Watching television is an excellent opportunity for family bonding.
Not only does watching a show together bring family members closer together, but it is also a chance for you and your kids to learn new things, discuss challenging issues, and create great memories that you will all cherish.
Netflix is one of the most accessible ways to have fun and relax with the whole family. It offers a vast library of family-friendly shows.
Today, we’ve rounded up the best family shows on Netflix that you can binge-watch on your next family movie night.
The list includes shows great for co-viewing with young children, bigger kids, tweens, and teenagers.
Here are our recommendations.
1. The InBESTigators
Your family will love this hilarious mockumentary of elementary school kids who establish their detective agency and solve mysteries in their school and neighborhood.
Although the show appeals to younger kids, the actors' lines make for many laugh-out-loud moments.
Enhance your bonding time with your kids while you help them figure out the whodunit in each episode.
2. Family Reunion
This heartwarming show introduces viewers to the McKellan family, who came from Seattle and moved to a new life in Georgia.
Follow their adventures as the family adjusts to small-town life that seems different from the big-city life they had in Seattle.
Although the show may seem old-fashioned, some episodes are great openers for discussing social issues with your kids.
3. Fuller House
This spinoff of Full House, a wholesome show from the late 1980s and early 1990s, provides a touch of nostalgia for those who watched the original when they were younger.
Fuller House follows D.J. Tanner, her sister Stephanie, their friend Kimmy, and their respective children, who now live in the old Tanner family home.
Many of the original cast members of Full House have reprised their roles for this sequel.
This show shares the same values as the original, and every episode has fun moments.
4. Brainchild
Looking for a show that you can watch with your tweens or teens? Brainchild is an excellent choice.
This show, produced by Pharrell Williams, explains STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) concepts, with experiments adding an engaging aspect to the explanations.
The show’s host, Sahana Srinivasan, connects with the audience beautifully, engaging them without being patronizing.
Brainchild discusses topics that you or your kids might already know about, but how the topics are presented in the show keeps you interested. Some topics include:
5. Free Rein
Free Rein won the Outstanding Children’s or Family Viewing Series award at the 2018 Daytime Emmy Awards.
The show is mainly directed at older kids and teenagers and is like a soap opera for kids, except in a positive way.
Free Rein follows the story of Zoe, a 15-year-old girl from Los Angeles who visits her mother’s hometown in England, and the bond she forms with a wayward horse (the wildest in the stables) named Raven.
This coming-of-age story is great for those who love horses and kids who are exploring and forming their identities, as they will identify with Zoe and her experiences.
6. A Series of Unfortunate Events
This series introduces you to the Baudelaire orphans: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Their lives take a strange turn after their parents' mysterious death.
The Baudelaire children are under the guardianship of a greedy relative, Count Olaf (played by Neil Patrick Harris). Count Olaf intends to get his hands on the Baudelaire children’s fortune.
The series takes you on a wild, sometimes dark, weird, and funny adventure with the Baudelaires as they find ways to thwart Count Olaf’s greedy intentions.
7. The Last Kids on Earth
If you have kids into animated shows, how about trying this one?
The Last Kids on Earth follows the adventures of 13-year-old Jack Sullivan and his friends as they try to survive an apocalyptic event that infested their town with zombies.
The adults are missing, and the kids must learn how to survive independently.
There’s enough adventure to be riveting for older kids, and the character development is impressive even by adult standards.
This show is an adaptation of the bestselling books of the same title written by Mark Brallier.
8. Anne With an E
This is an adaptation of the beloved classic Anne of Green Gables, written by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Anne With an E is the story of a redheaded orphan girl adopted by aging siblings Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
The story empowers children (especially young girls) about their abilities and place in the world. The show also promotes anti-bullying.
This show will be a treat and a walk down memory lane for adults who loved Anne of Green Gables.
9. One Day at a Time
In this remake of the 1970s sitcom of the same title, we see how each member of the Alvarez family works to find their authentic selves.
The family matriarch is Penelope Alvarez, a Cuban-American US Army nurse corps veteran. She has two children—a daughter named Elena and a son named Alex.
