We’re in the golden age of TV, folks. Thanks to streaming platforms like Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video, and countless others, the options for groundbreaking, entertaining shows for viewers of all ages, including TV shows to watch with your teen, have never been greater. After all, the teen years can be so awkward and exciting that so many TV shows are specifically about high schoolers trying to figure it out. And finding a TV show to watch together that you’ll both enjoy? That’s a task that can feel…kind of impossible.
Sure, those mind-numbing Peppa Pig days are over, but it can still be a real challenge to find an entertaining and age-appropriate program. So what else in this overabundance of riches can you stream without wanting to run away screaming?
Surprisingly, plenty. Plunk down on the couch with the teen in your house and get ready to laugh, cry, and potentially solve a murder or two (ok, that one is thanks to School Spirits and Only Murders in the Building) courtesy of some of the best teen-friendly TV shows out there — that won’t bore adults to death. And bonus: Most of these programs are pretty binge-able, a.k.a. the perfect way to spend your next lazy rainy day or snow day stuck inside.
A version of this article was originally published in October 2017.
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‘Forever’
Image Credit: Elizabeth Morris/Netflix © 2024 Based on the Judy Blume novel by the same name, Forever is a Netflix show all about young love. The drama series follows two childhood friends, Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.) and Keisha (Lovie Simone), as they reunite and reconnect in aa predominantly white area of Los Angeles.
Age rating: 15+
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‘School Spirits’
Image Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount + Starring Peyton List, School Spirits tells the story of a lost high schooler named Maddie who suddenly dies and bonds with all the former students who are living their afterlife on school grounds. Not only do friendships blossom, but Maddie becomes determined to solve the mystery of her own death.
Age Rating: 14+
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‘One Day At a Time’
Image Credit: Ali Goldstein / ©Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection Based on a ’80s sitcom of the same name, Netflix’s One Day at a Time follows the life of a Cuban-American family living in Los Angeles. The show tackles some serious subject matter, including alcoholism, sexism, racism, immigration and mental health, but it does so in a light-hearted and accessible way.
Age rating: 13+
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‘Alexa & Katie’
Image Credit: ©Netflix / Courtesy: Everett Collection Sitcom Alexa & Katie is all about the importance of friendship and support between girls; much like One Day At a Time, though, it does get around to tackling some serious issues with grace. For one thing, one of the show’s two protagonists, Alexa, is battling cancer. But the show never veers into melodrama — and it serves as a great conversation-starter.
Age rating: 8+
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‘Gilmore Girls’
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection You may remember this show from your younger years, and it’s a great one to revisit.
Gilmore Girls is about a fast-talking, coffee-loving mother and daughter, and although the premise is medium-mature (the mom had her daughter when she was just 16), the show is truly funny and endearing. Plus, you can get a peek at Milo Ventimiglia when he was just teenage bad boy Jess. Perfect for older tweens!
Age rating: 14+
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‘Fuller House’
Image Credit: Mike Yarish/©Netflix/courtesy Everett Collection If you’ve got Full House nostalgia from the ’80s, then Netflix’s Fuller House is a good one to try. It focuses on a grown-up D.J. Tanner raising her three boys with the help of her sister Stephanie and old friend Kimmy. Yes, it’s corny and cheesy, but also sweet. Plus, the late and great Bob Saget makes an appearance ever so often. It’s truly a treat!
Age rating: 13+
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‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’
Image Credit: Eike Schroter / ©Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection Based on the books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler), Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is definitely a bit dark. It’s about three orphaned children who are sent to live with their closest relative (played by the talented Neil Patrick Harris), who goes about making their lives miserable. Luckily, there is some humor too. This is for the older kids who like spooky shows.
Age rating: 10+
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‘Andi Mack’
Image Credit: Fred Hayes/©Disney Channel/courtesy Everett Collection Andi Mack is a fun, Disney comedy about, well, Andi Mack — a 13-year-old whose life is rocked when her big sister comes back home. Like Gilmore Girls, this show’s premise deals with teen pregnancy, so you have to be comfortable with that. But it’s also about going outside your comfort zone and taking some chances in life.
Age rating: 10+
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‘Black-Ish’
Image Credit: Greg Gayne / ©ABC / courtesy Everett Collection ABC sitcom Black-ish is about a black family living in a mostly white, upper-class neighborhood. The dad, who grew up in a rougher area, worries that his four kids are assimilating too well into the wealthy community — and that it’s turning them “black-ish.” This show is a great way to open up a dialogue with your tweens about race and diversity.
