Thirteen-year-olds are in this impossible middle zone. They'll roll their eyes at anything that feels "babyish" (RIP Bluey marathons), but a lot of teen content throws in gratuitous sex scenes, graphic violence, or substance use that feels more edgy than necessary.

What works at 13 is content that:

The shows below thread this needle pretty well.

This is the show every parent wishes existed when they were in middle school. It follows Charlie and Nick's relationship as they navigate coming out, friendship, and first love in a British secondary school.

Why it works: The representation is beautiful, the characters are genuinely kind to each other (radical concept!), and it handles serious topics like eating disorders and mental health without being preachy. The kissing stays PG, and the emotional stakes feel real without manufactured drama.

Watch out for: Some mature themes around mental health and eating disorders in later seasons—perfect conversation starters, but you'll want to be available to talk.

Ages: 12+, honestly perfect for 13-year-olds

Yes, it originally aired in 2005. Yes, your 13-year-old might claim they're "too old" for animation. They're wrong.

Why it works: This is legitimately one of the best-written shows of all time, animated or otherwise. The worldbuilding is incredible, the character development is chef's kiss, and it tackles war, genocide, imperialism, and personal responsibility without ever feeling heavy-handed. Plus the humor actually holds up.

Watch out for: Some intense battle sequences and themes around war/loss, but it's all age-appropriate for middle schoolers.

Ages: 10+, but the themes resonate even more as kids get older

If your kid loved Harry Potter but you're looking for something fresh (and less problematic), this British series about a girl attending a magical boarding school hits the spot.

Why it works: Mildred Hubble is endearingly imperfect, the magic system is fun, and the show deals with friendship drama, academic pressure, and finding your place without getting too dark. It's cozy viewing.

Watch out for: Honestly, very little. This is about as safe as it gets while still being entertaining for tweens.

Ages: 10-14

Based on Jonathan Stroud's books, this follows a trio of teen ghost hunters in an alternate London where ghosts are real and deadly. Netflix canceled it after one season (RIP), but that season is complete enough to be satisfying.

Why it works: The mystery is genuinely engaging, the characters have great chemistry, and the supernatural elements are creepy without being nightmare-inducing. Plus it's refreshing to see teens being competent and professional.

Watch out for: Some jump scares and supernatural horror elements—not gory, but definitely spooky. Great for kids who like being a little scared.

Ages: 12+

Four gifted orphans are recruited for a secret mission to save the world from a villain using subliminal messaging. It's quirky, clever, and celebrates intelligence without making it feel like homework.

Why it works: The puzzles are actually interesting, the found family vibes are strong, and it rewards paying attention. Kids who loved Enola Holmes will dig this.

Watch out for: Some mild peril and themes around manipulation/mind control, but handled thoughtfully.

Ages: 10+

This sequel series to The Karate Kid is way better than it has any right to be. It follows Johnny and Daniel decades after their high school rivalry, now training competing dojos.

Why it works: It's actually about how toxic masculinity and unresolved trauma get passed down through generations, wrapped in a fun martial arts show. The character development is surprisingly nuanced, and it doesn't glorify the violence even though there's plenty of fighting.

Watch out for: This one earns its TV-PG/TV-14 rating. There's teen drinking, some language, romantic situations, and lots of karate fighting (though not graphic). Best watched together so you can talk about the themes around revenge, redemption, and what makes a good mentor.

Ages: 13+ with context

The Addams Family's daughter attends a boarding school for outcasts while solving a murder mystery. Jenna Ortega is perfect as Wednesday, and the show has Tim Burton's signature gothic aesthetic.

Why it works: Wednesday is a great character for kids who feel like outsiders—she's unapologetically herself. The mystery is engaging, and the show celebrates being weird.

Watch out for: Some horror elements, a serial killer subplot, and romantic triangles that might feel a bit mature. There's also a school shooting threat in one episode that some families might want to skip (Season 1, Episode 8). The tone is dark throughout.

Ages: 13+, better for mature 13-year-olds

This modernized adaptation of Ann M. Martin's beloved books is shockingly good. It updates the 1980s setting to today while keeping the heart of the original stories.

Why it works: The representation is excellent, the characters feel real, and it deals with divorce, racism, gender identity, and chronic illness in age-appropriate ways. It's genuinely wholesome without being saccharine.

Watch out for: Some emotional moments around family issues, but nothing inappropriate. Great for younger 13-year-olds or kids who want something less intense.

Ages: 8-13

A girl who stopped playing music after her mom died finds her voice again when three ghost musicians from the 1990s appear in her garage. Yes, it's a musical. Yes, it's cheesy. Yes, it's delightful.

Why it works: The music is legitimately catchy, the grief storyline is handled beautifully, and the found family dynamics are heartwarming. Plus it's just fun.

Watch out for: Some themes around death and grief, but handled gently. The romance is very innocent.

Ages: 10+

Stranger Things: Look, I know every 13-year-old has seen it. But the horror elements, body horror, and intensity have ramped up significantly in later seasons. If you're going to allow it, watch together and be ready for some genuinely scary moments.

13 Reasons Why: Just no. The graphic suicide depiction and trauma porn approach to teen mental health makes this a hard pass for this age group. If you want to talk about mental health and suicide with your teen, there are much better resources.

Riverdale: Started as a dark Archie Comics adaptation, devolved into incomprehensible chaos with way too much sexual content and violence for 13-year-olds. Hard pass.

Squid Game: The fact that this needs to be said is wild, but this is absolutely not for 13-year-olds despite what they claim about "everyone at school watching it." The violence is extremely graphic and the themes are mature. Learn more about why age ratings actually matter.

For younger 13-year-olds (just turned 13, more sheltered, or sensitive to intense content):

For typical 13-year-olds:

For mature 13-year-olds (turning 14 soon, can handle darker themes, good at processing media critically):

The "everyone's watching it" argument: Your 13-year-old will absolutely tell you that everyone at school is watching Euphoria or some other wildly inappropriate show. Some kids are, sure. But "everyone" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. It's okay to be the parent who says no to content that doesn't align with your family values.

Co-viewing is your friend: The shows in the "maybe with guidance" category are perfect for watching together. You don't have to make it a whole thing—just be in the room, watch together, and use it as a springboard for conversations about the themes that come up.

Use Netflix's profiles and parental controls: Set up a profile for your 13-year-old with maturity ratings appropriate for their age. Learn how to set up Netflix parental controls if you haven't already.

Check Common Sense Media: Before greenlighting any show, spend two minutes on Common Sense Media to see what other parents and kids are saying. The parent reviews especially will flag things that might not be obvious from the Netflix description.

Thirteen is that sweet spot where kids are ready for more sophisticated storytelling but still benefit from content that doesn't rely on shock value. The shows above respect their intelligence while keeping the content age-appropriate.

Your best bet? Start with Heartstopper or Avatar: The Last Airbender—both are universally beloved and genuinely excellent television. Then branch out based on your kid's interests and maturity level.

And remember: it's okay to preview a show yourself before giving it the green light. Better to spend 20 minutes watching the first episode than dealing with the fallout of inappropriate content later.

Looking for more recommendations? Check out our guides on alternatives to Netflix for family viewing, best movies for 13-year-olds, or how to talk to teens about media literacy.