Once our kids find a show they love, they often want to watch it over and over again, which can drive us parents crazy. But it helps if their favorite show is also tolerable for adults to watch. Fortunately, a lot of children’s television these days is designed to be well-written and nicely animated enough to hold a child’s attention while keeping their parents entertained as well. It also helps that a lot of our own childhood favorites have since been rebooted for the next generation. Nostalgia television always hits.
For anyone looking to get their children to watch something new and a little more interesting, check out this list of 17 kids’ shows adults will love as well. After all, TV time should be enjoyable for the whole family.
'The Magic School Bus Rides Again'
The original ’90s version of The Magic School Bus is also on Netflix, but the streaming service’s modern reboot is also worth checking out. It stars Kate McKinnon as the voice of Miss Fiona Felicity Frizzle — the OG Ms. Frizzle’s sister. It’s as wacky and educational as the original, with just the right amount of nostalgia for any parents watching.
Streaming on Netflix
'DuckTales'
DuckTales is another ’80s and ’90s show that got rebooted recently. The 2017 version still follows Scrooge McDuck raising his adventurous grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie but with an updated theme song by American Idol star Felicia Barton. It has a perfect dose of nostalgia and new stories for today’s generation to enjoy with their parents.
Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu
'Gabby's Dollhouse'
Gabby’s Dollhouse follows a young girl who can shrink down to play with her toys in her dollhouse. C-creator Traci Paige Johnson told The Wrap that the show was designed to appeal to a preschool audience but also be tolerable for adults.
“We’re parents as well, and certainly kids at heart. A goal [co-creator Jennifer Twomey] and I are always trying to create in our shows is certainly to have heart, but also to be quirky and clever … different visually, content-wise — as well as musically.”
The end result is a series that both kids and parents can enjoy.
Streaming on Netflix
'Beat Bugs'
Any parents who love The Beatles’ music will probably also love Beat Bugs. The musical animated series follows a group of insects and is based on the extensive catalogue of Beatles songs. It’s a cute show with a soundtrack we’ll actually want to play over and over again the car.
Streaming on Netflix
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'Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous'
For dino-obsessed kids, this show is a child-friendly version of Jurassic Park. It takes place in the same universe as the blockbuster movies, but it’s a little less scary while also still having a dynamic animation and intriguing stories. Parents will be just as invested in the plot as their children.
Streaming on Netflix
'Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood'
This animated series is a Fred Rogers production that was actually inspired by Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It retains a lot of the kindness of the original show and will give parents a dose of nostalgia. The series follows a 4-year-old tiger named Daniel who brings viewers into his neighborhood to get a glimpse of his world.
Streaming on Amazon Prime, PBS Kids, and YouTube TV
'The Octonauts'
The ocean is a fascinating place, and kids can learn more about it in The Octonauts. The animated show follows undersea explorers as it teaches viewers all about the sea and how to best protect it. Parents watching may even learn a thing or two themselves.
Streaming on Netflix
'Shaun the Sheep'
There are several versions of Shaun the Sheep such as the 2007 show that won a BAFTA Children’s Award in 2014 (streamable on Amazon Prime) and the 2020 series Shaun the Sheep: Adventures from Mossy Bottom streaming on Netflix. There’s also two movies on Netflix: A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon and Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas.
Each show and movie uses stop-motion animation to follow the titular Shaun the sheep and the hijinks he gets into. Parents who liked Wallace and Gromit will enjoy watching, because it’s basically a spinoff.
Streaming on Amazon Prime and Netflix
'Craig of the Creek'
This show follows a young boy named Craig who goes on fantastical adventures down by the local creek. According to HerCampus, a lot of adult viewers also enjoy the show’s wholesomeness that evokes their own childhood of playing pretend outside. Plus, it’s a children’s show with realistic community representation, from its central Black characters to LGBTQ+ characters and characters with disabilities.
Streaming on Hulu, Max, and Cartoon Network
'Carmen Sandiego'
For those who grew up with the Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? game show, the Netflix series is a great bit of nostalgia. The series still aims to be educational while telling exciting adventure stories centered around notorious thief Carmen Sandiego. If her character sounds familiar, it’s because she’s voiced by Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez.
Streaming on Netflix
'Adventure Time'
This Cartoon Network show can sometimes feel like it’s better suited for older kids, but that’s also why it shares an adult audience. It’s about a 12-year-old named Finn who tackles evil in a magical land while accompanied by a cast of zany characters. The animation is very good and the plot goes deeper than many kids shows do as characters deal with complex emotions and concepts.
Streaming on Hulu and Max
'Gravity Falls'
This series has a fun mystery element to it that will intrigue viewers both young and old. It follows twins Dipper and Mabel as they spend a summer in Gravity Falls and stumble upon a secret journal that unlocks the town’s deeper mysteries. One Reddit user raved that it was like a “G rated version of Rick and Morty or a more clever Scooby-Doo.”
Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu
'What's New, Scooby-Doo?'
A lot of us grew up watching the 1970s version of Scooby-Doo, but the 2000s version is what a lot of kids know today. It’s worth giving a watch for the nostalgia alone but also because the revamped theme song by Simple Plan is sooo catchy.
Streaming on Max and Tubi
'The Legend of Korra'
Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender will enjoy this show because it’s a sequel to the original. The Legend of Korra takes place 70 years later and follows Aang’s Avatar successor Korra. In addition to exciting action sequences and compelling storylines, the show is also a positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community, as Korra was confirmed to be bisexual, per Business Insider.
Streaming on Netflix and Paramount+
'Doc McStuffins'
Doc McStuffins brings to life a popular childhood game of playing doctor to stuffed animals. The series encourages imagination and problem solving, and it’s also a great source of television representation. The main character is a Black girl who wants to be a doctor, so the series shows young women watching what they’re capable of.
Producer Chris Nee told The New York Times that she wanted to write a show that would have appealed to her as a young “relatively butch” gay woman who didn’t often see representation she could relate to.
“I always say that the answer you’re supposed to give when you’re asked ‘who are you writing for?’ isn’t kids,” she said. “I am really not writing for the kids, I am writing to my own experience as a kid.” So it’s no wonder that more than just kids can connect with this show.
Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu
'She-Ra and the Princesses of Power'
Another nostalgia-filled reboot is the updated version of the ’80s series She-Ra: Princess of Power. She-Ra goes from orphan to warrior thanks to a magical sword. We can never get enough shows with powerful female heroes at the forefront, and this series gives that boost of confidence to any young kid or adult watching.
Streaming on Netflix
'Bluey'
The Australian series about a family of dogs has quickly become a favorite amongst parents. It’s heartwarming, deals with big issues, and is relatable for both kids and adults. Plus, the episodes are usually around seven minutes long, so they’re perfect for a quick dose of wholesomeness.
Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu
