60 Best Kids' TV Shows and Family Series of All Time
Add these to your must-watch list now.
Screen time may get a bad rap, but savvy parents know it's not really the screens that matter — it's what kids are doing on them. When it's time to put on the TV, make the most of the downtime by making sure you're watching the best TV shows for kids out there — for both their sake and yours, since better shows will keep them engaged and entertained for longer, and will keep you saner, too. (No, you don't have to default to that sing-songy show with the round-headed family that's always in the Netflix top 10 if you don't want to!)
But, with the proliferation of streaming services, there's just so much out there for kids, and it's always available. (I often regale my daughter with horror stories about how, if the school bus didn't get me home in time to watch DuckTales that day, that was it — no DuckTales. She remains unmoved by my plight.) Keep this list of the best TV shows for kids handy, and next time they whine "I don't know what to watch!" from the other room, you'll have suggestions at the ready. And, if you're looking for more targeted recommendations, you can always check out the best Netflix shows for kids, best Netflix shows for tweens and teens, or the best kids' movies of all-time.
Sesame Street
The GOAT is still at it, teaching kids to be smarter, stronger and kinder on HBO Max. This past season — its 52nd! — had amazing guest stars, like Keke Palmer, Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves and Naomi Osaka. Ages 2+
Bluey
This series, aged for preschoolers, is about a lovable Blue Heeler puppy and her family. The episodes are gentle, but cover challenging situations that kids face, like cheering up a sick family member and saying goodbye to a friend. Ages 2+
RELATED: Bluey Is Fun to Watch, But It Makes Parents Feel Like Crap
Ada Twist, Scientist
Based on The Questioneers series of kids' books, Ada Twist, Scientist follows a girl who uses the scientific method to solve everyday problems. It'll have your kids forming hypotheses for their own problems, too. Ages 3+
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse
Not only is the drawing style on these Mickey Mouse episodes more playful than in traditional Disney shorts, the characters have a much more mischievous energy, too — almost more similar to Ren and Stimpy than Mickey Mouse shorts of old. Each series of episodes is themed around a season; after "Winter" and "Spring," "The Wonderful Summer of Mickey Mouse" debuts in July 2022. Ages 5+
Molly of Denali
In this series on PBS Kids, Molly Mabray helps run the Denali Trading Post with her family, and then goes on exciting dog-sledding, ice-fishing, volcano-watching adventures with her friends. Molly is an Alaskan native (Gwich’in/ Koyukon/Dena’ina Athabascan to be exact), and the series was made by Alaskan native screenwriters and producers, making it a first of its kind. Ages 4+
Gabby's Dollhouse
Gabby sits at the intersection of a bunch of different trends: IRL Gabby unboxes a surprise at the beginning of every episode, then gets transported to an (animated) dollhouse world where she has musical DIY adventures with all her cat friends. Ages 4+
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
A revival of The Proud Family from the early '00s, this show still details the lives of 14-year-old Penny Proud and her family. It's great for tweens who are making sense of their own families. Ages 10+
Kung Fu Panda: Dragon Knight
Two gifted martial-arts bears are definitely better than one. Starting July 14, kids can watch Po team up with an English bear known as "The Wandering Blade," voiced by Rita Ora, as they travel the world on a globe-trotting quest. Ages 7+
Alma's Way
This show is about a 6-year-old girl living in the Bronx, and all the goings-on in her neighborhood. It mostly focuses on decision-making, and the stopping, listening and considering that goes into making a decision. Ages 3+
High School Musical: The Series
In a meta twist inspired by the High School Musical franchise, this series returned East High School to follow a new group of teenage theater enthusiasts who, in the first season, put on a production of High School Musical. (Full circle.) A third season begins in July 2022, and takes the cast to summer camp to put on a performance of Frozen. Ages 10+
The Snoopy Show
Most families only check in with the Peanuts gang around the holidays, when their specials air on TV. But Snoopy's here year-round, airing seven-minute doses of Charlie Brown and his friends on Apple TV+. Ages 4+
Octonauts Above and Beyond
What even are the Octonauts if they're not undertaking undersea adventures? It turns out ... they're still pretty great. Now traveling on land and on water, the intrepid crew still works to save creatures great and small. Ages 3+
Teen Titans Go!
This take on superheroes is extremely silly, sometimes surreal and often downright bizarre, but it'll always keep you laughing. Keep an eye out for the episode "Superhero Feud," which is a crossover with the DC Super Hero Girls show. Ages 7+
Blue's Clues and You
In 2019, Blue's Clues returned, with a new host (Josh) but the same old Thinking Chair. The series has gotten an update, with new CG animation for Blue and Magenta, and other new touches (the Handy Dandy Notebook now has smartphone technology, for example). Ages 3+
The Owl House
Prepare for magic and adventure with this animated fantasy-comedy series. In it, a teenage girl named Luz stumbles upon a portal to a magical realm, where she befriends a witch and other magical creatures. Ages 8+
Spidey and His Amazing Friends
Kids may be too young for the MCU, but this show brings Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Ghost Spider and all the Marvel superheroes down to kid-size. They use friendship and teamwork to battle villains like Doc Ock and Rhino. Ages 4+
Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous
If Jurassic World: Dominion has them interested in everything dino, show them this companion series. It follows a group of kids who were marooned on Isla Nublar in the events leading up to the first Jurassic World movie, and the different seasons take place concurrently with the different movies in the Jurassic World franchise. Ages 9+
RELATED: How to Watch the 'Jurassic Park' and 'Jurassic World' Movies in Order
Peppa Pig
The pleasures of watching Peppa Pig are simples ones. Episodes find her doing things like celebrating holidays with friends, playing with her family and, of course, jumping in muddy puddles! Ages 2+
Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir
It's a love quadrangle with only two people: Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the secret identity of superhero Ladybug, is in love with Parisian teen Adrien Agreste, who's the secret identity of hero Cat Noir. Only Adrien Agreste/Cat Noir can't return Marinette's affections, because he's in love with Ladybug! With all that going on, it's hard to believe they have time to team up and fight Hawk Moth and his evil army of akumas. Ages 7+
Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show
Adults may know Jack McBrayer from comedies like 30 Rock, but to the resident's of Clover's Grove, he's known as the nicest neighbor in town. In this upbeat series, he tries to spread kindness and humor to everyone in town. Ages 2+
Watch Next
'Rock the Block' Fans React to Latest Episode
See Wilmer Valderrama's Emotional 'NCIS' Note
See Jenna Bush Hager's Adorable Family Milestone
A Guide on How to Vote for 'American Idol' in 2024
