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17+ Netflix series for tweens and teens you can binge-watch together

17+ Netflix series for tweens and teens you can binge-watch together

Netflix series for tweens and teens that are interesting enough for adults are actually quite hard to find. Of course, you’ll have your own idea of what kind of show is suitable for your child. It might be quite different to mine. So bear that in mind as you read through my selections.

I know, I know, we’re probably all getting enough screen time without binge-watching Netflix with the kids. But hear me out – a shared show is very bonding. Think of all the points of reference we have with our peers because we all watched the same shows growing up. You can have that kind of experience as a family, too.

What makes a Netflix series okay?

The kinds of Netflix series for tweens and early teens that I think are okay include shows that have kissing, flirting and a little bit of swearing. Once they’re a bit older, I’m okay with sexual references, bad language and complex emotional issues being raised (this is one of the reasons why it’s great to watch a show together: so much to discuss!).

I’m never okay with any kind of OTT violence, racism, sexism or nastiness, not even when it is “an integral part of the story”. I don’t like shows like that and I won’t show them to my kids. Oh, fair enough, Game of Thrones is an exception. But that one is definitely not for the kids!

Limiting the binge in binge-watching

Have a meander through these suggestions and see if one suits your fam. Once selected, it’s best to keep the “binge” out of “binge watching” – try to limit yourselves to a couple of episodes a week at most. That way you limit TV watching, plus you have plenty of time to talk about each show and anticipate the next instalment. I’m confident that at least one of these Netflix series for tweens and teens will spark your interest and lots of good conversations!

Don’t miss this list too: 12 terrific under-the-radar TV shows for tweens

 

Netflix series for tweens and teens you'll want to binge-watch too

Check these out too: 16 really good podcasts for tweens

Netflix series for tweens + teens

Little Lunch

We love this homegrown mockumentary on the high drama of the year 6 playground. It was filmed using actors at a real school – St Kilda Primary – while the genuine school kids played in the background. Bearing in mind that the actors are all old enough to be out of uni by now, this show feels completely fresh no matter the year. In fact, it could have been filmed in the early eighties when I was in year 6 myself! If you missed it on the ABC, you can catch it on Netflix

You vs Wild

I heard Bear Grylls (who I’d never watched before) on the High Performance Podcast and I was instantly a fan. You could do much worse than have this guy as your kids’ role model. Just a stellar human being doing kick-ass things he has no business doing in the jungle. You vs Wild flips that into an interactive experience show where your kid will feel like they’re making the decisions for Bear while he leaps around avoiding snakes. Excellent.

Odd Squad

This clever show almost had me liking maths, so that’s gotta be a good thing. The Odd Squad use maths to solve mysteries and puzzles around town. It’s basically a superhero show for nerdy types, but we all want to be nerds so we can be part of it. One warning: your kids may well get a lesson in sarcasm along with mathematics. These kids are sassy and mouthy as. This is probably a Netflix series for tweens, rather than teens.

Suits: 5-12+ years
Look out for: Sassy kids might do your head in
Inspires: Love of learning; positive attitude

Mortified

Another good Netflix series for tweens. This one is a cute, slightly dated, Aussie show about 11-year-old Taylor and her embarrassing family.  They’re basically a bunch of free-spirits, which is, of course, mortifying to a tween girl. The show touches on some important themes about materialism, friendship and just being yourself. There’s also a really lovely friendship between Taylor (Marny Kennedy) and her BFF, Hector (Nicholas Dunn). Hector is in love with Taylor, but she’s clueless and likes a cool kid called Leon (Luke Erceg) instead. The tweenies will love this one and you’ll find it watchable too. FYI, Marny Kennedy is now 24 years old…

Suits: 7-12+ years
Look out for: Nothing much, it’s a solid G rating
Inspires: Self acceptance

The Letter for the King

In this big budget production, three kingdoms of Eviellan, Unauwen and Dagonaut are at war. Our underdog hero Tiuri has been raised by his powerful stepfather Sir Tiuri the Valiant to become a knight, even though Tiuri is small and hopeless with a sword. One night at knight training, Tiuri helps an old man pleading for help, and is given an important letter to give to the King. This sets Tiuri and his friends on a quest across the warring kingdoms. Part medieval adventure, part teen sitcom, the cliches in this series are many, but most tweens won’t know that and most parents won’t mind.