Age rating: 14+
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‘Never Have I Ever’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Netflix hit Never Have I Ever follows Indian-American teen Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) after the sudden loss of her father. Not only does she have to grieve and mourn the heartbreaking loss, but the show follows all the ups and downs of her teen years, from having a crush on the school heartthrob, to relying on her best friends for everything and fighting with her high school nemesis to see who’s smarter.
Age rating: 14+
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‘Emily in Paris’
Image Credit: Stephanie Branchu / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection Emily in Paris is one of Netflix’s biggest hits over the past few years. The show follows marketing exec Emily (Lily Collins) as she joins her company’s Paris branch (for a limited time at first!) and navigates moving to a whole new country while meeting a few handsome men in the meantime.
Age rating: 15+
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‘Ted Lasso’
Image Credit: ©Apple TV/Courtesy Everett Collection If you’ve got a teen into sports, or better yet, soccer, then Ted Lasso could be the show for you! The series follows American football coach Ted (Jason Sudeikis) as he moves across the pond to coach a struggling soccer team. He’s in over his head, but his can-do attitude sure makes up for it!
Age rating: 14+
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‘Stranger Things’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Stranger Things created such a phenomenon that we recommend watching it even if you’re not a sci-fi fan! The show follows a group of teens when one of them vanishes suddenly and one strange little girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) leaves them with even more questions.
Age rating: 12+
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‘Only Murders in the Building’
Image Credit: Craig Blankenhorn / ©Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection Ready for a whodunnit? Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short, tells the story of three nosy neighbors who come together after someone in their building is suddenly murdered in their midst.
Age rating: 14+
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‘Schitt’s Creek’
Image Credit: ©CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corp.) / Courtesy Everett Collectio What would you do if you lost everything? Well, in the hit series Schitt’s Creek, that’s exactly what the Rose family needs to do when they lose all their fortune and move to the only thing they still own, a tiny remote town named Schitt’s Creek.
Age rating: 14+
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‘Derry Girls’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Sky TV / Courtesy Everett Collection Being a teenager is hard enough. But when you’re going through the awkward and confusing teen years during the political conflict of Northern Ireland in the 1990s, this friend group has it cut out for them.
Age rating: 15+
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‘Abbott Elementary’
Image Credit: Disney/Gilles Mingasson Whether you’re a teen, a mom, a student, or a teacher, Abbott Elementary will surely have you laughing. The show follows a group of public school teachers in South Philly who, despite the odds stacked against them, are determined to help their students succeed in life.
Age rating: 10+
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‘Ginny & Georgia’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection Much like Gilmore Girls, the heart of Ginny & Georgia is the connection between a mom and her teen daughter. The show follows the duo as they move to a new town and navigate making a name for themselves, for better or for worse.
Age Rating: 15+
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‘Outer Banks’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection If you’re looking for an action-packed show, then Outer Banks should be your next watch. The series follows John B (Chase Stokes) and his tight-knit group of friends during their adventures as the “have-nots” in the North Carolina Outer Banks.
Age Rating: 15+
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‘Modern Family’
Image Credit: Mitch Haddad / ©ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection Modern Family is a comedy that shaped a whole generation. The series tells the story of one big blended family as they expand their family, watch their little ones grow up, and learn what parenting is all about.
Age Rating: 13+
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‘High School Musical: The Musical – The Series’
Image Credit: Fred Hayes / ©Disney+ / courtesy Everett Collection Lovers of High School Musical should obviously add the musical reboot series to their watch list. The show follows a group of high schoolers who study at the OG East High School and decide to put on the musical for their annual theatre show. It’s a little meta, but a whole lot of fun.
Age Rating: 10+
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‘On My Block’
Image Credit: Nicola Goode / ©Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection Another series following the ins and outs of high school is the Netflix hit On My Block. Set in a rough LA neighborhood, these kids have more to worry about than just math pop quizzes.
Age Rating: 15+
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‘Cobra Kai’
Image Credit: ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection In a long-awaited reboot to the Karate Kid films with Ralph Macchio, Cobra Kai won over fans of the movies and new fans alike. The show follows the reignited West Valley rivalries and their young generation of fighters.
Age Rating: 15+
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‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’
Image Credit: Erika Doss / ©Amazon / Courtesy Everett Collection The Summer I Turned Pretty, based on the Jenny Han novels by the same name, follows teen girl Belly (Lola Tung) as she finally grows into her looks and develops feelings for two brothers she grew up spending her summers with. But who will she choose?
Age Rating: 14+
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‘Glee’
Image Credit: Carin Baer / © FOX / courtesy everett collection For fans of this show, there’s B.G. (before Glee) and A.G. (after Glee). The series, which ran for six seasons, follows a group of high school outcasts as they come together in their school’s glee club and, well, sing their hearts out.
Age Rating: 14+
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Best TV Shows to Watch With Your Teen
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