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Trade-Offs

FamilyKids
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1978
1 Season
15 Episodes
EN
Ended
TV-Y7

About

Trade-offs was an AIT program designed to improve economics instruction in the United States and Canadian schools. The series of fifteen lessons, for children from 9-13, helped students think their way through economic problems and increased their understanding of economics. On a broader scale, it helped them become more effective decision makers and ultimately more responsible citizens. Each lesson consists of a 20-minute color television/film program plus teacher's guide material to facilitate classroom follow-up. Each program begins with a short segment that identifies key points that students and teachers should watch for. This is followed by the dramatization of a fundamental economic problem relevant to the daily life of the student. Special visuals emphasize the economic principles and reasoning processes involved. The last portion of the program introduces, but does not resolve, another problem, and ends by posing a question to the viewers.

#instructional#children

Cast

Episodes

Season 1

See all 15episodes →
Choice
E1

Choice

Sep 5, 1978

Kids at a local tennis club face a series of everyday decisions that reveal the meaning of opportunity cost. Whether choosing between a ball game and an amusement park, food or rides, or how to use limited film and money, each character learns that picking one option always means giving up another. The episode uses simple, relatable moments to show how time, tickets, and resources shape the choices we make.

Malcolm Decides
E2

Malcolm Decides

Sep 12, 1978

Malcolm is thrilled to win “Paper Carrier of the Month,” but his $15 gift certificate quickly leads to a tough decision. With several appealing options and only one chance to choose, he works through five steps of decision‑making—defining the problem, listing alternatives, setting criteria, evaluating options, and making a final choice. The episode shows how careful thinking helps Malcolm pick what’s truly right for him.

We Decide
E3

We Decide

Sep 19, 1978

When a school discovers it doesn’t have enough bike‑rack spaces for all the students who ride to class, one group must figure out a fair way to assign the limited spots. As they debate alternatives—first‑come‑first‑served, taking turns, a lottery, longest use, or giving priority to those who live farthest away—they learn how to list options, set criteria, and evaluate trade‑offs. The episode shows how a class uses the five‑step decision‑making model to reach a solution everyone can vote on.

Give and Take
E4

Give and Take

Sep 26, 1978

Two brothers discover that not every decision has to be all‑or‑nothing as they negotiate how to use a limited supply of lumber for both a treehouse and their go‑kart track. At the same time, their father faces his own compromise between helping his sons and watching a big game. The episode expands the idea of trade‑offs, showing how people can give up some of one thing to gain some of another, whether in family decisions or in a town council debate over police protection, road repairs, and clinic funding.

Less and More
E5

Less and More

Oct 3, 1978

When a family‑run restaurant faces rising costs and long work hours, the owner’s son steps in with new ideas to boost productivity. By introducing changes like a salad bar, delivery rules, and more efficient cooking methods, he shows how using fewer inputs can produce the same—or even greater—output. But increased productivity also brings trade‑offs, as some workers benefit while others lose hours or even their jobs. The episode explores who gains, who loses, and how efficiency reshapes a small business.

Working Together
E6

Working Together

Oct 10, 1978

When three friends team up to wash their fathers’ taxis, they discover that dividing the work into specialized tasks dramatically boosts their speed and earnings. But as their small operation grows—and even expands into a service‑station assembly line—they learn that specialization brings new challenges, from unfair workloads to breakdowns when one person or tool is missing. The episode explores how working together can increase productivity, and why every system has trade‑offs.

Does It Pay
E7

Does It Pay

Oct 17, 1978

Bobby dreams of buying his first car, but his slow lawn‑mowing business forces him to confront a tough choice: keep saving or invest in a power mower to boost productivity. As he weighs risks, costs, and opportunity loss—“with the hand mower Bobby and Oscar could do four lawns a week… with a power mower they could do ten”—he learns how capital goods can speed up earnings but require real sacrifice. The episode explores the economic trade‑offs behind investing, borrowing, and giving up something now to gain more later.

Learning and Earning
E8

Learning and Earning

Oct 24, 1978

Judy and Andrea weigh the costs and benefits of taking an eight‑week training course that could qualify them for higher‑paying summer jobs as junior playground supervisors. As they invest time, money, and effort, both girls confront the uncertainty of whether their sacrifice will pay off. When the results arrive, their choices lead to very different outcomes, highlighting the real‑world trade‑offs involved in pursuing new skills.

Where does Trade-Offs rank today?

Trade-Offs is #10000 on the Bowood.TV Daily Streaming Charts today.

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Watch Trade-Offs Online Free — All Episodes in HD

If you've been searching for Trade-Offs all episodes in HD, Bowood.TV has you covered. This talked-about English family and kids title from 1978 is available to stream instantly — no ads to fight through, no paid subscriptions, no annoying redirects.

About Trade-Offs

Trade-offs was an AIT program designed to improve economics instruction in the United States and Canadian schools. The series of fifteen lessons, for children from 9-13, helped students think their way through economic problems and increased their understanding of economics. On a broader scale, it helped them become more effective decision makers and ultimately more responsible citizens. Each lesson consists of a 20-minute color television/film program plus teacher's guide material to facilitate classroom follow-up. Each program begins with a short segment that identifies key points that students and teachers should watch for. This is followed by the dramatization of a fundamental economic problem relevant to the daily life of the student. Special visuals emphasize the economic principles and reasoning processes involved. The last portion of the program introduces, but does not resolve, another problem, and ends by posing a question to the viewers. Across 1 season and 15 episodes, originally airing on PBS.

Trade-Offs Cast and Characters

The cast features Cindy Girling (as Cindy), Bert Adkins (as Bert), Stephen Brown (as Malcolm), Gordon Robertson (as Gordon), and Ardon Bess. Their performances are a major reason Trade-Offs has built such a passionate audience.

Where to Watch Trade-Offs Online

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Why People Are Watching Trade-Offs

Trade-Offs flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.

Frequently Asked Questions about Trade-Offs

Where can I watch Trade-Offs online for free?

You can watch Trade-Offs online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.

How many episodes does Trade-Offs have?

Trade-Offs has 15 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.

Is Trade-Offs good? What's the rating?

Trade-Offs holds a 0.0/10 rating based on 0 reviews — a niche pick worth checking out.

Who is in the cast of Trade-Offs?

The main cast includes Cindy Girling, Bert Adkins, Stephen Brown, and Gordon Robertson, plus a strong supporting ensemble.

Is Trade-Offs available in English?

Yes — Trade-Offs was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.

When was Trade-Offs released?

Trade-Offs first aired in 1978.

Do I need an account to watch Trade-Offs on Bowood.TV?

No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch Trade-Offs without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.

Similar Series You Might Like

If you enjoyed Trade-Offs, check out Thinkabout, Bugsbot Ignition, The Kids from Room 402, Agent Ali, and The Kids from 47A.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch Trade-Offs for free?

You can watch Trade-Offs online for free on Bowood.TV. All 15 episodes across 1 season are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.

How many seasons and episodes does Trade-Offs have?

Trade-Offs currently has 1 season and a total of 15 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.

What is Trade-Offs about?

Trade-offs was an AIT program designed to improve economics instruction in the United States and Canadian schools. The series of fifteen lessons, for children from 9-13, helped students think their way through economic problems and increased their understanding of economics. On a broader scale, it helped them become… It belongs to the Family, Kids genres.

In which language is Trade-Offs originally available?

Trade-Offs was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.

When was Trade-Offs first released?

Trade-Offs first premiered on September 5, 1978 (1978). The series has since concluded its run.

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