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3 shows you can binge with your kids (that you’ll all enjoy) 

Emily Pidgeon
By

Bingeing a show (or shows) isn’t anything new these days for adults. However, parents with younger children may not be able to, or have much interest in, bingeing on shows they can’t watch with little ones running around the house. Families often enjoy watching television together, but usually not without some sort of remote battle or long discussion on what will be watched.

TV shows geared toward kids can sometimes be a bit dull and mundane. After a few episodes of similar storylines and reoccurring childhood dramas, a parent’s eyes tend to get a little glazed over and roll back in their heads. If you sometimes dread the thought of suffering through one more episode of your child’s favorite cartoon, now’s the perfect time to pick a new show to start enjoying together! Why not check out some of the best kid shows and best shows for adults on streaming platforms today?

Family watching TV together on the couch
Africa Studio/Shutterstock

The Imagineering Story

Disney+ launched a little over a year ago and has been bringing us quality family-focused television and movies ever since. It comes as no surprise that this platform has tons of shows, documentaries, specials, and movies that we enjoy over and over. However, there is one show/documentary that really gives an eye-opening and in-depth scope on how Disneyland and Disney World were created and built, without seeming dull or boring. The Imagineering Story takes viewers behind the scenes of the development of Disney, all the way back to the very beginning.

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Suitable for all ages, this show opens the wide world of Walt Disney’s vision for his creations, while also giving narration and interview to never-before-told stories and insights. Together, the whole family can learn and experience some not-so-well-known facts about their favorite rides and attractions at the happiest place on Earth.

Note: If your kiddos are a little older (TV-14) and are ready to handle a bit more action and drama, we’d also like to recommend Disney/Lucasfilm’s The Mandalorian for any avid Star Wars fans out there!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Parents who came of age in the late ’90s or early 2000s may remember the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events, written by Lemony Snicket. The series — which would be followed by a major motion picture starring Jim Carrey, Billy Connolly, Jude Law, and Meryl Streep — follows the perils and adventures of the Baudelaire children as they weave their way through life after losing both of their parents in a tragic accident. Like the movie, Netflix’s storyline follows the children as they investigate their parents’ deaths while dealing with a horrid guardian who is set to steal their inheritance. Starring TV icon Neil Patrick Harris, the show ran for three seasons, making it a very “weekend binge-worthy” show.

A few other options for parents could be:

  • Fuller House
  • The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance 
  • Earth at Night 
  • Raising Dion 

Making It

Hulu, the unsung hero of the streaming world to some, doesn’t disappoint when it comes to family-friendly content. It is full of past and current airing shows that are safe for families to sit down and watch together without fear of harsh language or inappropriate storylines. On the show Making It, comedy powerhouses Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman host a group of contestants who must create wood, paper, fabric, and other craft projects by way of sewing, building, gluing and hammering. The competition is fierce as home-based crafters go head-to-head on projects to see who will be crowned the winner. The grand prize each contestant is fighting for is $100,000, making it an interesting and high-stakes competition.

Some other child-friendly shows worth mentioning include:

  • Full House
  • I Love Lucy 
  • The Andy Griffith Show 
  • Bob’s Burgers 

From the dark reaches of the galaxy to a comedic reality competition where contestants must out-craft the other, our list has a wide variety styles sure to fit any family’s television tastes. Spending time together as a family unit, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company is a very important part of development. Not only do you get to experience joy and laughter as you watch these shows together on the couch, but you also build and strengthen bonds, have conversations, enjoy snacks, and maybe even plan more family time around a common interest. So what are you waiting for? Grab your remote, a bag of your favorite popcorn, and your kids, and hit the couch this weekend while watching your new favorite show, smiling and laughing all the way.

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Emily Pidgeon
Emily Pidgeon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Emily's work has appeared in the Tube City Almanac, Tube City Online and our Affinity Sites. When she's not writing, she is…
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For the puzzle-solving geniuses
Puzzle Huddle
Puzzle Huddle is a relatively new company that Matthew Goins started in 2018 in response to the lack of diversity in the puzzle space. Having small children, he and his wife wanted to even the playing field. In just a few short years, Puzzle Huddle went from creating a variety of puzzles in various sizes to adding products like pillows. throw blankets, T-shirts, coloring books, and canvases.
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Movies and shows to binge with your teen for Black History Month
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Funny show/movie to watch
Abbott Elementary
If you have ever been a teacher, a sub, a parent volunteer in a classroom, or you have kids, you need to watch Abbott Elementary. At the heart is a story about a predominately Black school in Philadelphia and the lengths teachers and principals have to go to get supplies and funding for their students in a low-income, minority public school system.
A Black Lady Sketch Show
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Hidden Figures
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A Ballerina's Tale
If you have teens that love dance, the story of the first Black principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre will inspire them. A Ballerina's Tale follows Misty Copeland's rise to break the 78-year record of all-white principal dancers, and the Black ballerinas that paved the way for Misty. Even if your teenager doesn't love dance, the story is a great pick-me-up and lesson on not giving in or letting others put you in a specific box.
Serious movie to watch
A Time to Kill
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13th
13th is for teens who appreciate documentaries. It explores the rate of incarceration of Black people over other races, the rise of incarceration versus the decline of overall crime, legalized segregation, and many other important topics that need to be discussed in the U.S. these days. It was directed and written by Ava DuVernay, who also directed Selma.
Political show/movie to watch
Selma
If your teen is near or is of voting age, you need to introduce Selma to them. The story follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his journey to Selma, Alabama, in a march to fight for the right for Black voters to cast their ballots anywhere, even in a segregated system. Though director Ava DuVernay did her research for historical accuracy, this would be another great movie to compare to the textbooks.
When They See Us
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