5 Reasons to Watch The Baby-Sitters Club with your Kids

Based on the beloved book series by Ann M. Martin, the new Netflix original brings our favorite 90’s girls into the social media era. Premiering July 3rd, here are 5 reasons you NEED to watch The Baby-Sitters Club with your kids.

I can’t even remember how many Baby-Sitters Club books I read as a kid. The books were an introduction to chapter books and fueled my love for reading.

And the new Netflix original, The Baby-Sitters Club, brought back all of the feels. It reminded me why I loved the books. And unlike its cringy counterparts from the past, I couldn’t stop watching. I watched the entire 10 episode series in one day… I watched again with my 14-year-old daughter and husband! And I might be watching it for the third time as I’m writing this.

Y’all it’s that good.

Characters that are relatable to kids

From Kristy and Claudia to Stacy and Maryanne to Dawn – each girl brings her own uniqueness and spark to Stoneybrook.

Kristy (Sophie Grace) is bossy with control issues but her struggles to accept her mom’s boyfriend and his kids show her vulnerability.

Claudia (Momona Tamada), the resident artist, feels the pressures of her parent’s high expectations when it comes to school. And has an incredibly close relationship with her grandma who adores her.

Trying to get her overly strict dad to let her grow up, Maryanne (Malia Baker), is shy and unsure about herself.

Sophisticated and little boy crazy, Stacey (Shay Rudolph) has more life experience than some of the girls having just moved from the city, New York City, that is but has a secret that she is keeping from her friends.

Dawn (Xochitl Gomez) brings new life to the BSC (Baby-Sitters Club) when she moves to Stoneybrook from California with her mom who is a recent divorcee.

Encourages young entrepreneurs

The entire premise of The Baby-Sitters Club series is based on Kristy’s business proposition that came about when Kristy’s mom (Alicia Silverstone) struggles to find a baby-sitter one night.

And throughout the show, the BSC has to learn how to overcome obstacles most entrepreneurs face including competition.

Young viewers are shown that as long as you have a well thought out plan and the perseverance to push through, age shouldn’t hold you back from entrepreneurship.

Highlights various family dynamics

From Claudia’s multi-generational and Stacey’s two-parent family to Kristy’s newly blended family and Maryanne’s single dad and Dawn’s divorced parents – this Netflix series shows us that not all families fit into a perfect square box. And that is ok. That is normal.

Addresses common issues that middle-schoolers face today

As a mom of three, one of which is currently a middle schooler and one starting high school, middle school is tough.

In just 10 episodes, The Baby-Sitters Club tackles so many of the firsts that tweens and teens experience. First kisses, first periods, disagreements with your besties and struggling to find your place.

Opens the line of communication for current social issues

Absolutely one of my favorite aspects of the new series is how it showcases social issues that are all around our kids today.

I don’t want to spoil any part of the show, so I’m not going to go into detail but trust that Netflix gently addresses each one with care and offers the perfect opportunity for parents to have an open and honest conversation with their kids.

And know this is a show about acceptance. Acceptance of who you are, who others are and that it’s ok to be whoever that may be.

Is The Baby-Sitters Club kid-friendly

This isn’t 100% our Baby-Sitters Club. They address tough topics that you may not be comfortable with, so I do suggest that parents watch The Baby-Sitters Club first for children under the age of 11.

This will help you decide if you are ok with your children watching it and so you are prepared for the questions that might come up.

My overall review

Y’all I’ve watched three times already! So obviously, I loved each and every episode. I enjoyed the conversations it sparked with our teen as she’s navigating her sexuality and learning who she is.

Netflix bridged that generational gap by keeping the charm of the stories we grew up with and updating them with topics relevant to our kids.

I’d love to know your thoughts come July 3rd! So, please come back and share them in the comments below.

About Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club

Netflix’s new series THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB is based on the best-selling book series, that follows the friendship and adventures of Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace), Mary-Anne Spier (Malia Baker), Claudia Kishi (Momona Tamada), Stacey McGill (Shay Rudolph), and Dawn Schafer (Xochitl Gomez) as the middle-schoolers start their babysitting business  in the town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. Rounding out the cast, Alicia Silverstone plays Elizabeth Thomas-Brewer, the selfless single-mother of Kristy Thomas and love interest of all around good guy Watson Brewer, played by Mark Feuerstein. Ann M. Martin, the beloved series author and producer on the new series, was the first to conceive the idea of these inspiring young girls with different backgrounds, personalities and opinions that were brought together by a business venture they conceived and bonded through the friendships they forged. The adaptation of the contemporary dramedy that continues to champion friendship, female empowerment and entrepreneurship was led by Rachel Shukert (Glow) as showrunner and Lucia Aniello (Broad City) as executive producer and director.