, and comedian Ilana Glazer, and some feature recurring kids that are particularly hilarious.
Is It Any Good?
Recess Therapy has gone viral on social media several times, for excellent reason. Host Julian Shapiro-Barnum is able to thread the needle of leading kids to say funny things, while at the same time laughing with them and not at them. Shapiro-Barnum is an empathetic listener and fast thinker, and sometimes draws some surprisingly deep insights out of his kid interview subjects. Other times, the interviews are simply laugh out loud funny. The primary audience for Recess Therapy is adults enjoying Recess Therapy on the Kids Say the Darndest Things level. That said, kids can delight in the out-of-this-world silliness of the like-minded interview subjects. Kids and grown-ups alike may be surprised at the life lessons they take away from a lighthearted YouTube series. Recess Therapy is the perfect cure for a bad mood, and fun for families to watch together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the humor in Recess Therapy. How is Recess Therapy funny to kids, and how is it funny to grown-ups? What's funny to people of all ages?
Why do you think different celebrities (movie/TV actors, musicians, and such) come on different episodes of Recess Therapy? What are they trying to promote to you, or get you to buy or watch? Do you think they also enjoy being on the series too?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 1, 2021
- Cast : Julian Shapiro-Barnum
- Network : YouTube
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Dads , Moms , Siblings ) , School ( Elementary School ) , Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 8, 2025
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