Kids TV Handpicked by Our Editors

SciGirls
Age 7+
5

SciGirls

Why We Recommend It

This show introduces viewers to real tween girls using their science prowess to explore (or change) the world.

Read our full review
Is my child ready for Nick Jr. and the Disney Channel?

Early elementary school is all about getting along with others. Kids' TV has role models that are positive and some with iffy social behavior. As kids move past “kid” shows on Nick to Nick Jr. and the Disney Channel, beloved characters change. Kids watch and learn from the way that new favorite characters behave.

A good place to start: Invest in a TiVo or DVR so you can watch and record shows that model the kind of social behavior that's right for your family.

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New TV Reviews for Kids (ages 5-8)

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Minute to Win It (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this game show focuses on individual competition, simple games with everyday objects, and good, clean fun. In other words, it’s tailor-made for families and manages to entertain viewers of all ages. The host encourages viewers to ... read more

Age 8+
Minute to Win It
4
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Pink Panther and Pals (Cartoon Network)
Parents Need to Know...

that this updated version of the 1960s classic cartoon The Pink Panther is a fun choice for kids. The show has its fair share of cartoon-style violence (explosions, crashes, knocks to the head, for instance), but the tone is light and ... read more

Age 5+
Pink Panther and Pals
4
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Life (Discovery Channel)
Parents Need to Know...

that this stunning high-def series narrated by Oprah Winfrey is an excellent educational choice for families. The breathtaking tour of the world’s diverse animal populations is a fascinating journey for all ages, and it inspires a deep ... read more

Age 6+
Life
5
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StarStruck (Disney Channel)
Parents Need to Know...

that this squeaky-clean Disney movie is a worry-free choice for tweens. Sara’s infatuation with Christopher -- while possibly grating on parents’ nerves -- may resonate with viewers and raise some issues about our celebrity-obsessed ... read more

Age 8+
StarStruck
4
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Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil (Disney XD)
Parents Need to Know...

that this pointless cartoon totally misses the mark for kids. Kick lives in a fantasy world where responsibility and respect for authority take a backseat to danger and adventure, and his risky actions never result in any physical harm or ... read more

Age 7+
Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil
1
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SciGirls (PBS)
Parents Need to Know...

that this exciting educational series strives to change how girls view traditionally male fields like engineering and technology by introducing viewers to real tween girls who are using their science prowess to explore -- and sometimes ... read more

Age 7+
SciGirls
5
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Big Time Rush (Nickelodeon)
Parents Need to Know...

that aside from a hefty dose of improbability, there’s little to worry about in this tween-friendly comedy. Sure, the teen characters' lives are a little too sanitized, and even relatable woes like the pressures of school and dating are ... read more

Age 7+
Big Time Rush
3
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I'm in the Band (Disney XD)
Parents Need to Know...

that while tweens will get plenty of mostly innocent, age-appropriate laughs from this show's over-the-top comedy, a few role modeling issues might give parents pause. Boys are sometimes shown favoring a girl’s physical attributes over ... read more

Age 8+
I'm in the Band
3
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Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe (ABC Family)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sequel to Santa Baby blends holiday spirit and comedy with family-friendly themes like striking a balance between life and work and living up to a parent’s expectations. Salty language is a rarity (a couple instances of ... read more

Age 6+
Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe
3
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Lanny and Wayne the Christmas Elves in Prep & Landing (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this delightful holiday tale blends a unique story with clever humor and kid-friendly content, making it an excellent choice for the entire family. There's very little in the way of iffy stuff, the imaginative concept of elves ... read more

Age 5+
Lanny and Wayne the Christmas Elves in Prep & Landing
4
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Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation (Disney XD)
Parents Need to Know...

that this holiday special based on the popular Phineas and Ferb cartoon greatly exaggerates the main characters' abilities to act on their hair-brained ideas (toboggans made out of their beds, for instance) -- but that’s the essence of ... read more

Age 5+
Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation
3
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Fanboy and Chum Chum (Nickelodeon)
Parents Need to Know...

that there’s little depth to this over-the-top show about two friends who fancy themselves superheroes, but their thrill-seeking adventures will appeal to young tweens with vivid imaginations of their own. Exaggerated, comic-style ... read more

Age 7+
Fanboy and Chum Chum
3
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The Garfield Show (Cartoon Network)
Parents Need to Know...

that this CGI-animated series based on the long-running comic strip by Jim Davis offers more of the same exaggerated antics that viewers have come to expect from the infamously greedy orange tabby. Garfield is a model of irksome behavior, ... read more

Age 6+
The Garfield Show
3
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Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Halloween special is far less intense than the Monsters vs. Aliens movie. Violence is limited to the self-imposed implosion of mutant pumpkins from eating too much candy, and the only weapon in use is a machine gun that’s used ... read more

Age 6+
Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space
2
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Weird Creatures (Science Channel)
Parents Need to Know...

that this educational series -- which follows naturalist Nick Baker as he travels the world looking for unusual animals -- delivers its information in a way that's both funny and easy to follow. Kids used to nature shows will probably be ... read more

Age 8+
Weird Creatures
3
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Shelldon (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that the characters in this underwater-set series are a quirky group of aquatic creatures with extreme personalities, including a few who are chronically grouchy/rude and at least one who picks on and intimidates his peers. Although the ... read more

Age 7+
Shelldon
2
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Gormiti (Cartoon Network)
Parents Need to Know...

that this action cartoon will appeal to kids' sense of fantasy. Since Gormiti centers on ongoing battles between good and evil over the domination of a mystical world, expect plenty of cartoon-style violence (explosions, collisions, ... read more

Age 7+
Gormiti
3
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Casper's Scare School (Cartoon Network)
Parents Need to Know...

that this enjoyable animated series (based on the movie of the same name) features an appealing cast of kid-friendly versions of traditionally creepy creatures like ghosts, vampires, and zombies -- with very little of the scary content ... read more

Age 6+
Casper's Scare School
4
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SuperFetch (Animal Planet)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series about "extreme" dog training is a fun choice for the whole family. Professional trainer Zak George takes on each new challenge with excitement and shows respect and affection for every animal he works with -- ... read more

Age 6+
SuperFetch
4
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BrainSurge (Nickelodeon)
Parents Need to Know...

that this game show makes it easy for kids to play along with the contestants, testing their listening comprehension and visual recollection skills in a series of puzzles and quizzes. Players are eliminated at the end of each of three ... read more

Age 6+
BrainSurge
3
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The National Parks: America's Best Idea (PBS)
Parents Need to Know...

that this stunning historical look at America’s national parks from award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns is an excellent pick for families. More than just a collection of awe-inspiring sights, the series is also a gripping history lesson ... read more

Age 7+
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
5
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