Bluey - If you haven't discovered this Australian gem yet, stop reading and go watch it. Bluey is legitimately great television that happens to be for kids. It's about a family of dogs, but really it's about creative play, sibling dynamics, and parenting with patience and humor. Episodes are 7 minutes, the parents are actually involved and realistic, and you might tear up occasionally. No notes. Perfect show.

Gabby's Dollhouse - This one's a mix of live-action and animation that's genuinely charming. Gabby goes into her magical dollhouse and has adventures with cat characters. It's creative, colorful, and encourages imaginative play without being chaotic. The pacing is calm enough that kids aren't bouncing off walls afterward.

Trash Truck - Honestly slept on. It's about a kid and his best friend who is literally a trash truck. Sounds weird, is actually sweet. The animation style is gentle, the stories are about friendship and problem-solving, and there's something refreshing about how low-key it is.

What to skip: Cocomelon. I know, I know, kids are hypnotized by it. But it's basically designed to be addictive with its rapid cuts and repetitive songs. If your kid is already hooked, no judgment, but if you can avoid starting it, do.

The Magic School Bus Rides Again - The reboot of the classic, and it holds up. Ms. Frizzle's younger sister takes over, and the science content is actually educational without being preachy. My only complaint is that the animation isn't as charming as the original, but the learning is solid.

Ada Twist, Scientist - Based on the book series, this show is about a young Black girl who asks questions about everything and uses the scientific method to find answers. The songs are catchy (maybe too catchy, sorry), and it genuinely encourages curiosity and problem-solving.

Pokémon - Yes, the classic is on Netflix, and honestly? It's fine. Kids love it, the themes are about friendship and perseverance, and while there's cartoon violence (Pokémon battling), it's pretty tame. Plus, if your kid gets into it, you have approximately 47,000 episodes to keep them busy.

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous - For kids who are into dinosaurs and can handle a bit more suspense. It's got actual stakes and some scary moments (dinosaurs trying to eat people), so know your kid. But the character development is solid and it's genuinely engaging.

Avatar: The Last Airbender - If your tween hasn't watched this yet, this is the moment. It's not just a great kids show, it's legitimately one of the best animated series ever made. Complex characters, meaningful themes about war and responsibility, and stunning world-building. Yes, all three seasons.

The Worst Witch - British show about a witch academy that's basically "what if Harry Potter but less intense and more about friendship drama." It's cozy, the magic is fun, and it's a good bridge between little-kid shows and teen content.

The Baby-Sitters Club - The reboot is thoughtful, diverse, and tackles real issues like divorce, racism, and gender identity in age-appropriate ways. Even if your kid isn't into babysitting, the friendship dynamics are well-done.

Hilda - Absolutely gorgeous animation about a blue-haired girl who has adventures with magical creatures. It's got a Miyazaki vibe—gentle but with real emotional depth. Some episodes can be a tiny bit spooky, but nothing nightmare-inducing.

What to be cautious about: Stranger Things keeps coming up because kids hear about it at school. It's rated TV-14 for good reason—genuine horror elements, violence, and some mature themes. Most tweens under 12 aren't ready for it, even if they claim "everyone" is watching it. (They're not.)

The autoplay trap is real. Netflix will just keep serving up episodes, and before you know it, your kid has watched six hours of the same show. Use the profile settings to disable autoplay—it's under "Playback settings" and it's a game-changer.

Netflix's age ratings are... inconsistent. A show rated TV-Y7 can range from genuinely gentle to surprisingly intense. When in doubt, watch an episode yourself or check Common Sense Media for detailed content breakdowns.

The "just one more episode" negotiation is inevitable. Set the boundary before you start. "We're watching two episodes" is way easier to enforce than "okay, time to turn it off" after they're already deep in a binge.

Co-viewing is underrated. Especially for tweens, watching together gives you natural conversation starters about what they're seeing. You don't have to watch every episode, but checking in on their shows helps you understand what's capturing their attention.

Not all screen time is created equal. A well-crafted show that sparks imagination, teaches something valuable, or just gives you a peaceful moment to breathe is not the same as brain-melting content designed purely for engagement metrics.

The shows on this list are genuinely good. They respect kids' intelligence, they have actual plots and character development, and they won't make you want to cancel your Netflix subscription out of pure annoyance.

That said, the best kids show on Netflix is still the one that buys you enough time to do what you need to do without guilt. We're all doing our best here.

Set up a kids profile if you haven't already—it filters out inappropriate content and gives you better controls. Go to "Manage Profiles" and create one with your kid's age.

Check out Screenwise's guide to screen time limits for age-appropriate recommendations that go beyond "less is better."

Having the streaming wars debate? Read about Netflix vs Disney+ for kids to figure out if you actually need both or if you're just burning money.

And if your kid is asking about YouTube next, here's what you need to know about YouTube vs YouTube Kids before you open that particular can of worms.