Eight- to ten-year-olds are a hard demographic to find shows for. It’s the age when kids start to be aware when things are too babyish, and their tastes begin to veer into solidly tween territory — but they aren’t ready for more mature content yet.
So, what are the best TV shows for 8-10-year-olds? If you’re struggling to find streaming shows that are both safe and enjoyable for your middle grade kiddo, look no further.
El Deafo is an animated miniseries based on a graphic novel. It tells the true story of the author who became deaf as a child following an illness.
El Deafo features authentic disabled representation with positive messages about recognizing one’s own strengths that will resonate with any child. The show encourages empathy, acceptance, and expressing emotions.
The scene where Cece is hospitalized isn’t scary, but it is emotionally intense. If your child has suffered medical trauma, you may want to warn them ahead of time, watch that episode together, and make space to talk about it afterward.
In this wholesome and fun reboot, a group of tween friends must solve the mystery of a ghost haunting their neighborhood bookstore — one that’s bringing fictional characters to life in the real world.
Ghostwriter is a well-written show that encourages reading by including characters and storylines that bring to life classic and modern books. It features a diverse cast, positive messages, and good role models.
Ghostwriter has no content considerations that parents need to be aware of.
This show follows tween Gortimer Gibbons and his two best friends as they navigate life on Normal Street, a seemingly ordinary suburb with a hint of something magical just below the surface.
A good, live-action show with tweens is hard to come by, which is why Gortimer Gibbon’s is such a gem. The series features strong values, quality friendships, and nurturing family relationships. Themes of compassion and teamwork along with positive adult role models are intertwined with engaging storylines.
In an effort to stop cursing, one of the characters uses stand-ins for curse words such as “son of a blueberry.” It’s innocent and funny, but be prepared for some copycat action.
This musical comedy-drama follows Julie, a teenager. While coping with the recent death of her mom, Julie reignites her passion for music with the help of a teen boy rock band whose members have been dead for 25 years.
This show deals honestly with issues like grief, sexual identity, and the social pressures of high school while remaining wholesome enough for the older elementary set. Characters explore their feelings and overcome their struggles with the help of strong support systems. The cast isn’t very diverse, but gets some points for a mixed female lead.
The original songs the band plays on the show are available for download. If your child has a tendency to purchase songs without your permission, take a second to update their purchase settings. If they have an Apple device, here’s how to set purchase limits using iPhone parental controls.
This reality TV series follows teams of two as they build creations out of LEGO based on an assigned theme.
It’s a fun, engaging show that parents will enjoy just as much as their kids. It features diverse competitors, an upbeat tone, and a supportive atmosphere. Builds are breathtaking and can spark creativity for viewers.
The show is heavily branded, so you can use the opportunity to help your child learn about the ways companies advertise their products to kids. While there’s no cursing, there is the occasional curse-adjacent word like “hell” or “damn.”
Masterchef Junior is a family-friendly cooking competition where kids ages 8 to 13 are given ingredients and instructions and must cook dishes within a time limit.
The adult host and judges are respectful and supportive of the young chefs. Contestants display tenacity under pressure and perseverance through obstacles. The contestants are very skilled, and many want to work with food when they grow up, which might just inspire your own budding chef.
Occasional mild language such as “hell” comes up.
This action-filled animated series is set in the world of Star Trek. It follows a group of alien teens in the 24th century who find the abandoned starship Protostar and embark on a quest for adventure and freedom.
The animated aliens represent a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, and the show features positive themes such as fighting for what is right. Despite their differences, the main characters come together to work or the common good.
The show features forced servitude and captivity, as well as violence using various weapons. It’s fairly mild overall, though.
Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+
Each episode of this animated series follows a new group of tween girls curious about the world as they use science to solve a problem.
In a world where the STEM gap could still be considered a chasm, it’s refreshing to see a show that unabashedly strives to change how girls view traditionally male-dominated fields. SCIGIRLS is filled with positive messages and role models, and episodes show kids the scientific process through various disciplines.
SCIGIRLS has no content considerations that parents need to be aware of.
Tiny World is a visually stunning nature documentary series that spotlights the smallest members of the animal kingdom in their extraordinary quests to survive and thrive.
This is an outstanding show that the whole family can enjoy together. It educates kids about often unseen parts of nature and inspires in them a curiosity about the natural world.
Nature being nature, you will see a fair amount of animals in danger, such as animals being pursued by predators. However, no animals die, and nothing too graphic is shown. There are references to animals mating, so be prepared to answer questions, but no visuals are shown.
In this the sequel to the 2007 Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, Justin Russo, a former wizard who has traded in magic for a normal life, finds himself pulled back in when Billie, a powerful young wizard, shows up at his door in need of help.
We love that Billie is a strong, young, Black female lead. While her rebellious streak and troublemaker tendencies mean she’s not exactly perfect, this also makes her realistic and relatable. Justin is a positive adult role model, and Billie is open to learning and shows personal growth, so the show’s message is ultimately positive. We also appreciate that Justin defies masculine stereotypes as a dad who manages the family’s calendar, sews, and cooks.
The Wizards encounter some monsters (although they lean more silly than scary) and find themselves in occasional danger. There are some mild insults like “dumb” and the occasional stand-ins for curse words like “freaking,” but overall, the language is clean. There are a few innuendos like “get a room,” but these will go over many kids’ heads.
As with any new media your child consumes, we recommend checking out the show ahead of time — or watching it with them. It’s also a good idea to stay informed about what your child watches and searches online. With BrightCanary, you’ll be able to see if their YouTube searches send them down a rabbit hole of concerning content, or if their friends are sending them content they’re not quite yet ready to see. Download BrightCanary on the App Store and start your free trial today.
