Stories of family and friendship set in Black communities.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Positive Messages
a lot
The stories feature lessons about being a good friend, being an active member of your community, overcoming hardships, and confronting racism. Some of the key takeaways are: don't take your friends for granted, be brave, and always stand up for yourself and others. Some use of put-downs between kids -- Byron is called a "streetkid" by a student at the performing arts academy, McKinley and her friends are called "ghetto" for wearing their hair in braids -- used to present the reality many Black children and other children of color face everyday. This behavior is addressed in a way that allows kids and adults to discuss the words they use and the true meaning behind them. Aim of the show is to accurately reflect the Black experience from a child's perspective.
Diverse Representations
a lot
The seven main characters in the story are Black children of varying ages and economic backgrounds. Other characters include White and Latino students and friends. The BB twins and their mother endure discrimination when they try to enroll in a dance studio and are denied a sibling discount they see offered to White students. The twins are later teased about not being good enough when they're accepted to a majority-White performing arts academy. Another character, McKinley, who lives in a middle-class neighborhood discovers her private school classmates aren't interested in Black History Month, and she works to educate them about its importance. Highlights the reality of the Black experience from a young age. Multiple family dynamics are represented: single working mother household, a child being raised by his father and grandfather, two parent household, and twins who were adopted by their aunt.
McKinley is a loyal friend who learns that she has to value herself and remember her own needs too. Character educates friends on the importance of Black History Month. Byron and Brea are twins who excel at dance despite lacking access to training. The parents and other caregivers in the stories guide their children toward positive choices while also encouraging them to make their own decisions.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Stoopkid Stories is an engaging podcast for kids that tells stories about a diverse group of Black children and their daily lives. The host and creator, Melissa Victor, narrates the stories that take place at school, at home, and on family trips. The stories focus on the ups and downs of childhood like getting braces, overcoming a fear of flying, and handling friendship drama. Social movements such as Black Lives Matter are also incorporated into the stories. Some of the themes may be a little advanced for younger listeners—because the characters come from a variety of family backgrounds, we hear about kids visiting a parent at a rehab facility or losing a parent at a young age. Racially charged put-downs between kids, like "ghetto" and "streetkid," highlight the reality for many Black children and other children of color. These instances are used to spark conversations with children -- and adults -- around the meaning of words and how we use them. For the most part, you can expect lots of positive messages about perseverance, pride, and the importance of community.
We absolutely love Stoopkid Stories and listen over and over! My 5-year-old twins are half Black and half Caucasian, growing up in a predominantly white area. My husband and I appreciate the diversity, inclusion, and life lessons Melly incorporates in the podcast…all while making it extremely interesting for our kids. They request it!
We like that we get to follow a small group of characters through realistic world scenarios. All the stories have a good moral message and encourages respect and caring for friends and family.
What’s It About?
Black children from different backgrounds and communities are the stars of their own daily lives in STOOPKID STORIES, a biweekly podcast that has been running since January 2020. Each episode tells a short story about one of the young characters, who is often facing a personal challenge. One story revolves around Nathaniel, a character who travels by plane for the first time and learns how to calm himself and manage his nerves during the flight. Another episode is centered on the choice that the talented BB twins must make about whether to choose an arts academy over their neighborhood school. And a special two-part episode focuses on McKinley, a model student dealing with racial biases at her predominantly white private school. By the end of each episode, the conflict is resolved and the host poses questions to listeners to help them reflect on the story and how its message relates to them.
Kids will enjoy hearing stories that they can relate to about school and friendships. Black children in particular may appreciate hearing their stories brought to life in Stoopkid Stories. The host, Melissa Victor, has a theatrical background and she tells the stories with a range of emotions and a child-friendly tone. Some of the stories, particularly those in Season 1, really stand out for tackling issues of race and class from the perspective of a child. However, while the content is appropriate for ages eight and up, sometimes the tone and language skews younger. The episodes with more basic plot lines may not offer enough drama or descriptive language to keep some older kids (or adults listening in) interested.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different types of family units represented in Stoopkid Stories. What makes a family? Does a child have to live with a mom and dad to be part of a family?
McKinley and Byron are called "street kid" and "ghetto". What is wrong with terms like these? Where do they come from and why are they hurtful? Why is it important to understand the meaning behind the words we use and how we use them?
Does it bother you when you see or hear about kids being mean to other kids because they look different? What can we do in those situations?
Do you see your family or community represented in TV, movies, or podcasts? If you do, do you think it's accurate? And if you don't, what can be done to change that?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Lakshmi Hutchinson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
