Parents' Guide to

Strawberry Shortcake

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Sweet redhead and pals share positive lessons.

TV CBS Kids' Animation 2003
Strawberry Shortcake 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 5+

Based on 9 parent reviews

bella.park
bella.park Adult
January 5, 2020
age 3+

I loved Strawberry Shortcake

I was 2 when the second reboot and 9 for the third reboot of Strawberry Shortcake and I loved both very much. I can only remember an episode where a new character was visiting the girls in the second reboot and how they treated the problem I remember taking to as a young girl. I also loved the scented toys.
1 person found this helpful.
AG Fan Parent
AG Fan Parent Parent of baby, 2, 5 and 10-year-old
January 29, 2013
age 2+

Amazing, a must-watch for any small child or even older child!

I cannot have enough praise for this show. My 2-year-old and 5-year-old are both in love with everything to do with this, however that is the old version, from 2003. I have seen the new version and am pretty disgusted with it, but the amazing episodes from 2003-2007(?) are so worth watching. My 10-year-old also loved them from about ages 2-7, and will still (though she won't admit it) watch them with her little sisters. While the show is, naturally, rather cheesy, the message is good and it tells the stories in a good manner and isn't just all that friendship stuff you get on most little kid TV. All of the episodes are on Netflix, and I would reccomend the first two seasons. After that, the episodes can be a bit jumbly since there's new characters and continuation of plots and stuff that can be confusing. Plus, I'm not a huge fan of the characters that come on after that. All of the original characters are favourites of my little ones, and they both adore Custard the most of the pets. Really, they get so much out of this I don't even mind letting them watch several episodes in a row, which is rare for me! This is definitely a much watch for any kid 2-6, maybe even older! My newborn even likes this show, though I think it's more that she likes the music and stuff then the actual show. She is, after all, only two months old!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much consumerism
1 person found this helpful.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE follows the adventures of its cheerful redheaded star and her circle of close friends, who live and play in their colorful home of Strawberryland. Each day brings the promise of new explorations for Strawberry Shortcake (voiced by Sarah Heinke) and her pals, who are never lacking inspiration for their adventures. From stories to books to each other's healthy imaginations, Ginger Snap (Samantha Triba), Orange Blossom (Dejare Barfield), and Angel Cake (Rachel Ware) are always ready with new ideas for fun and games. Huckleberry Pie (James Street) and Strawberry's little sister, Apple Dumpling (Katie Labosky), often join the girls as they go on picnics, put on plays, and explore other lands through books and stories.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (6 ):

Kids (particularly girls, most likely) will easily relate to the group's adventures and find themselves wrapped up in the imaginative tales. Along the way, the characters -- and their young viewers -- learn about the importance of self-esteem, respect for others, patience, and friendship.

For parents who grew up during the fragrant friends' original '80s' heyday, this new series is a fun reason to bond with your daughters over characters you'll both enjoy. And if you've held on to original Strawberry Shortcake toys from your childhood, you may win coolness points by unearthing those for your youngsters as well. (If not, you can buy boatloads of new ones just about anywhere -- Ms. Shortcake is still a marketing juggernaut, which is just about her only downside.)

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the lessons that Strawberry Shortcake and her friends learn in each episode. Kids: What troubles did the group have to deal with? Did someone cause a disagreement or hurt a friend's feelings? What did they do to fix the problem? Have you ever been in a situation like that? How did you resolve it? Parents and older kids can also discuss how TV series act as marketing tools for toy companies. Kids: Do you want Strawberry Shortcake toys more after watching the show?

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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