Good TV Shows to Watch with Tweens and Teens

At 13 years of age, Sunshine is that funny age where she’s a little too old for some of the good TV shows she watched when she was in primary school, and in my opinion, a little too young for some of the TV shows for teens. So I have hunted down Good TV shows to watch with tweens. 

Sourcing shows that I’m happy for Sunshine to watch both with me and independently is important. I like to do my research, and often watch an episode or two myself, before adding a show to her list to watch.

To help you find a show or two to watch with your tween or young teen, I have created a list with a few notes to help you choose what suits your family. I have added the rating classification so you can identify if the show is suitable for you – some are rated M, so please review before you hit streaming. 

Can you recommend a show I haven’t listed that you think we should watch? Please let me know in the comments. 

Good TV Shows to Watch with Tweens and Young Teens

Netflix TV Series to watch with Tweens

Netflix has so many different shows and movies it can be hard to work out what is suitable for your kids, tweens and teens, and what you should avoid. I’ve pulled together 11 shows to kickstart your Netflix viewing with your tween. 

Anne with an E

Loosely based on A.M Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables book series, Anne with an E begins in 1896 and tels the story of Anne Shirley, an orphan who is adopted by siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. 

I was worried that this series would not stand up against the nostalgia I had for the original 80s series, however, it is absolutely delightful, perhaps even deeper, with this reimagining exploring a range of social issues such as conformity, gender inequality, racism, religion, homosexuality, bullying and freedom of speech, as well as delving into the effects of childhood trauma.

Sunshine and I have watched all 3 seasons together and were upset when we learned that the series had not been renewed for series 4. 

Seasons: 3
Rating: M
Watch out for: delves into a range of social issues that may need unpacking with your kids. 

Free Rein

I blame Free Rein for Sunshine’s horse obsession a couple of years ago which led to riding lessons and dreams of owning her own horse!  The series itself focuses on American teen Zoe, who arrives on the UK island for the summer and falls in love with a horse called ​​Raven. The series focus on friendships, a few mysteries, and horseriding. 

Seasons: 3
Rating: PG
Watch out for: The series started to explore romantic relationships in a little more depth in the later seasons. There are numerous ‘mean girl’ moments with rivals often competing for superficial things. 

Alexa & Katie

Sunshine discovered Alexa & Katie herself and became obsessed with this show. The series focuses on Alexa & Katie, two best friends, who are navigating life whilst one is also battling cancer. It’s fun – a good mix of drama and comedy. 

Seasons: 4
Rating: PG
Watch out for: It can be a little snarky, and it is an obvious studio sitcom. The series does explore childhood cancer and its impact but in a gentle way. 

Gilmore Girls

Set in the fictional town of Stars Hollow,  Connecticut, Gilmore Girls follows the story of single mum Lorelai and her teen daughter Rory. It’s such a quirky show, and that I love watching with Sunshine. I saved this one until she was in high school as some episodes deal with some more mature topics like drinking and romantic relationships.

Seasons: 7
Rating: PG
Watch out for: The show can explore mature themes. It often contains some low-level inappropriate language. 

The Baby-Sitters Club

When I was a tween, I was an avid reader of The Baby-Sitters Club book series. I loved the characters (I always wanted to have Claudia’s fashion sense, but thought of myself as more of a Kristy) and saved up my pocket money to buy the next release for my collection.

Watching The Baby-Sitters Club with Sunshine floods me with nostalgia. So far, I have been able to link most episodes to different books in the series too, and have been quite thrilled to see the contemporary spin on some of the themes (an example is Janine’s relationship in series 2 – in the books, I can’t remember Ashley at all). 

Seasons: 2
Rating: PG
Watch out for:  nostalgia! If you have read the books yourself, you’ll be hooked. The themes in the Baby-Sitters Club are age-appropriate. 

Julie and the Phantoms

Twenty-five years after four members of the band Sunset Curve ate dodgy hotdogs before their performance at the Orpheum in Los Angeles, Julia Molina is struggling to create music, consumed by the grief of losing her mum. Things change dramatically when she and Sunset Curve join forces – it’s a supernatural type of thing. 

Seasons: 1
Rating: PG
Watch out for: the series is quite quirky and fun. It does explore grief, sexuality and faith, but I do feel it is done in an age appropriate manner. 

Izzy’s Koala World

Set on Queensland’s Magnetic Island, Izzy’s Koala World focuses on real-life, 11-year-old koala rescuer Izzy’s daily life as she goes about rehabilitating injured koalas with her veterinarian mum. 

