Teens are watching an average of 7+ hours of screen content daily, and most of it is solo scrolling through TikTok or YouTube. That's not inherently bad, but it means you're missing out on a huge chunk of what's influencing their thinking about relationships, identity, success, and the world.

Co-viewing isn't about surveillance—it's about staying culturally connected. When you watch together, you get to:

Plus, your teen is way more likely to open up about their own life when you're both staring at a screen instead of making awkward eye contact.

Abbott Elementary (Ages 12+) - A mockumentary about underfunded public schools that's genuinely hilarious without being mean-spirited. Great for sparking conversations about education, workplace dynamics, and caring about your community. Bonus: it's only 22 minutes per episode, so it's not a huge commitment.

The Good Place (Ages 13+) - Philosophy disguised as a sitcom about the afterlife. Your teen will love the plot twists, you'll love that they're accidentally learning about ethics and moral philosophy. Some mild language and adult themes, but nothing gratuitous.

Schitt's Creek (Ages 14+) - A wealthy family loses everything and has to live in a small town. It's about growth, empathy, and family without being saccharine. The LGBTQ+ representation is handled beautifully and matter-of-factly. Some sexual references, but it's network TV level.

Wednesday (Ages 13+) - The Addams Family daughter solves mysteries at boarding school. Dark humor, murder mystery, coming-of-age stuff. Yes, it's Tim Burton, so it's stylized and a bit macabre, but it's also about finding your people and standing up to institutional corruption. Your teen probably already watched it, but it holds up on rewatch.

Only Murders in the Building (Ages 13+) - Three neighbors investigate murders in their apartment building. It's funny, genuinely mysterious, and the intergenerational friendship is heartwarming. Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez have incredible chemistry.

Stranger Things (Ages 13+) - Yes, everyone's already seen it, but there's a reason. 80s nostalgia for you, supernatural horror for them, and actual emotional depth about friendship, trauma, and growing up. Fair warning: it gets genuinely scary and violent, so know your kid.

The Great British Baking Show (All ages) - Wholesome competition where people are actually nice to each other. It's weirdly soothing, and you can talk about perseverance, creativity, and handling failure with grace. Plus, you might be inspired to bake together.

Nailed It! (Ages 10+) - Amateur bakers hilariously fail at making professional-level desserts. It's funny, self-aware, and celebrates imperfection. Great for perfectionistic teens who need to see adults laughing at their mistakes.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Ages 8+) - Yes, it's animated. Yes, your teen might initially resist. But this show has some of the best character development and moral complexity in any series, period. Themes of war, trauma, redemption, and responsibility. If they've already seen it, watch it again—it hits different at different ages.

The Mandalorian (Ages 10+) - Star Wars series about a bounty hunter and a very cute alien baby. You don't need to know Star Wars lore. It's essentially a space western about found family and doing the right thing when it's hard. Action-packed but not gratuitously violent.

Heartstopper (Ages 12+) - A sweet, genuine LGBTQ+ teen romance that's not trauma porn. It's about friendship, coming out, mental health, and first love. It's tender without being childish. Great conversation starter about relationships, consent, and supporting friends.

Euphoria - Look, it's well-made, but this is not a co-viewing show unless your teen is 17+ and you're ready for extremely graphic content about addiction, sex, and violence. If they're watching it, you should know what's in it, but watching together might be... uncomfortable for everyone.

Riverdale - Started as a teen mystery, devolved into absolute chaos. It's not harmful, just genuinely nonsensical. If your teen loves it, let them have their messy fun, but you don't need to subject yourself to it.

13 Reasons Why - Controversial for its handling of suicide and sexual assault. If your teen wants to watch it, read this guide first and decide if co-viewing or just having conversations afterward makes more sense for your family.

Let them pick first - You're more likely to get buy-in if they feel ownership. You can veto if it's truly inappropriate, but let them lead.

Don't force conversation during the show - Some kids hate being interrupted. Save the big talks for after, or during natural breaks.

Model good viewing habits - Phones away (yes, yours too), lights off, actual attention paid. Show that you value the shared experience.

Be okay with silence - Sometimes just being in the same room is enough. Not every episode needs a deep debrief.

Respect their "no" - If they're genuinely not interested, don't make it a battle. Try again with a different show, or accept that maybe co-viewing isn't their thing right now.

The perfect show for your family depends on your teen's interests, your tolerance for different content, and your family's conversation style. But the goal isn't finding something everyone loves equally—it's finding something that gives you a shared reference point and opens doors for connection.

Your teen might never admit that they enjoy watching shows with you. They might spend half the time on their phone or making sarcastic comments. But they're still there, in the same room, sharing an experience with you. In the teenage years, that counts as a win.

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