Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Touching, tough stories are told from kids' perspectives.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Through Our Eyes
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In the documentary series THROUGH OUR EYES, kids across the U.S. talk about the challenges their families are going through. Kids in places like New York, Virginia, Georgia, and Maryland talk about what it's like to have a parent who's in jail; others are living with parents whose mental and physical health have been wounded in wars. Kids in Iowa and Texas lose their homes, or lose their friends because they've had to move. Some stories about surviving explosions in a wartime scenario might shake sensitive viewers, and the scenes of catastrophic storms may stick in young viewers' minds. The kids' wisdom and strength shine through as they share their universal lessons of togetherness, strength, and love.
Is It Any Good?
Tough subjects are given an intensely human touch in this beautiful and moving docu-series that shares universal lessons from kids' perspectives. Through Our Eyes explores challenging family situations with poetry, optimism, and insight. A boy who wakes before dawn to ride 70 miles to visit his mom in jail expresses how much he loves the early morning light. A girl whose dad came back from war with a brain injury works through her pain with the help of a therapeutic horse, whose gentle nudge of his muzzle startles and soothes her. The moments of grief are captured here; though the pain is intense, the coping skills are honed.
Honoring the pain and experience feels crucial in these episodes, and a kind of healing envelops the viewer as a consequence. These stories illuminate the humanity, strength, and wisdom that challenges leave in their wake. Blissfully free of cliche, there is much to be learned from the strong, wise children who tell their stories in this series.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about current events in Through Our Eyes. Some stories in the news affect families. How do we talk about real life events that are scary or difficult?
A lot of the kids in this series are optimistic, advising kids to stay positive. How can you stay optimistic in a pessimistic world?
A boy whose mom is in prison says that he tries to be grateful for what he has. How can you be grateful for the good things in your life, even when times are tough?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 22, 2021
- Network : Max
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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