Suits: 10+ years
Look out for: Violence – medieval times were not gentle
Inspires: Justice

Good stuff here for tweens too: 100+ engaging, non-cringe things for teens to do at home

Full House

This US show is as dated as you’d expect, given that the Olsen twins were infants when they first debuted. They are now 31 years old. The show ran from 1987-1995 and was rebooted in 2016 as Fuller House. It’s a timeless, cheesy formula for fun, and it still brings the laughs, especially for tweens. Widower Danny is raising his three daughters with the help of his brothers Jesse (John Stamos – still hot to this day) and Joey (Dave Coulier). The men are excellent male role models with emotional depth and the family work through problems together. Confession time: My girls have watched every one of the 192 episodes more than once… so, and excellent Netflix series for tween girls!

Suits: 7-13+ years
Look out for: it’s slightly sexist, though it tries hard not to be. There are dated notions of ‘girl power’ that fall really flat, especially as they seem rooted in the girls growing up too quickly.
Inspires: Sibling and family love

Anne with an E

Netflix series for tweens and teens you'll want to binge-watch too

I was determined not to like this remake, but it got me in the end. In a darker retelling of everyone’s favourite redhead story, AmyBeth McNulty shines as Anne Shirley. My girls were instant fans of the feisty girl who has to overcome some serious childhood trauma, and ongoing prejudice about her orphan status and poverty. Note that Anne’s dark childhood is emphasised in this series more than you would expect from reading the books – a warning for sensitive young viewers, as is the sadness that pervades the second half of the series. Feedback from parent reviews suggest that some are also upset over the sexual innuendo appearing in episodes 3 and 4, but it honestly barely registered for me and was never mentioned by my kids. We were too busy focusing on Anne’s endless optimism and admirable courage.

Suits: 9-13+ years
Look out for: sexy references, though they are not the focus of the story
Inspires: Perseverance; fortitude; courage; optimism

Dr Who

Most of us probably watched the original Dr Who series when we were kids. Gone are the dinky Darleks (remember yelling at the screen, “Go down the stairs!” when Dr Who was being chased by these fiends on rollerskates?), but this UK show has lost none of its quirky charm. It’s a classic good-versus-evil show with the good Doctor always calm and cool when faced with evil – as we probably all would be if we had regeneration up our sleeve. His weapons are charisma and wit, with the usual violence in this kind of show kept to an absolute minimum. That makes this is a good Netflix series for tweens and teens and their nostalgic parents.

Suits: 9+ years
Look out for: scary moments, but nothing the good Doctor can’t handle
Inspires: Loyalty; optimism; integrity

The Hollow

Netflix series for tweens and teens you'll want to binge-watch tooAn animated mystery-suspense featuring teens trapped in a strange, dark world, trying to find their way out by working out how they got there in the first place. It’s weird and edgy and suspenseful, with some really scary moments, so it’s a good one for kids who think they want to watch Stranger Things (see below) but are just a bit too young. There’s a great mix of characters and the girl roles are equal and meaningful. Lots of action, suspense, drama and mystery.

Suits: 11+ years
Look out for: Scary moments; villains; monsters
Inspires: Teamwork; friendship

Mr Young

Adam is a genius who graduates college at the age of 14 and mysteriously decides to be a teacher. Only in Canada, right? So, Adam ends up teaching a class of kids his own age and struggles with wanting to be their friends while keeping some authority. Adults will need to suspend reality in order to enjoy this one, but kids will love the premise. Despite being formulaic, the script is really sharp and puts Adam into countless awkward situations for our amusement. The show is also packed full of real-life lessons on everything from science to history to geography, so that’s a bonus.