Penelope’s mother, Lydia, helps raise her grandchildren.
This show can be a jumping-off point for discussing sexuality, race, and cultural heritage with your older children.
10. Our Planet
This documentary is an awe-inspiring look at our planet.
With its amazing cinematography and the valuable information it shares, viewers of all ages will develop an appreciation for the world we live in.
The show also features the ongoing destruction of natural resources around the world. Hopefully, it will inspire viewers to act mindfully to help save our planet from further destruction.
11. The Big Family Cooking Showdown
If your family loves good food, cooking, and culture, here’s a must-see show.
The show features different types of cuisines from all over the globe.
Culinary delights provide insight into a country’s culture. This show offers just the right combination of visual feast and basic geography lessons.
If you’re homeschooling your kids, this show is a great way to introduce lessons about geography and culture.
12. The Loud House
If your family wants a goofy show to share some laughs, you might want to check out The Loud House.
It tells the story of 11-year-old Lincoln Loud and his daily misadventures involving dealing with ten sisters.
The show was awarded two Daytime Emmys—one for Outstanding Children’s Series and another for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program.
13. The Bureau of Magical Things
You and your teens can bond while watching this series together. It’s funny and quirky, with just the right amount of action and adventure to keep you glued to your seats.
The series' premise involves a teenager discovering an enchanted object that transports her to another realm, where she befriends magical creatures who help her save the world.
14. Raising Dion
What would you do if you discovered that your child was a superhero? How would it affect your parenting style? That is the premise of this show, which has recently been approved for a second season.
Raising Dion is an exciting and heartfelt take on how life would be different if a solo parent discovered that her young son had superpowers. How would she protect him?
15. Merlin
The show is about Merlin, the warlock in Arthurian legends. In this retelling, Merlin is still in his youth and arrives at Camelot to learn how to harness his magical powers to protect and help King Arthur.
If your family loves historical, fantasy adventure shows, this is one that you might want to consider for the next family night.
16. Avatar: The Last Airbender
This is a rare animated series that appeals to young and old audiences alike.
The series tells the story of a 12-year-old Airbender named Aang, the avatar and the last remaining member of the Air Nomads.
Siblings Katara and Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe discovered Aang trapped in an iceberg. They befriended Aang and, together with other group members, worked together to fight the Phoenix King and save the world.
17. Floor Is Lava
Remember the game The Floor Is Lava that you played as a kid? There’s now a game show based on it!
In the show, teams compete to see who can be the first to navigate through an obstacle course where the floor is filled with red goop that’s made to simulate actual lava. Sound exciting? We think so, too!
18. Battlebots
Do you have kids who love robots? This show features robots fighting each other, with only one winner remaining.
If your family loves science, robotics, and engineering or wants something new to watch on Netflix, you should try this show.
19. The New Legends of Monkey
The New Legends of Monkey is inspired by a 1970s1980s Japanese show called Monkey. It follows the adventures of the Monkey King and his friends on their quest to find seven sacred scrolls and prevent demons from taking over the world.
The power of friendship and being true to yourself are two dominant themes of the series.
20. Good Witch
Finally, we have Good Witch. The main character is a widow with a keen sense of intuition and magical powers. She raises her daughter in the fictional town of Middleton, where she catches the attention of the town’s new doctor. The show follows the residents of Middleton and the ups and downs of their lives.
Final Thoughts
There you have it—some of the best family shows on Netflix this year.
Watching TV with your family can be an excellent opportunity to grow closer.
Streaming services offer many shows and movies that all family members can watch.
Hopefully, you’ve found a series from our recommendations to watch with your family.
If you love philosophical movies, check out our roundup of the best philosophical movies of all time in this post.
Meanwhile, you might also want to browse our recommended titles for the best inspirational movies for entrepreneurs.
More fun activity ideas for kids:
- 35 Fun Things to Do When Your Kids Are Bored
- How to Raise Successful Kids: 7 Habits to Focus On
- 23 Enchanting Songs About Magic and the Supernatural
