Top 10 TV Shows for Kids This Year

Common Sense Media shares ratings for 10 kids’ TV shows, plus a preview of Pete’s Dragon.

 

Terrific Trucks

5 stars 
Recommended Age: 3+
Network: Sprout
A delightful series that follows the adventures of real dirt movers.

Word Party

4 stars
Recommended Age: 3+
Network: Netflix
This cute and fun preschool series puts kids in a vocab-teaching role.

Elena of Avalor

4 stars
Recommended Age: 5+
Network: Disney Junior
The spunky Latina-inspired princess is an excellent role model.

Mouk

4 stars
Recommended Age: 4+
Network: Xfinity
A gentle preschool series that promotes cultural diversity.

All in with Cam Newton

4 stars
Recommended Age: 6+
Network: Nickelodeon
The NFL great cheers on kids’ efforts to achieve their goals.

The Deep

4 stars
Recommended Age: 7+
Network: Netflix
A fantastic family-focused adventure that explores the vast ocean

Voltron, Legendary Defender

4 stars
Recommended Age: 8+
Network: Netflix
DreamWorks updates this ‘80s toon in tense but fantastic form (pictured).

Being You

4 stars
Recommended Age: 12+
Network: PBS
Teens travel and meet people with learning differences who are thriving.

Degrassi: Next Class

4 stars
Recommended Age: 13+
Network: Netflix
This is an edgier Degrassi for the digital age, but it still has heart.

Roots

5 stars
Recommended Age: 14+
Network: History
The reimagined slave epic is violent but stirs worthy questions.

 

In Theaters Aug. 12: Pete’s Dragon

Parents need to know that Pete’s Dragon (2016) is Disney’s remake of the classic 1977 live-action/animated movie that looks to be a fantasy story for all ages. Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has told children tales of a boy and his dragon for years, but his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), a forest ranger, never believed him. Then she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old orphan who claims he lives in the woods with his pet dragon, Elliot, which sounds eerily similar to the dragon in her dad’s stories. With the help of 11-year-old Natalie (Oona Laurence), Grace sets out to find out the truth behind Pete, his supposed dragon, and her father’s stories. Given the source material, this looks like a strong choice for families.

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