A new television series, Child Genius, premiered on Lifetime, on January 6th. In this new reality show there is an eight week competition between twenty-four Mensa, the high IQ society, certified children to win $100,000. The children include a 10-year-old college student and a 12-year-old National Spelling Bee finalist. This show not only presents the competition, but also the road it takes each week to prepare for the difficult questions. One child, Ryan, struggles each week dealing with his mother who constantly pressures him to work harder. Child genius can relate to any student dealing with the pressures of school or parents. Although this show is relatable, like many “reality” shows, some situations seem forced. An example would be when Vanya, a competitor, helps her friend with chemistry homework at school and her friend suddenly understands it. This scene just comes across as fake, especially because it appears to be during summer vacation! Although some scenes do not seem genuine, overall the children are compelling and before you know it you are rooting for your favorite competitor to win the competition. It’s almost like TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras, without the makeup. To catch up on the show go to www.mylifetime.com/shows/child-genius or jump in and watch it Tuesday at nine.