Kids Go to Court

Aimed at children aged 4-12, Kids Go to Court breaks down the mystery of court proceedings into easily understandable—albeit corny—vignettes. Featuring an adult presenter and two kid hosts, the program uses a basketball game analogy (with opposing teams), onscreen text, and archival footage (including some Three Stooges clips) to present a mock trial involving a car accident in order to illustrate aspects of court trials and appearances. Kids will learn possible reasons for a child to be in court (as a witness, part of divorce proceedings, a victim of abuse, etc.), relevant vocabulary (explanations of trial procedures and various people in the court, such as the judge, bailiff, lawyers, and jury), and helpful hints (ask questions if you don't understand, etc.). Although there are a few jokes that fall flat (including a running bathroom gag with an “incontinent juror”), overall this is a very good introduction to the topic that is sure to help ease the minds of the target age group, while also suggesting that in many cases courts can actually make things better in children's lives. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)