Parents' Guide to The Toys That Built America

The Toys that Built America: A yellow outline of America is shown floating above a Super Mario Brothers background with title and a question mark

Common Sense Media Review

Stephanie Morgan By Stephanie Morgan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Surprising stories behind classic toys told in fun ways.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Each episode of THE TOYS THAT BUILT AMERICA tells the origin story of a famous American toy or game, weaving together dramatic reenactments, interviews with historians, and entrepreneurial lessons.

Is It Any Good?

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

Fun and informative, the 20-minute episodes may be just short enough to keep younger viewers engaged. However, this is likely a show that will be most enjoyed by toy collectors and history buffs. The reenactments in The Toys that Built America attempt to bring history to life and offer entrepreneurial inspiration but fall a little flat. This one's best for viewers curious about the "how" and "why" behind their childhood favorites, from Monopoly to LEGO, and the people who created them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how business and creativity work together.

  • Point out the instances of curiosity and perseverance displayed in many of these stories. Why are these important traits?

  • When watching the series, discuss whose stories might be missing and why.

TV Details

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The Toys that Built America: A yellow outline of America is shown floating above a Super Mario Brothers background with title and a question mark

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