As a childcare coach and mother to a three-year-old, I’ve watched my fair share of children’s television. Recently, my daughter and I stumbled across Apple TV+’s latest new series, Jane, and it quickly became one of her favorite shows.
The show follows Jane Garcia, a nine-year-old budding environmentalist on a quest to save endangered animals. Using her powerful imagination, Jane takes her best friends, David and Greybeard, the chimpanzee, on epic adventures to help protect wild animals all around the world. The series is based on the ideals of the amazing conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, can they be saved.” The show is rated G, making it perfect for the whole family.
Each episode is centered around a specific animal and follows Jane and her friends as they work together to save it. The title of each episode is the animal’s scientific name, keeping kids guessing which endangered animal will be featured in each show. Not only that, but the show also teaches children about the animal’s habitat, diet, and unique characteristics. Then dives into a multitude of ways to show kids AND adults how they can help save these animals daily. While animals may be the main feature of the show, the episodes also tackle various life problems and how we, as humans, deal with them. They do this with various guest stars who have similar traits and life problems as the animal the kids are tracking to help.
The first season of Jane is ten episodes long and covers animals like whales, sharks, tigers, honey bees, and polar bears. Each animal is presented in a unique way, making it exciting for both kids and adults. For example, the episode featuring sharks is presented as an underwater adventure, while the episode featuring honey bees takes place in a garden.
One of the most fantastic things about the show is that at the end of each episode, Jane and David talk to a female scientist who works closely with the specific animal of the episode. In these FaceTime video segments, viewers learn that many scientists advocate for women in science. It’s inspiring to see women of different backgrounds doing science and encouraging another generation of women to follow in their footsteps.
Not only does Jane teach children about the importance of animal conservation, but it also helps to foster a love of science. The idea that you are never too old to imagine is an excellent reminder to all ages. The show tackles the idea of imagination head-on, encouraging children to use their creativity and imagination to make a difference in the world. It promotes the idea that every individual, no matter how small, can make a big difference in the world.
As a parent, I highly recommend Jane. Not only is it an excellent show for kids, but it is also enjoyable for adults. I learned a lot of interesting facts about each animal featured in the show, and it was great to see diverse families represented. My daughter could not get enough of this series and continues to ask to re-watch episodes. If you’ve got an animal-obsessed little one, don’t miss out on Jane on Apple TV+.
