Let's be real: Netflix has everything from Bluey to Bridgerton, and sometimes the algorithm thinks your 7-year-old might enjoy both. Age-appropriate Netflix shows are content that matches not just your child's age, but their maturity level, your family's values, and honestly, what you can tolerate hearing from the next room for the 47th time.
Here's what makes this tricky: Netflix's own rating system is... fine? But it doesn't account for the fact that some kids can handle complex themes at 9 while others aren't ready at 12. And let's not even start on how "TV-Y7" can mean both Avatar: The Last Airbender (genuinely excellent) and shows that are basically 22 minutes of screaming (not naming names).
According to our Screenwise community data, about 40% of families use Netflix regularly for their kids, while another 40% allow occasional kids' content. Only 20% avoid it entirely. So if you're here trying to figure this out, you're definitely not alone.
The average family in our community is clocking about 4.2 hours of screen time daily. A chunk of that is Netflix, and here's the thing: not all screen time is created equal.
There's a massive difference between your kid watching Bluey (which honestly teaches emotional intelligence better than some parenting books) versus binge-watching YouTube-style content that's been repackaged as a "show" but is really just unboxing videos with a plot.
Good Netflix content can:
- Introduce complex themes in age-appropriate ways
- Spark conversations about friendship, family, ethics
- Provide genuine entertainment that isn't rotting their brain
- Give you 30 minutes to make dinner without guilt
Bad Netflix content can:
- Normalize behaviors you're actively trying to discourage
- Overstimulate without engaging
- Introduce concepts they're not ready for
- Make you want to throw the remote out the window
Preschool (Ages 3-5)
At this age, you want slow-paced, educational-ish content that won't send them into a sugar-rush-style frenzy. Look for:
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Bluey - If you haven't discovered this yet, prepare to actually enjoy kids' TV. It's about an Australian dog family, but it's really about parenting, imagination, and emotional regulation. Parents often cry more than kids.
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Puffin Rock - Gentle, nature-focused, narrated by Chris O'Dowd. It's like a warm hug in show form.
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Storybots - Genuinely educational without being preachy. Answers questions like "How do computers work?" in ways that don't make you want to scream.
Red flags at this age: Anything with fast cuts, loud music, or characters that solve problems by yelling. Also, honestly, some of the "educational" content is just... not. If it feels like it's designed to hypnotize rather than engage, trust your gut.
Early Elementary (Ages 6-8)
This is where kids start having opinions about what they watch, and those opinions are heavily influenced by what their friends watch. Fun times.
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The Magic School Bus Rides Again - Updated version of the classic. Still educational, still entertaining.
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Hilda - Beautiful animation, adventurous but not scary, features a brave girl who solves problems creatively. Some mild peril but nothing nightmare-inducing.
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Nailed It! - If your kid likes cooking shows, this is genuinely funny and celebrates failure in a healthy way. Some episodes are more kid-friendly than others.
Watch out for: Shows that look kid-friendly but have relationship drama that's really meant for tweens. Also, some anime that's rated TV-Y7 but has intensity levels that can overwhelm younger kids.
Tweens (Ages 9-12)
This age is the wild west. They're too old for "baby shows" but not ready for teen content. They're also increasingly influenced by what's popular at school, which means you'll be fielding requests for shows that make you go "absolutely not."
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Avatar: The Last Airbender - The gold standard. Complex themes, character development, deals with war and loss but in appropriate ways. If they haven't seen it, this is the time.
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The Dragon Prince - From the Avatar creators. Fantasy adventure with genuine stakes and great representation.
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The Great British Baking Show - Hear me out: it's wholesome, there's no manufactured drama, and people are genuinely kind to each other. Radical concept.
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Stranger Things - Look, I know this is rated TV-14, and I know every 5th grader has seen it. This is a family call. It has genuine scares, some language, and intense themes. Some 12-year-olds can handle it, some can't. Read more about navigating these requests.
The hard truth: Your tween will ask for shows their friends watch that you're not comfortable with. This is normal. Have the conversation about why, not just "because I said so."
The autoplay feature is not your friend. Turn it off. Seriously. It's designed to keep kids watching indefinitely, and suddenly your "one episode" turns into four.
Netflix's kids profile is imperfect. It blocks obvious adult content but lets through plenty of questionable stuff. You still need to be involved in what they're choosing.
"Everyone at school watches it" is not a good enough reason. But it is a reason to investigate what the show is actually about so you can have an informed conversation. Use Screenwise's chat feature
to quickly get the lowdown on any show.
Quality matters more than quantity. Thirty minutes of Avatar is not the same as thirty minutes of random YouTube compilations that somehow made it onto Netflix.
Co-watching is underrated. Even just being in the room gives you context for what they're absorbing and opens up natural conversation opportunities.
Finding age-appropriate Netflix content isn't about being the fun police—it's about being intentional. With 40% of families in our community using Netflix regularly for kids, and screen time averaging over 4 hours daily, what our kids watch actually matters.
Start with shows that match where your kid is developmentally, not just chronologically. Check in regularly about what they're watching and why they like it. And remember: you can always say "let's watch the first episode together" before committing to a new show.
The goal isn't perfection. It's making informed choices that align with your family's values while acknowledging that yes, sometimes you just need them quietly watching something so you can finish one work email.
- Set up a kids profile if you haven't already (Settings → Manage Profiles → Add Profile → Kids)
- Turn off autoplay (Profile → Playback Settings → Autoplay next episode → Off)
- Browse age-appropriate streaming content recommendations for more options beyond Netflix
- Have a conversation with your kid about why you make the choices you do around content—they're more likely to buy in if they understand the reasoning
And if you're still not sure about a specific show? Ask the Screenwise chatbot for a quick breakdown. We've got your back.