Suits: 10-13+ years
Look out for: the slightly awkward nature of Adam crushing on one of his students. Sure, he’s only 14, but it’s still icky watching a teacher pursue a student.
Inspires: Sibling and family love

Check out some podcasts too: 24 awesome podcasts for teens

Alexa and Kate

A US dramedy that manages to find tasteful light-hearted laughs in the midst of a cancer story. It’s highly watchable for adults, but this is definitely a Netflix series for tweens. It’s aimed squarely at the preteen/early teen set. Teen Alexa has been diagnosed with cancer and her bestie Katie is by her side throughout. The show brings a fresh perspective to the usual teen themes of appearance, acceptance and finding love. There’s a bit of talk about crushes and some mildly worrying pranks played on adults, but it’s harmless good fun with some serious messages.

Suits: 10-13+ years
Look out for: mild language (‘fart’ and the like)
Inspires: Big talks about death and illness

A Series of Unfortunate Events

This US Netflix series for tweens and early teens is a little-bit spooky, but well-tolerated by most kids. Fans of the books will adore seeing Violet (Malina Weissman), Kraus (Louis Hynes), baby Sunny and even Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris – hardest working actor ever, right?) brought to life. It’s brilliantly shot and scripted with each episode ending on a cliff hanger… it might be hard to stick to your ‘just one’ rule. This macabre series balances creepiness with humour, but check in with your child regularly, especially if they are prone to anxiety.

Suits: 10+ years
Look out for: Scary bits, but that’s all
Inspires: Resilience; confidence; humour

Gilmore Girls

Netflix series for tweens and teens you'll want to binge-watch too

Most of us are familiar with this sweet noughties show, featuring young single mum, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and her college-age daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) who live in the quaint town of Stars Hollow. When my girls wanted to watch Gilmore Girls (Arabella was 11, Lottie 9), I turned to my trusty GG fanatic, Pip Lincolne. Pip said, “I think it’s TOTALLY suitable and pretty wholesome! There is ONE episode you might want to watch first and think about age-appropriateness and it’s . But apart from that ep, it’s actually very dorky and sweet and raises some excellent mum/dad and kid discussion points!” If Pip says it’s okay, that’s a green light for me. The girls adore this show and have watched every episode more than once (even the ‘Rory has sex’ scene in episode 22, season 4).

Suits: 11+ years
Look out for: Some adult concepts regarding relationships; some homophobia (“gay” is often used in a derogatory way); that one sex scene waaaay into the series
Inspires: Family love; positivity; quirkiness; creativity; honest relationships

Dance Academy

Just quietly, I think some of the cast in this Aussie drama might have been chosen for their dance skills, rather than acting prowess… but if you can get passed the dicey theatrics, you’ll find much to like. There’s a load of great characters, all on their own ‘journey’ as they compete at an elite dance school, overcoming personal hurdles for their chance to shine. It’s a progressive co-ed set up, so cue lots of crushes, dating, and boyf-girlf / boyf-boyf angst. It’s actually really nice to see Aussie teens in action – I’m quite over all the shopping and materialism that seems to be part of American teen shows. Our kids will appreciate seeing teens who are ‘more like me’, even if they are hanging out in their undies a lot.

Suits: 11+ years
Look out for: body image depictions, though reasonably well-handled, are as prominent as you’d expect from a show about dancers.
Inspires: Ambition; tolerance; doing your best; self-belief

The Healing Powers of Dude

Season one of this show, aimed squarely at under 12s, as a huge hit. When 11-year-old Noah bravely goes from being homeschooled by his dad to starting at middle school, he gets a high-energy emotional support dog named Dude to help him cope. Scruffy Dude (voiced by comedian Steve Zahn) is sharp and hilarious (yes, he talks, but only for us – nothing like, say, Look Who’s Talking Now!). These two make a charming, watchable pair and the series depicts Noah’s social anxiety in a responsible, relatable way. This series is loads of fun, so let’s hope Netflix commissions season 2!

