Best TV Shows to Watch With Your Tweens and Teens

Shila said:  Some of the best tv shows for teens and tweens are those that spark curiosity and scientific discovery! Check out Mythbusters and Mythbusters Junior to hypothesize, test, and prove some of the world's most interesting factoids. Parents can learn a ton, too! The show gets illustrated with often quirky yet jaw-dropping experiments. This can be another element to making science fun for kids.

Kristy Pepping said:  American Ninja Warriors involves both amateur and some professional athletes who compete to win $100,000. The goal is to get through an obstacle course. If you fall off the course at any point, the contestants are out. The fastest completed time wins the competition.

Shila said:  Shark Tank is one of the best tv shows for teens and parents to watch together, especially while promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship, the art of public speaking with solid preparation, and perseverance. Contestants sell their brilliant business ideas to a panel of "professional sharks" with deep pockets who are either willing to invest big or pass.

Alexandra F. said:  If you’re not hooked by this sweet and quirky Amazon Original series after the first episode or two, keep watching - it’s worth it! It took us a few episodes to get into it but once we did it became a family favorite, and we parents truly looked forward to watching as much as our older kid and tween did. The characters were probably the best part of the show and I appreciated the positive yet realistic relationships it portrayed, particularly between the kids and their families - no need for parent antagonists here! The kids were regular kids going through regular life stuff, but with a unique fantastical spin that made the show truly fun to watch.

Watch on Amazon Prime

Alexandra F. said:  We binge-watched this Amazon Original show as a family a few summers ago when our kids were 8 and 10, and have continued to follow and re-watch it ever since. Three friends discover a magical cookbook and learn to cook yummy recipes using magic spices to help solve (but also create!) problems in their homes, school and community. Fun characters and a unique storyline made it enjoyable for all of us - and totally got my kids into cooking, too!

Watch on Amazon Prime

Alexandra F. said:  I don’t remember why we started watching this show together but it is now one of my teen's favorites. The eerie and thought-provoking classic is perfect for tweens, teens and parents to enjoy together, as older kids can begin to appreciate some of the social commentary (and get past the fact that it’s in black and white!), and everyone is sure to be intrigued - and probably spooked - by the well-told and suspenseful stories.

Shila said:  For over 40 seasons, Survivor has traveled far and wide to remote locations around the world filming a group of contestants tasked to "outwit, outplay, and outlast" the others. Excellent team-working skills are a must, as is a good social strategy. Each week, participants compete in a riveting set of physical and mental challenges, and ultimately vote-out one member of the tribe. The last person standing wins an enormous cash prize.

This is an appealing family show to watch together, though, tweens and teens should learn to adequately separate some plays of the game from real life.

Alexandra F. said:  This series starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell quickly became one of my favorite shows ever, and after sharing it with our older tween and teen it has become theirs, too. The main character finds herself in "the good place" after dying, but thinks she may be there by mistake. The story that unfolds is seriously hilarious and also offers some thoughtful reflections about what it means to live a good life. Just beware of the Mindy St Claire scenes (which are pretty rare, and can easily be skipped!), as they usually involve a lot of sex and drugs talk.

Kelly R. said:  Trivia fans will love this fast-paced quiz show, and shouting out the answers is a fun way for the family to enjoy a little friendly competition when you're not up for a game night. My 10-year-old is a big fan. Questions occasionally touch on some iffy content or language, so you can stick with the kid or teen tournaments if this is concerning to you.

Shila said:  Master Chef is a fierce and fast-paced cooking competition hosted by the highly acclaimed yet harshly critical, chef Gordon Ramsay. Each season showcases talented culinary skills and deliciously unique cuisines made from scratch. After a series of grueling eliminations based on performance in the kitchen, the final chef is awarded a life-changing grand prize. Master Chef Junior brings on a younger-aged group of contestants to compete in a similar format. Chef Ramsay shows a lighter side of his personality while mentoring these rising stars.

