Kid Nation

Did anyone catch the premier of Kid Nation last night on CBS? I was curious, since I’d read a lot about the show, so I watched. Before last night, I was seriously questioning the judgment of the show’s creators. Not to mention the parents of the kids featured on the show. But I loved it.

Now, I’m a reality TV nut (please don’t judge me), but my husband is not. And even he was totally absorbed. The premise seems sensationalist, controversial and downright bonkers. Send 40 kids away for 40 days to self-govern themselves while living in a dusty old ghost town in the middle of nowhere. The media has had a field day, charging CBS with child endangerment and exploitation, but CBS isn’t so reckless (though maybe they could have given them a stove that didn’t require them to play with matches??). They chose their cast very carefully, and the show itself is both fascinating and charming. And those kids are having the time of their lives.

Most amazing is watching them navigate relationships, resolve conflicts, solve problems and support each other. They are kind, they are eloquent, they are honest, and they serve as a reminder of what good social behavior is supposed to look like. I’m still not sure what kind of parents would sign up for something like this, but whoever they are, they should be proud of their kids.

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