Top Wing

Name: Top Wing
Item: Top Wing
Rating: 4
Author: Emily Ashby

TV review by

Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 4+

(i)

Eager rescue cadets teach preschoolers about teamwork.

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Parents say

age 6+

Based on 12 reviews

Kids say

age 4+

Based on 5 reviews

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We think this TV show stands out for:

Character Strengths

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The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

Educational Value

The series introduces very basic procedures of rescue tactics for preschoolers, including identifying the emergency, allocating resources, and communicating among team members to execute a safe rescue.

Positive Messages

Kids see the cadets learn self-control, patience, and teamwork. The learning curve is steep, and they make mistakes before they get it right, but they apply what they learn to the next mission and are better rescuers because of it. They're a diverse group with unique skills that serve the group and their community well, even if female rescuers are somewhat underrepresented, as only two of the six cast members are girls.

Positive Role Models & Representations

The cadets can be impulsive at times, and when they don't give much thought to their rescue plan, they usually wind up failing at it. But with the help of their mentors, they are eager to learn from those mistakes and be the best rescuers they can be.

Violence & Scariness

Sexy Stuff

Language

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Top Wing is a preschool series about four young birds training to be community rescuers in their island home. The cadets are good role models for young kids, as they're prone to mistakes but open to learning from them and using the lessons to improve their relationships and the service they provide. Viewers get to see basic representations of rescue operations and understand how team members work together to accomplish a goal. Negative actions always have consequences, but the characters learn from them and improve as a result.

User Reviews

Parents say
Kids say

Parent of a 4-year-old Written byMegan G. February 9, 2018

age 3+

Promotes Exclusive and Sexist Thinking

My almost four-year-old daughter loves this show, I don't- and not only because it's audaciously annoying. The show has sexist undertones; there are... Continue reading

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Adult Written byMeadowrose3 March 12, 2021

age 3+

Its a cute show

My grandchildren love Top Wing and are soo upset that its been cancelled from NOGGIN. They have the toys, the characters and watched the show just like all the... Continue reading

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Teen, 13 years old Written byaiyen_13 July 14, 2020

age 9+

This show is amazing!!! I love how the cadets work together as a team to help every creature big swirl island. Too bad Nick had to cancel this masterpiece. It... Continue reading

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Teen, 15 years old Written bypawpatrolfanatic September 17, 2019

age 2+

a ripoff of paw patrol

its paw patrol but with birds.

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What's the story?

TOP WING is set in Big Swirl Island's prestigious Top Wing Academy and follows its four new recruits -- Swift (voiced by Jonah Wineberg), Brody (Lucas Kalechstein), Rod (Ethan Pugiotto), and Penny (Abigail Oliver) -- in their training to become rescuers. Under the instruction of Speedy (Colin Doyle) and Bea (Bryn McAuley), these four eager students learn the ins and outs of rescue operations on land, underwater, and in the air. Their missions teach them the skills they need to help their community, remind them of the importance of teamwork, and earn them their wings.

Is it any good?

These four young whippersnappers will win over preschoolers in record time, and their experiences promote social skills like communication and working together. Their exuberant but unique personalities remind kids that differences don't have to divide; they can expose us to other points of view and challenge us to see things through another person's eyes. In the case of Swift and his new friends, this translates to a better team of rescuers for their surrounding community.

While Top Wing doesn't overwhelm with its creativity (Paw Patrol fans especially will notice similarities), it caters to preschoolers' emotional awareness by portraying young characters who experience impulsiveness, impatience, and selfishness at times. Happily, the stories spend ample time showing the consequences of these negative traits and what the cadets learn from them, plus how they turn those lessons into better teamwork and service to others.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about how the Top Wing cadets demonstrate teamwork. Is there a leader in the group? How do they assign responsibilities? How can you tell that each team member is equally important?
What are the challenges in learning new skills? Is it reasonable to expect you'll do well from the start? What value is there in making mistakes and learning from them?
The characters have different strengths and weaknesses. How do they use them for the greatest benefit of the entire team and community? Where do you see examples of particularly positive traits like teamwork and courage? Why are these important character strengths?