Seasons: 2
Rating: G
Watch out for: You’ll fall in love with koalas and Magnetic Island! 

The Worst Witch

As an avid reader, The Worst Witch books were a favourite of mine before Harry Potter and I do think they have some similarities. Watching the TV show (inspired by the books), I am certain your tween will pick up on it too. 

The Worst Witch TV Series is about a group of girls who attend a magical boarding school. The story starts when Maud Spellbody accidentally crashes her broom into Mildred Hubble’s flat on her way to the entrance exams at Cackle Academy. Mildred learns that witches and magic really exist and then discovers that she has some magical abilities of her own. 

Seasons: 4
Rating: PG
Watch out for: whilst the sense of being part of a team is the central theme of the show, at times the girls can be overtly competitive. Watch out for the broom crashes. 

Derry Girls

Northern Irish TV series Derry Girls has become a family favourite, it is so hilarious. I’ve added this to the list even though I know it has an M rating. 

The series is all about a group of Catholic School girls (and one English boy) and their daily adventures. It’s oh so funny, but a little naughty too which adds to the fun. 

Seasons: 2
Rating: M
Watch out for: The show is a little raunchy. Set in the 1990s during the period of ​​The Troubles, the Derry Girls does touch on guerilla warfare, bombings, and the military. There are numerous sexual references, and some smoking and drinking, along with some ‘fancy scones’ being eaten. Oh, and there’s lots of swearing. 

The Healing Powers of Dude

When Noah, an 11-year-old boy with a social anxiety disorder, starts middle school, he finds strength in a lovable emotional support dog named Dude.

Seasons: 1
Rating: PG
Watch out for: provides a great opportunity to talk about social anxiety and inclusion. Towards the end of the series, the focus shifted to exploring romantic relationships. 

ABC iView Shows for Tweens

My primary school years were spent mostly in Darwin, NT, before we moved to country Victoria. The ABC (or Channel 2) was one of two stations that we were able to watch, and it would be no surprise to hear that I grew up watching the ABC TV Shows: You can’t do that on Television, Astro Boy, The Mysterious Cities of Gold, Captain Planet, Degrassi Junior High, Press Gang, The Campbells…  I was very loyal to the station.

ABC continues to screen stellar TV series perfect for kids, tweens and teens. I had to pull together some of our favourites for you to find on iView and watch with your children. 

Malory Towers

The Mallory Towers television series is based on Enid Blyton’s books of the same name. In post-World War II England, Darrell Rivers is sent to Malory Towers, a boarding school in Cornwall, England. There, Darrell learns about kindness, honesty and empathy as she navigates her formative years with the help of her schoolmates and best friends.

The television series has been adapted for today’s contemporary viewers with an ethnically, socially and visually diverse cast, largely girls and women. It is a great show! We love it. 

Seasons: 2
Rating: G
Watch out for: whilst set in the 1940s, the TV series has been modernised, exploring with an many themes relevant to today’s audience.

All Creatures Great and Small

I must admit to watching reruns of the original series with my Dad when I was a kid, which led to a book or two by James Herriot ( the pen name of Yorkshire veterinarian Alf Wight), so I was delighted to discover that the show had been rebooted.

Our whole family watched All Creatures Great and Small together over a couple of weeks. We loved the whole cast, each of us having different favourites including brothers Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, Mrs Hall, and of course James Herriot and Helen Alderson.

The series follows James’ adventures as a new vet alongside Siegfried at his veterinary practise at Skeldale House. Filmed mostly in the Yorkshire Dales, the scenery is stunning and each episode is fun. We love this show! 

Seasons: 2
Rating: PG
Watch out for: There are some interesting animal vet scenes. 

The Larkins

Adapted from the H. E. Bates novel The Darling Buds of May (The show that made Catherine Zeta-Jones a star), The Larkins is a British comedy-drama television series set in the rural 1950s that revolves around golden-hearted wheeler-dealer Pop Larkin, his wife Ma and their six children bask in their idyllic patch of paradise in Kent.

Seasons: 1 (Season 2 in production)
Rating: Some episodes are PG, others are M

The Durrells

Loosley based on Gerald Durrell’s three autobiographical books about his family’s four years on the Greek island of Corfu, The Durrells is a British comedy that follows the family’s sudden move from Bournemouth to the Greek island of Corfu and their ensuing struggle. Hardship aside, did we mention that it is a comedy?

Seasons: 4
Rating: PG

Dance Academy 

You know a television series focused on ballet must be good when your 12-year-old son asks to download the latest series during your European trip so he can watch it! Dance Academy is a series our whole family has enjoyed. 

