“Ada Twist, Scientist… she’s gonna find out what the answer is.” 

If you and your kids are fans of Ada Twist, Scientist, you’ve probably played this line (along with a little jingle) over and over in your head. But that little almost-rhyme isn’t just an earworm — it’s actually inspiring your children because it encourages them to explore answers to the many questions in life. 

Mom Twist (voiced by Susan Kelechi Watson) reinforces to Ada (voiced by Amanda Christine) that her tiny, curious scientist daughter never sits and stews when faced with a problem or question. Instead, Ada always finds a way to uncover a solution — and it’s helpful for our tiny viewers’ parents to do the same. Why? Well, Ada Twist is an interactive experience. And since we don’t have a real-life problem solver to answer our kids’ questions (just us, exhausted and singing a jingle to ourselves), we’ve curated some ways to navigate common struggles that kids might encounter.

Bored? Science Is the Best for That!

If she were to encounter idle time, Ada would question why she feels bored — yes, the exact science behind boredom. According to neuroscientist Alicia Walf in a recent Forbes article, it’s actually OK for kids to lean into boredom because it fosters creative ideas. Ada would make a “bored board” that details all of the new ideas that come from simply sitting still in the present moment. If you have the crafts, this might just be your bored kids’ solution.

Overwhelmed? Science Is the Best for That! 

On the flip side of boredom, adults and children alike can become overwhelmed by the number of things they have to do. Ada typically uses collaboration (via her equally curious friends Rosie and Iggy) to solve the problems of the day. Each responsibility is divided into tasks for each person, and they all solve the problem together. And while they work, Ada would definitely throw in some neuroscience knowledge — like how the prefrontal cortex is activated during conscious thinking. Pro tip: Give your kids (and maybe their friends) a task they can all do together.

Hungry? Science Is the Best for That!

Parents of picky eaters, Ada is here for you. She could make even the most predictable lunch into a whole science experiment. Did you know that there is a science behind making the perfect sandwich? Next time your kids are fussing about their food, read them some fun facts about what they are eating.

Frustrated? Science Is the Best for That!

Ada sometimes encounters roadblocks in her discovery process, but one thing she doesn’t do is give up (can’t say this is a universal kid quality, though). According to child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Mary Margaret Gleason, childhood frustration is similar to a pot of boiling water. Mom and Dad Twist would give Ada a visual simulation of the boiling pot to help their daughter accept, understand and process her feelings. Then, Ada would sing a song about these feelings, which would quickly make her feel better. While we don’t necessarily advise handing kids a pot of water, it’s definitely good to find creative visual tactics to help children identify and label feelings.

Overall, Ada may not be able to solve everything — and that’s OK — but she’ll definitely inspire your children to open their imaginations wider. Season 2 of Ada Twist, Scientist is available to stream on Netflix on Jan. 25, 2022.