Suits: 9+ years
Look out for: it’s all good fun.
Inspires: empathy, acceptance of mental illness, friendship

Greenhouse Academy

This US show will hook you from the first couple of episodes, when siblings Hayley (Ariel Mortman) and Alex (Finn Roberts) are enrolled at an elite boarding school following the mysterious death of their mother which plunges their father into depression. The two are put into separate rival boarding houses and immediately have their loyalties tested. The show has all the usual high school dramedy moments – smart kids, bad kids, mean kids, sporty kids – but mixes it up with a little suspenseful intrigue when the twins delve into their astronaut mother’s death. It makes the show an interesting meshing of wholesome cheeriness mixed with darker, quirkier elements. The darker moments mean this isn’t really a Netflix series for tweens – I’d stick with high-schoolers only. Each show ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so this will be a tough one to turn off at the end of each episode.

Suits: 12+ years
Look out for: it’s a little dark at times plus a bit sweary; adult characters are two-dimensional
Inspires: Teamwork and leadership

The Good Place

Original, funny, well-scripted and unpredictable, there’s a lot to like about this comedy. Lying, cheating Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) finds herself in the “good place” after she dies, but she’s not actually supposed to be there. Her attempts to prove her worthiness to stay to her “soulmate”, ethics professor Chidi (William Jackson Harper) are hilarious but admirable. The show has an interesting take on what “good” and “bad” is and will incite many discussions with the junior burgers about being a good person. The concepts are quite sophisticated, making this less a Netflix series for tweens, more teens. Ted Danson is adorable as outrageously camp “heavenly coordinator” Michael.

Suits: 12+ years
Look out for: moralising, though it’s not extreme; black and white depictions of “goodness”
Inspires: tolerance; good behaviour (we hope); discussion about life after death and dying

Older kids

Moving away from Netflix series for tweens and firmly into those for teens. You may feel differently about that, but I’d encourage you to watch quite a few episodes before making the call.

Stranger Things

One for sci-fi fans (which I am) who don’t mind a lot of suspense and a bit of horror (which I am hopeless at).  I confess that as much as I love the script of this show, I haven’t actually been able to watch the whole first series yet… What with a large, guttural creature flitting just out of vision, I can only view it in daylight hours and daylight TV-watching time is minimal around here. That said, I reckon most normal types would love this series and with younger kids (aged about 10-12) the stars of the show, it’s appealing to tweens too. The horror has got just enough of the cheese factor to keep kids relatively courageous (more so than me, I suspect).  It’s dark, but not “torment” dark, more squirmy-I-can’t-watch kind of dark, but definitely not one for anxious kids or their mothers.

Suits: 12+ years
Look out for: suspense; mild horror; heavy kissing; some violence; mild language
Inspires: keeping the lights on!; talk about 
conspiracies

Riverdale

Netflix series for tweens and teens you'll want to binge-watch too

I was a big fan of this US show for the first series, but it quickly jumped the shark and that was that. Teens continue to watch in droves and that’s not a bad thing. It’s an interesting blend of cutesy and dark and it explores true-to-life teen themes like slut shaming, bullying, gang culture and sex. Most of the themes are well-resolved, although consequences are sadly lacking.

Strong female characters keep Riverdale well balanced, especially when depicting female friendships. Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) embody feminist principles and a solid, believable friendship that is prized over boyfriends and flirting. Both girls are smart, sassy and strong leaders in their communities. A warning that the teens in this show are sophisticated and glamorous and adult characters and authority are secondary bit parts.

Suits: 13+ years
Look out for: dark themes; scary night scenes; stereotypical characters (it’s based on a cartoon, after all)
Inspires: Friendship; standing up for what you believe in

How I Met Your Mother

This show is about young adults, rather than teens, it’s still a fun one for the family. The script is spot on, genuinely funny and full of quirkiness. The basic premise is Ted (Bob Saget) talking to his teenage kids, looking back to when he was a fresh-faced architecture graduate and new to New York, looking for love (which, we presume given he has kids, he eventually finds). 

