Common Sense Media Review
By Dana Anderson , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 5+
Awesome educational animation to explore, for a fee.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
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Products & Purchases
none
This is a subscription service, so the upside is no flagrant ads, but users have to pay a monthly (starts at $14.95) or yearly (starts at $119) fee. There's some limited content available for free without a subscription.
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Educational Value
a lot
Kids can learn about almost every subject with topics ranging from science and social studies, to language and writing and much, much more. The site includes educational games, tutorials, and videos that will help kids better understand concepts being taught in the classroom from telling time to woodwind instruments.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that BrainPOP Jr. is a subscription website that offers online, animated, educational content. BrainPOP Jr. targets kids in kindergarten to third grade. Kids don't need proficient reading skills to use this audio-heavy site. Lessons all begin with a brief video and include a wide variety of school and life topics. A basic subscription to the site includes videos, games, and quizzes for science, health, writing, reading, social studies, and math. There are also additional learning activities including coding, and concept mapping with the next subscription level up. There are companion sites for older kids, English Language Learners, Spanish speakers, and French speakers, though each is available through separate subscriptions. Families pay $119 a year or $14.95 a month for access to BrainPOP Jr.; homeschooling families, schools, and other organizations pay -- and get access to -- more. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
Videos and Photos
BrainPOP Jr.
Parent and Kid Reviews
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- Parents say (13)
- Kids say (12)
age 6+
Based on 13 parent reviews
hunahunaph Adult
October 29, 2020
age 5+
Homeschooler Grade 2
Due to the pandemic, we're purely homeschooling. It's tiring to be the sole teacher so Brainpop videos are very helpful. During the first quarter, they upgraded my account from Jr to the next level so I can try the "animation" feature. My 7yo kid was happy to see the additional videos but Brainpop Jr seems to be enough for her. We were happily using it but I didn't immediately subscribe for the next month since I needed to customize our exam's further based on the curriculum. I was also frustrated that I couldn't easily collate the grades in Brainpop so that I can integrate it in my grade sheet in Google Drive. However, this 2nd quarter, my daughter was begging me to get Brainpop again as she grew tired of Youtube. Music to my ears so I signed up again but just for Brainpop Jr. I took the Homeschooling option because it comes with 4 profiles/students that I share with my nephews and nieces. Overall, I think the videos are worth it even more if you really use it heavily as in take advantage of the quizzes, creative code challenges, games and readings. We don't have enough time in a day to go through all the content. Also, it has an app that I installed on my tablet so it's easier to browse leisurely. As for the price, I wish it would be lesser than $30/month.
123rah Adult
October 4, 2019
age 15+
Rate website
See all 13 parent reviews
What’s It About?
Created by educators, BRAINPOP JR. bases its lessons on national standards and includes an incredibly wide range of subjects, from telling the time to Internet safety to getting lice. Each topic is introduced with a short, creative video that centers around two good-natured cartoon characters, Annie and Moby. Each video is followed up with activities, games, and quizzes. Kids can browse videos by topic, or watch the featured video of the day. A family account allows access to videos, quizzes, and games, whereas a homeschool account also includes the full set of learning activities and curriculum planning tools.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (13):
Kids say (12):
This high-quality interactive educational site has lots to offer, and is easy for kids to navigate on their own. BrainPOP Jr. includes videos, audio prompts, and graphics familiar to kids in an ideal format for young learners. The videos are engaging, and explain sometimes complex topics with simple, kid-friendly language. The variety of topics is also impressive, with videos ranging from the solar system to Mozart, conflict resolution, and how to tell fact from opinion. Kids can spend hours exploring this site and diving into sub-categories. Furthermore, kids can take their enjoyment of videos to the next, more effective, level and do something with what they've just watched online. The printable activities and games include many creative learning concepts and, unlike a lot of early education sites, go way beyond coloring pages. If your K-3 kid likes to learn things online, BrainPOP Jr. is worth the subscription fee.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about BrainPOP Jr.'s wide variety of subjects. Why is it important to learn about a broad range of topics -- even in the earliest grades? Discuss why it's good to know about other cultures and faraway ecosystems.
Talk about the different ways of learning. Do you remember more when you have an activity to do after watching a related video?
Website Details
- Subjects: : phonics, reading, storytelling, writing, Math: arithmetic, fractions, geometry, probability, Science: animals, energy, rocks and minerals, weather, Social Studies: geography, historical figures, history, the economy, Arts: music, painting, photography, sculpture, Hobbies: board games, gardening, pets
- Skills: : applying information, memorization, solving puzzles, thinking critically, Creativity: brainstorming, combining knowledge, imagination, Self-Direction: academic development, personal growth, work to achieve goals, Emotional Development: empathy, identifying emotions, perspective taking, Communication: conveying messages effectively, listening, multiple forms of expression, Collaboration: cooperation, meeting challenges together, teamwork, : embracing differences, following codes of conduct, honoring the community, Tech Skills: evaluating media messages, using and applying technology, : balanced diet, hygiene and self care, fitness, mental health
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: History, Holidays, Science and Nature
- Pricing structure: Paid ($14.95/month or $119/year for family plan.$29.95/month or $295/year for homeschool plan)
- Last updated: April 19, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
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.
BrainPOP Jr.
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