If you want to introduce your kid to Rob Lowe without any "Brat Pack" baggage, start with Parks and Recreation. His character, Chris Traeger, is a masterclass in relentless (and hilarious) positivity.

For middle schoolers, Traeger is a great character to dissect. He’s obsessed with health, "literally" says everything is the best thing ever, and uses manners as a weapon. It’s funny, but it’s also a sneaky way to talk about how people use optimism to mask anxiety. Plus, the show is generally a high-WISE pick—it rewards kindness and civic duty without being a total drag. If your kid is just starting to explore sitcoms, this is a much better move than the cynical "mean-teen" comedies that usually pop up in the algorithm.

Right now, your kids probably know him best from The Floor. It’s a trivia show that actually works for a wide age range because the categories are visual and specific.

What’s great about Lowe in this setting is that he’s not doing a "character"—he’s just a charming, slightly snarky host who keeps the energy up. It’s one of the few shows where a 9-year-old and a 40-year-old can compete on equal footing because the trivia is about identifying things like "Famous Dogs" or "Kitchen Appliances." If you’re looking for a low-stakes Friday night watch that doesn't involve a cartoon, this is it.

If you have a teen, Unstable on Netflix is the move. Lowe stars alongside his real-life son, John Owen Lowe, and the show is basically a fictionalized version of their actual relationship: a high-maintenance, eccentric father and a son who is desperately trying to be the "normal" one.

It’s a workplace comedy set in a high-tech bio-research lab, but the heart of it is the banter. It’s sharp, fast, and leans into the "cringe dad" trope in a way that feels authentic. It’s rated TV-14 for some language and adult themes, but for a digital guide for middle schoolers or high schoolers, it’s a solid pick for co-watching. You get to laugh at the dad’s ego; they get to relate to the son’s "can you just not?" energy.

At some point, your kid might hit the age where they have to read The Outsiders in school. That is the perfect time to bust out The Outsiders movie. A young Rob Lowe (as Sodapop Curtis) is part of a cast that is basically a "Who's Who" of Hollywood's last 40 years.

Looking forward, there’s been plenty of noise about a St. Elmo's Fire sequel being in the works. Based on recent interviews, it looks like the original cast is interested in exploring where those characters ended up 40 years later. It’ll likely be aimed more at us than the kids, but if it drops, it’ll be a prime opportunity to talk about how friendships evolve (and why maybe your kid shouldn't model their life after a group of messy 22-year-olds in a bar).

Here’s the thing that might surprise you: Rob Lowe is a bit of a hard-liner when it comes to parenting and tech. In his autobiography Stories I Tell My Friends and various interviews, he’s talked about being "old school." He’s famously said that he didn't allow his kids to have phones at the dinner table and was big on making sure they "earned" their screen time.

He’s also been very open about his sobriety and the work required to stay grounded in a world (Hollywood) that is designed to keep you distracted. If you have an older teen interested in acting or the "influencer" life, his books are actually a great "language comprehension" tool. They build background knowledge about the industry while delivering a pretty clear message: the work matters more than the fame.

Lowe’s early career (the mid-to-late '80s) has some "Check the Rating" moments. While he’s the face of family-friendly game shows now, his 1980s catalog includes movies like About Last Night and Bad Influence, which are strictly for adults. If your kid starts Googling him, they might stumble upon his 1988 scandal—the first real "celebrity sex tape." It’s a great entry point for a conversation about how the internet remembers everything forever, and how a mistake made 30 years ago can still be the first thing that pops up in a search result.

Q: Is the show Unstable okay for a 12-year-old? It’s rated TV-14, mostly for some profanity and adult situations in the workplace. If your 12-year-old is used to standard network sitcoms, they’ll be fine, but maybe watch an episode first to see if the "eccentric genius" humor lands.

Q: What is the age rating for The Outsiders movie? It’s rated PG. It’s got some stylized 1950s-style violence (the rumble) and some heavy themes like social class and grief, but it’s a staple for middle schoolers for a reason.

Q: Does Rob Lowe have a new show coming out in 2026? Beyond the ongoing seasons of 9-1-1: Lone Star and The Floor, he is expected to continue his partnership with Netflix for more Unstable. There are also persistent rumors that the St. Elmo's Fire sequel will move into production soon.

Q: Is 9-1-1: Lone Star appropriate for kids? It’s a procedural drama, so expect high-stakes emergencies, some blood, and intense situations. It’s generally okay for older kids who like "hero" stories, but it’s definitely more intense than his game show work.

Rob Lowe is the rare celebrity who has figured out how to be "cool" to every generation at the same time. Whether he’s teaching your kid trivia on The Floor or showing them how to be "literally" the most energetic person in the room on Parks and Recreation, he’s a solid screen presence.