We review the programming the other critics ignore: stuff made for kids. Find out what to watch for family movie night, what to avoid altogether, and what you’ll want to watch alone, voluntarily.
This week, we review The Super Mario Bros. Movie - a box office smash we saw in actual theaters and not on our couches. Find out whether it was as big a hit with us as it was with our kids. In Screen Time in the News, we speak with Read More
The Magician's Elephant April 03, 2023
We review the animated adaptation of Kate DiCamillo’s The Magician’s Elephant and get into what makes a good book-to-screen adaptation in general. In Screen Time in the News, we add our two cents to Matt Singer’s complaint in ScreenCrush that there are no movies for kids in theaters.Contact us and Read More
Rubble and Crew March 20, 2023
We return to our first love - preschool television - to review the Paw Patrol spin-off, Rubble & Crew. Can the charm of Rubble’s construction-loving family match that of the original heroes of Adventure Bay? In Screen Time in the News, we talk over an interview with Paw Patrol’s creators Read More
150th Episode Spectacular March 07, 2023
For our 150th episode, we take a moment to look back at how our approaches to screen time have changed and how the landscape of children’s movies and shows has changed. We talk about the things we thought would be major hits that never panned out, the things we’re surprised Read More
Ms Rachel's Songs for Littles February 22, 2023
We get back into the baby game thanks to a listener’s suggestion that we check out Ms. Rachel’s Songs for Littles YouTube channel. How does this educational baby content stack up against the ones we’ve covered in the past (like Cosmic Kids Yoga or our old nemesis, Blippi) or the Read More
Matilda the Musical February 06, 2023
In our latest episode, we review the big screen adaptation of the stage musical based on Roald Dahl’s Matilda. In Screen Time in the News, we discuss a Michigan State University study of teen self esteem in rural communities with limited internet access and tightly controlled screen time. We also Read More
Pinocchio January 23, 2023
We’ve got so much to cover after our holiday break. We catch up on what we watched with our families (Strange World, Avatar The Way of Water, National Treasure: Edge of History, and Trivia Quest). We’re pretty nervous to watch Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, so we have friend of the Read More
Disenchanted December 19, 2022
It’s a super-sized episode to get you through the holiday season! In our main segment, we review Disenchanted, the long awaited sequel to the 2007 musical Enchanted. Was this story of after “happily ever after” worth the wait? In Screen Time in the News, we discuss a roundtable conversation between Read More
Holiday Lightning Round December 07, 2022
The holidays have brought us tremendous screen time riches, so we’re sharing quick reviews of four new holiday releases: A Christmas Story Christmas; The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special; The Santa Clauses; and Spirited. As a bonus, Katie gives a mini-review of the latest Disney animated release: Strange World. Read More
My Fathers Dragon November 21, 2022
For the second episode in a row, we review content inspired by a children’s book from the 1940s. Come to hear us talk about how beautiful Netflix’s My Father’s Dragon is; stay to hear Deborah dunk on the Despicable Me franchise and Katie wonder what the appropriate term is for Read More
Pretzel and the Puppies November 09, 2022
We tie ourselves in knots trying to find good things to say about the bland Pretzel and the Puppies on Apple TV+. Gritty reboot casting throws a bone to Conan O’Brien and the cast of the dear, departed Togetherness. In Screen Time in the News, we wonder whether the inclusion Read More
Phantom Pups October 24, 2022
It’s been awhile since we reviewed a total stinker, so we were probably overdue for a show like Netflix’s Phantom Pups. The latest entry in the Air Bud franchise inspires us to mention 1995’s Casper a whopping 3 times, question Netflix’s PR machine, and wonder why this couldn’t have been Read More
Hocus Pocus 2 October 12, 2022
Like every mom of our generation, we were super excited for the return of the Sanderson sisters in Hocus Pocus 2. They’re back, looking as good as ever, but does the new movie live up to the 1993 original? In Screen Time in the News, we discuss Romper essay that Read More
Secret Headquarters September 19, 2022
In our review of Secret Headquarters on Paramount+, find out whether Katie’s superhero fatigue extends beyond the MCU to Owen Wilson’s new family flick. We lament the underuse of Michael Pena and finally reintroduce John Cho into our imaginary reboot casting. In Screen Time in the News, we address the Read More
Junior Baking Show September 07, 2022
We review our first ever kids’ reality competition show: Junior Baking Show on Netflix. How does it compare to the much loved grown-up version? Is even the gentlest of children’s competition shows too much for Katie’s nerves?Contact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Read More
Lightyear August 22, 2022
We travel to infinity and beyond in our review of Pixar’s latest blockbuster: Lightyear. Is it a valuable extension to the Toy Story brand or just another run of the mill space adventure? In Screen Time in the News, Katie apologizes to Deborah (and our listeners) for neglecting to cover Read More
Zombies 3 August 08, 2022
We have a lot to say about Screen Time in the News this week. Deborah fills us in on a new Minnesota law about screen time in preschools, and Katie wonders about a once-loved Pixar executive making new (and maybe better?) movies at a different studio. We review the third Read More
Minecraft Videos July 25, 2022
This week, we bravely explore one of our kids’ favorite YouTube genres: Minecraft videos. From narrating gamers to intrepid hamsters, we desperately try to find something to like in the endless sea of content about everyone’s favorite block-based video game. In Screen Time In the News, we turn to an Read More
Ms Marvel July 11, 2022
Katie is dragged kicking and screaming into the Marvel Cinematic Universe to review Ms. Marvel, and we feature a fascinating interview with a mom who watches everything MCU with her kids.Contact us and subscribe to our newsletter at www.myscreentimetoo.comConnect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or by email at Read More
Creature Cases June 29, 2022
We’re excited to introduce our kids to the structure of mystery shows with Netflix’s new Creature Cases from some of the team behind Octonauts. Two animal detectives teach us things we didn’t know about the more bizarre members of the animal kingdom, and Deborah accidentally invents the best crossover ever: Read More