Tara Webster, an aspiring dancer, gets accepted into the National Dance Academy. However, she realises that there are others who are better than her and has to face many obstacles to prove her worth.

Seasons: 3
Rating: G
Watch out for: some deep themes like eating disorders and sexuality 

Teenage Boss

Hosted by Australia’s star mathematics teacher, Eddie Woo, follow 15 teenagers from across Australia, as they take charge of the family budget.

Seasons: 2
Rating: G

The InBESTigators

This is an Australian mockumentary children’s television series following observant Maudie, grade five kids Ezra, Ava and Kyle solve one neighbourhood mystery after another from Ezra’s backyard.

Seasons: 1
Rating: G

Thalu

With their country under threat from a huge dust cloud and the mysterious Takers that lurk within, a small group of kids have to make their way to the Thalu, a place of great power.

Seasons: 1
Rating: G

Bushwhacked!

Bushwhacked! is a high-energy, adrenaline-fuelled race around Australia in search of weird, wacky and endangered species!

Seasons: 3
Rating: G

Mustangs FC

A group of outcasts start their own all-girls football team. As well as trying to match up against the boys, they all must juggle their lives and develop into young women while learning what it means to be a true friend.

Seasons: 3
Rating: G

Disney+ TV Shows to Watch with Tweens

Ms Marvel

Kamala is a superhero fan with an imagination, particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel; Kamala feels like she doesn’t fit in at school and sometimes even at home, that is until she gets superpowers like the heroes she’s looked up to.

Seasons: 1
Rating: PG

Mysterious Benedict Society

Adapted from the book series by Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society is about four gifted orphans who are recruited by an eccentric benefactor to go on a secret mission; placed undercover at a boarding school known as The Institute, they must foil a nefarious plot with global ramifications.

Seasons: 1
Rating: PG
Watch out for: some dark overtones 

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Obi-Wan Kenobi explores the earlier life of the great Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his relationship with Luke and Leia when they were children. The series takes place between Star Wars Episodes III and IV, after Obi-Wan has defeated Anakin and placed Luke and Leia with their adoptive families.

Seasons: 1
Rating: M
Watch out for: Whilst the series is geared towards the younger viewer, it still features a lot of violence. 

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers

We are family fans of the movie franchise so we were excited about watching this series, but the kids lost interest halfway through the season. After failing to make the cut to join the now powerhouse Mighty Ducks junior hockey team, 12-year-old Evan’s mother encourages him to form a new team of underdogs with help from Gordon Bombay, the Ducks’ original coach.

Seasons: 1
Rating: G
Watch out for: low-level inappropriate language. Fairly predictable storyline

Liv and Maddie

Liv and Maddie are identical twins who are anything but identical when it comes to their personalities. It’s a simple sitcom with a simple storyline. This is one the kids can watch by themselves. 

Seasons: 4 
Rating: G
Watch out for: Nothing really. 

Apple TV Series to watch with Tweens

Schmigadoon!

Schmigadoon! Is a parody of 1940s musicals. Backpacking couple Melissa and Josh get trapped in Schmigadoon, a magical town filled with singing and dancing townspeople. It’s quite a surreal show with lots of colour and fun. 

Seasons: 1
Rating: PG
Watch out for: whilst there’s no actual violence, there is a lot of sexual innuendo.

Ted Lasso

We started watching this TV series as a whole family as we heard that it focuses on soccer, however it is much more than that and quickly became a family favourite. 

American football coach Ted Lasso is hired by a wealthy divorcée to coach the English soccer team AFC Richmond; what he lacks in knowledge, he makes up for in optimism, determination and biscuits.

Seasons: 2
Rating: M
Watch out for: Roy Kent – he swears a lot! 

Stan TV Shows to watch with Tweens

Raised by Refugees

This New Zealand TV comedy series is set in 2001 and follows the sometimes harsh and often confusing experiences of a Pakistani-Iranian boy growing up in Auckland. It is loosely based on comedian Pax Assadi early life. 

Seasons: 1
Rating: PG
Watch out for: Kiwi humour! 

Veronica Mars

I am a huge fan of Veronica Mars and was super excited to introduce the series to Sunshine. It has a strong female lead, played by Frozen’s Kristen Bell, and is a strong detective-style series that might be a little old for some tweens – you’ll need to decide on this one.

After her best friend is murdered and her father is removed as county sheriff, Veronica Mars dedicates her life to cracking the toughest mysteries in the affluent town of Neptune.

Seasons: 3
Rating: M
Watch out for: strong language, sexual innuendo and some low-level violence and crime scenes. 

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