Both of these are some of the best tv shows for parents and tweens to watch together, especially if they love cooking and baking in the kitchen together, too.

Shila said:  World of Dance is a competition show where teens (ages 13-18) perform out-of-this-park dance routines in an effort to earn the title of the "best dancer in the world!" Watch young phenoms in a variety of genres from hip hop crew to ballroom to modern.

As tweens and teens begin to compete in their own school sports, watching other kids handle twice as much pressure can be incredibly engaging and inspiring to watch as a family. Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough, and Ne-Yo are an encouraging and thoughtful panel of judges.

Kelly R. said:  A delightfully dark, clever and funny Netflix original series based on the books - which my tween and I are also enjoying together! After the death of their parents, three orphans must protect themselves and their inheritance from their sinister uncle Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris).

Kelly R. said:  The Mandalorian on Disney+ tells a brand new Star Wars story that takes place after the events of Return of the Jedi. The series is about a bounty hunter who operates in the lawless outskirts of the galaxy, and encounters an adorable (and familiar-looking) baby alien. My whole family got into this one, and it is really fun to watch together!

Kristy Pepping said:  My kids really like helping out in the kitchen and especially baking. So if your kids also love making sugary treats and desserts, then "Sugar Rush Extra Sweet" may be a show you may all like to watch together. This is found on Netflix and is a baking competition to see who can create the best dessert before the time is up.

Kate Wille Murray said:  Gilmore Girls is a fun show about a mother and daughter and the quirky community, Stars Hollow. We watch as Lorelei and Rory grow and change as they gracefully and not so gracefully handle life. Great characters who show the true meaning of friendship, love, and honesty.

Shila said:  History Channel features a ton of awesome tv shows to watch with your tweens and teens. The shows tend to be more adventurous and outdoorsy. Check out Alone, an awesome reality-based survival show where individuals are tasked to live in the wilderness alone with only 10 items in possession. Contestants are completely isolated, even having to film themselves 24/7. You will be amazed at how each participant builds camp and manages to thrive for months off the grid.

Season after season, my husband and I love watching this show and we recently brought in our kids to preview it, too. They love it and now our whole family is hooked. It's somewhat slow-paced but super captivating!

Shila said:  Man vs. Wild stars Bear Grylls, an expert survivalist dropped off in a fully remote and unforgiving landscape to fend for himself and make-it-out alive. With decades of experience under his belt, Bear's approach to survival seems to rely heavily on his utter confidence and wild enthusiasm. Families and kids are certain to learn something new watching him trek out 100-degree deserts, dark caves, dense jungles, wild safari grasslands, frigid glacier passages, and more. Our family has binged on multiple episodes back-to-back in a day.

Kristy Pepping said:  My kids love this show! It even appeals to our youngest child. There is a panel of celebrity judges led by Simon Cowell. They watch the acts and can give contestants an x if they don't like their act. If acts get three strikes they are out. Acts include singing, acting, dance, magic, comedy and more. After the initial voting by judges, America gets to vote on their favorite acts. They are narrowed down until there is one winner who receives a million dollars.

Kelly R. said:  This show is enjoying cult status in my kids' middle school, and it's clever and funny enough that I'll sometimes sit down to watch, too. The story is about a brother and sister who spend the summer visiting their great uncle in Gravity Falls, an Oregon town where mysterious things happen.

Alexandra F. said:  This fantasy drama first came out in 2011, but my 12 and 14-year-old and I are only now watching it, and all really enjoying it. The Wicked Queen from Snow White cast a curse that brought a bunch of fairy tale and other fictional characters into a small town in Maine, causing them to forget who they are and live regular human lives. The action switches off between present day Maine and the fantasy lands where these characters come from, and it is super fun to see the same characters in both settings. I especially like to see the creative ways that all of their lives intertwine, from Pinocchio to Dr. Frankenstein.