Parents' Guide to Trading Spaces: Boys vs. Girls

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Common Sense Media Review

By Sarah Wenk , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 6+

Kids redo each other's rooms in fun series.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 6+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 8+

Based on 10 kid reviews

What's the Story?

Two boys and two girls get the chance to redecorate each other's rooms, making them into reflections of their owner's personalities. As they work, the kids have to compete in various challenges, often involving vast quantities of messy goop (usually pink for girls and blue for boys, but that's the limit of the gender stereotyping). They are aided in their renovations by carpenters and designers (and again care is taken in the genders here; there are female carpenters and male decorators) and by a team of "labor savers," silent folks in hazmat suits who can be won in the challenges to help with the grunt work.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 10 ):

It's fun to watch the kids figure out what interests the rooms should reflect and the results -- from a lawnmower bed to an art gallery of pet portraits -- are fun and lively. The results are amazing, and though parents may wonder how long a kid will like sleeping in a wizard's lair before asking for something different, the kids end up delighted and feeling incredibly accomplished.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about making over your kid's room. Together you could brainstorm creative (and inexpensive) ways to make your child's room reflect his or her interests and personality.

  • Kids: Why is it so important for kids' rooms to reflect who they are?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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