Parents' Guide to The Secret Lives of Animals

The Secret Lives of Animals printed in white on a greenish background with baby raccoon in the center frame

Common Sense Media Review

Megan Andersen By Megan Andersen , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 7+

Stunning animal docu shows family lives of creatures.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 7+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

THE SECRET LIVES OF ANIMALS highlights the lengths to which animals go in order to protect themselves, find food, care for their offspring, and make shelter. The last few minutes of each episode are dedicated to the "making of" the series and offer an interesting perspective from the experts who have studied herds of elephants, reclusive spiders, and so forth and show the cameras, drones, and scientific equipment used to capture rare and previously unrecorded moments.

Is It Any Good?

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

This docuseries is educational, heartwarming, sometimes funny, and narrated thoughtfully, at an almost meditative pace. For animal and nature lovers, The Secret Lives of Animals shows the best of animal ingenuity, family bonding, and stunning scenery.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about which creatures from The Secret Lives of Animals they are most impressed by. Whether it's a 4-hour-old baby seal who has already memorized his mother's unique call or an octopus with nine brains who outsmarts a hungry fish, each animal showcased has unique skills and abilities.

  • The Secret Lives of Animals is filmed in a variety of habitats. Talk to your kids about which habitat they might like to learn more about, or even visit. Some of the animal biomes include California kelp forests, arctic meadows, and rivers of Costa Rica and Africa.

  • While nature documentaries can showcase the cruel and harsh realities of animal life in the wild, you can talk to your kids about The Secret Lives of Animals' distinct family roles and many tender moments. Which of the animals showcased most closely represents how your family communicates, eats, raises their family, or even plays?

TV Details

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The Secret Lives of Animals printed in white on a greenish background with baby raccoon in the center frame

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