12 Binge-worthy TV Series for the Entire Family
Some of the best TV series are the ones that can bring the generations together — without making everyone squirm. Thanks to streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Instant Video, you can now watch your favorite shows from childhood with your own kids, or catch-up on the newer shows you haven't had time to watch together — with the fast-forward option. Here's our list of 12 binge-worthy family TV series you can stream any time and any place.
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- CreatorButch HartmanBob BoyleStarsTara StrongSusanne BlakesleeDaran NorrisAfter being tortured and humiliated by his babysitter, a ten year old boy is put under the care of two fairy godparents, who can grant him almost any wish, which leads to dire consequences.Suggested audience: 6+. Full of zaniness and humor, "The Fairly OddParents" entertains the kids while including plenty of nods to mom and dad's favorite childhood cartoons. The characters might get injured a lot (much like Wile E. Coyote), but they recover quickly, and the bad guy is a babysitter named Vicki — not the odd parents in the title.
- CreatorMaurissa TancharoenJed WhedonJoss WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett DaltonThe missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.Suggested audience: 13+. A pick for the Kids, Teen, and People's Choice Awards, Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." stands out from the pack of comic book-driven series, thanks to its strong female characters and messages about teamwork and social responsibility. Created by the Whedon brothers (which includes ”Buffy and the Vampire Slayer”'s Joss), it's also a thrilling action series. That said, it's a cop show at heart, with the attendant guns, explosions. and beatings — so you may want to shield the younger kids in the house from "S.H.I.E.L.D."
- CreatorBlanche HanalisStarsMelissa GilbertMichael LandonKaren GrassleThe life and adventures of the Ingalls family in the nineteenth century American Midwest.Suggested audience: 6+. Relive your own childhood while showing your kids a world that's even older than grandma and grandpa's — that is, a world without any phones, video games, and 3D movies! This show is sure to make your kids appreciate the little things, like running water and pizza deliveries. The classic that brought together generations in the '70s and '80s can now be streamed on your iPad or via Roku.
- CreatorMichael Dante DiMartinoBryan KonietzkoStarsDee Bradley BakerZach Tyler EisenMae WhitmanIn a war-torn world of elemental powers, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to fulfill his destiny as the Avatar, and bring peace to the world.Suggested audience: 8+. The highest-rated kids series on IMDb (9.2/10), "Avatar: The Last Airbender" also racked up dozens of prestigious awards and inspired a movie by M. Night Shyamalan. The series has all the action of a martial arts tale, but with added layers of history, spiritual themes, and characters who change for the better.
- CreatorDavid AnaxagorasStarsSloane Morgan SiegelAshley BoettcherDrew JusticeLife is anything but normal for Gortimer and his two best friends, Ranger and Mel, as they navigate Normal Street - an ordinary suburb that has a hint of something magical just beneath the surface.Suggested audience: 6+. A fresh, new series with a nostalgic feel, "Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street" is that rare show aimed at the whole family — including Grandma — with characters of all ages playing a part. Quirky and endearing, the show's three main characters set off on a series of adventures, where they learn the value of friendship and the importance of respecting your elders — and your youngers.
- CreatorSydney NewmanStarsJodie WhittakerPeter CapaldiPearl MackieThe further adventures in time and space of the alien adventurer known as the Doctor and his companions from planet Earth.Suggested audience: 10+. The most popular family-friendly TV series on IMDb's starMETER is also one of the most streamed. The long-running British series has been captivating fans across the age spectrum with its time- and space-traveling protagonist. But parents will appreciate its lessons along the way: honesty and integrity always win the day.
- CreatorJason KatimsStarsPeter KrauseLauren GrahamDax ShepardThe lives and tragedies of the Braverman family tree.Suggested audience: 15+. It's rare to find a modern show that encompasses three generations at once, but "Parenthood" succeeds in telling the stories of a big extended family, including those of the grandparents. Produced by Ron Howard, who directed the 1989 film, "Parenthood" the series tackles tough stuff head-on: infidelity, drug abuse, abortion, a boy's battle with Asperger's syndrome, and a mom's battle with cancer. There's also levity and humor, but the show is best watched with your teens, so you can talk about some of the issues that come up.
- CreatorDrew HodgesStarsChristopher DownsAlex TrugmanBrooke WolloffTumble Leaf is a series aimed at preschoolers, set in a whimsical land where a small blue fox plays and discovers adventure and friendship around every bend in the path. Children will be enriched by understanding the world around them.Suggested audience: Preschool. The rich, vibrant characters will capture the attention of your little ones in this streaming series, which dominated the animation categories at the 2015 Daytime Emmy awards. The kids will want to keep watching as the animals make new discoveries, while parents will be happy with the introduction of science concepts and messages about the importance of friendship and problem-solving through play.
- CreatorMichael JacobsApril KellyStarsBen SavageRider StrongWilliam DanielsAn adolescent with two siblings tests his various theories about life as he endures the trials of growing up alongside a good friend.Suggested audience: 7+. Nostalgia is just one of the draws bringing families back to this 90s sitcom, which has been surging in traffic on IMDb. With humor on par with current series like ”Community,” the coming-of-age storylines will take you back to a time before the internet, when kids got their wisdom from their elders — and were that much the better for it.
- CreatorAmy Sherman-PalladinoStarsLauren GrahamAlexis BledelKeiko AgenaA dramedy centering around the relationship between a thirtysomething single mother and her teen daughter living in Stars Hollow, Connecticut.Suggested audience: 14+. One of those rare shows that parents will want to watch with their teens, "Gilmore Girls" addresses all the usual mother-daughter issues that tend to come up in the teen years, but without too much squirm factor. Rory and Lorelei can also help kids empathize with their moms — and vice versa.
- CreatorAngela C. SantomeroStarsAddison HolleyScott McCordHope CassandraBianca is just like any girl - well, kind of. She has one teeny ability, "wish magic" - the power to make wishes come true.Suggested audience: Preschool. The latest from the award-winning creators of ”Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” and ”Blue’s Clues,” "Wishenpoof!" is a 3D animated series that revolves around a young girl named Bianca who tries to fulfill her friends’ wishes with magic — and her own resourcefulness. "Wishenpoof!" will spark your kids imaginations while teaching them life skills (it's based on the "Seven Essential Life Skills" framework), all while giving parents flashbacks to ”Beverly Hills, 90210” (Jason Priestley is the voice of Bianca's dad).
- CreatorJeff FranklinStarsBob SagetJohn StamosDave CoulierA widowed sportscaster raises his three daughters with assistance from his rock and roll brother-in-law and madcap best friend.Suggested audience: 7+. Nearly three decades after it first aired, "Full House" is experiencing a revival — thanks to a planned reboot and it's availability on streaming platforms. Currently percolating near the top of IMDb's STARmeter for family shows, the alternative family depicted in the series offers plenty of amusing stories and humor for all ages. Worth noting: Some parents might feel the preteen girls are growing up too quickly, especially with their concerns about things like weight gain. But consider those teachable moments.