Friends Barney (Neil Patrick Harris), Marshall (Jason Segel), Lily (Alyson Hannigan) and on-off-on girlfriend Robin are along for the ride. There’s a lot of talk about sex and Barney is basically a sexist womanizer, but visuals are rare and the sharp jokes will mostly go over younger kids’ heads. The other four main characters pull Barney into line every time and their comments and boundaries provide a good moral backbone for the show. Oh, on top of that, the characters are all basically alcoholics and much of the action takes place in a bar, so… watch a few episodes yourself before you unleash the kids.

Suits: 14+ years
Look out for: sexism; casual sex; drinking; swearing; all the good stuff
Inspires: Friendships; loyalty; positivity; self-confidence

13 Reasons Why

Tread carefully as this show has been issued with warnings from everyone from psychologists to schools to trauma units. Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) commits suicide and leaves a series of tapes addressed to fellow classmates and acquaintances to explain her motivations why. This ‘casting blame’ is one of the (many) reasons so many experts are worried about this series – sensitive teens may feel anxious and fretful about their real-life encounters after viewing some episodes. Some scenes are needlessly graphic (suicide, rape scenes, bullying, homophobia), but overall I think it’s a fair depiction of what life is like for many teens. Definitely worth a watch with your older teens, especially if you encourage open discussion about the issues raised in the show. I’d rather watch it together than risk them watching it without me.

Suits: 16+ years
Look out for: graphic depictions of suicide, rape, assault; alcohol and drug abuse; sexism and macho culture; homophobia; racism
Inspires: Discussion about all of the above

Other shows tweens and teens love (but you probably won’t):

The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia – though 15-year-old brilliant scientist Ashley is a pretty cool character, this show misses the huge opportunity to be anything but a trite teen sitcom.

Family Reunion – way too wholesome and cute to be watchable by anyone over 12.

Life with Boys – so formulaic it’s practically algebra.

Project MC² – the ‘smartest girls in the school’ are simply annoying cliches who happen to be good at STEM.

Richie Rich – so cheesy, so generic, so shiny…

Nailed It! – Nicole Beyers just isn’t my cup of tea. Lots of shrieking, lots of mocking, lots of whhhhhy… but teens will probably think this show is hilarious.

That 70’s Show – so many stereotypes and rather dull after the first few episodes.

Pretty Little Liars – one for highschoolers that’s so OTT glam and shallow that I couldn’t get through the first three episodes. I really can’t handle shows that depict teens mocking adults. Loads of adult concepts plus rampant bullying, all mis-managed here.

Did I miss your fave? Got any recommendations?

Liz

Monday 28th of June 2021

I really don't understand why its trendy to encourage teens to watch shows full of graphic sex, violence, witchcraft (eg Riverdale) and suicide (Thirteen Reasons Why which has been condemned by numerous experts in teen psychology). And yes I am a mother of a teen who is doing very well thankyou very much but constantly comparing herself to the cool kids who have no boundaries it seems. But then again I don't have Neflix.

*****

Saturday 25th of July 2020

I am a tweenie and i have already seen almost all of these shows! I would also recommend friends for girls my age (10-12) and also Jane the virgin which is slightly inapropriate, but it depends on what your parents think.

Jennifer

Friday 3rd of April 2020

I agree with most of theses shows but I have already watched them sadly. I would really recommend GreenHouse Academy!!

Bron Maxabella

Monday 20th of April 2020

Thanks for the recommendation! My tweenie also loves Project MC2, Letter for the King and The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia.

Rashaad

Friday 3rd of April 2020

These are some great shows. I included a few of these on one of my posts, and have some others that you may enjoy. My favourite show would definitely be Friends. Thanks for sharing!

Jennifer

Monday 30th of March 2020

Couldn't help wondering if you persisted with Stranger Things. The later series got more scary but I have watched it all with my 12 year old son. Had to wait till my 8 year old was asleep though. Just wanted to mention Raising Dion. I really enjoyed watching this with both boys. It was a bit scary at times but not too much, even for the younger one.

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