Common Sense Media Review
By Alina Barrera
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exploration of science around the world; heavy ads.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Get
Videos and Photos
Be Smart
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
BE SMART follows host Dr. Joe Hanson as he wonders about about pretty much anything you can think of and ventures out to find the answer. The channel hosts many different topics but most are science-related. You'll learn about sand dunes, iridescence, evolution, wildlife animals, biology, physics, space, and more. Each video is filled with information like statistics, and graphs, but Joe never fails to make it engaging by adding jokes, memes, and silly examples. What's even more interesting is that his questions take him all over the world to learn about different people and cultures as well. You'll hear from Jahawi Bertolli a photographer/filmmaker from Kenya, Mairin Balisi PhD, a scientist who works at the La Brea Tar Pits, and the Intertribal Buffalo Council and their efforts to return buffalos to their tribes. There's an endless amount of learning and fun to be had on Be Smart, fo both kids and adults.
Is It Any Good?
Have you ever wondered how bees make honey? So has Dr. Joe Hanson, the creator of Be Smart. He approaches questions like this, but also pretty much anything you can think of. This channel is all about exploring, asking questions, and the science behind everything around us. You'll learn things like how the ocean moves, the science of iridescence, and the illusion of motion. Each video is packed with educational information and uses statistics, graphs, illustrations to show factual evidence. But Joe never fails to make learning engaging by adding jokes, memes, and silly examples. Not all videos are science-based, however there's always a thorough explanation about the topic of the video. Joe makes science fun and captivating while also getting the point of the video across. There's so much to learn on this channel and tons of videos to watch!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Be Smart has many videos on climate change. What are some ways that Be Smart explains how humans have negatively impacted Earth? What are some ways we as individuals can help our environment?
For kids: What have you learned about climate change in school? Did you learn anything new from Be Smart?
At the end of every video, the creator always says "stay curious." What does Joe mean by "stay curious?" Why is curiosity an important character strength?
YouTube Details
- Genre : Lifestyle
- Host : Joe Hanson
- Topics : STEM , Adventures , Animals ( Bugs , Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals ) , History
- Character Strengths : Curiosity
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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