Top 20 Kids TV Shows

As I get older and more distant from what children today consider “cool,” I have found that it is increasingly important to pay attention to what they are watching on television. Less and less often I know what my son is talking about when he comes home from school raving about the newest trends. He would come home talking about how cool this new show/toy/game is and I would have no idea what it was; more importantly, whether or not it was suitable for my child. So I researched the things he was into. Once I had a better understanding of these new fads, I was more able to connect with him through his new interests.

The following is a list of the Top 20 kid’s shows according to Google Trends. This is not necessarily a representation of what the Top 20 shows being watched are, just what is being searched for on the internet. They are sorted from highest amount of searches to least. The age ratings are based on an average of parental guidelines and reviews from several different websites.

Parents Rating: TV-Y

Age Rating: 6+

Summary: SpongeBob SquarePants is a Nickelodeon show centered on a sponge, named SpongeBob, and his friends Patrick the starfish and Sandy the ocean dwelling squirrel. The show takes place in an underwater city called Bikini Bottom. It focuses on the many misadventures of SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends, with work, play, and home life. It is a very lighthearted show that does not seem to take anything to seriously.

Bottom Line: Although there is no educational benefit from watching SpongeBob SquarePants, the show stays appropriate for the most part. There has been some controversy over subtle adult references, and homosexual themes. Although the network has officially denied any of these claims, it's ultimately up to you to decide. Spongebob SquarePants is a fun kid’s show that does not rely on over stimulation to hold and audience

Parents Rating: TV-PG

Age Rating: 10+

Summary: Adventure Time follows Finn, a human boy and Jake, Finn's brother and magical dog throughout the post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo. They are joined by other character such as Princess Bubblegum, Marceline the Vampire Queen, and the Ice King. There is a main plot present in the show, delved into occasionally throughout the series, of a Great Mushroom War the destroyed everything and brought magic back into the land, and the Lich, the primary antagonist of the show. Adventure Time is much stranger and more twisted than many of its contemporaries, employing darker themes.

Bottom Line: Even with the darker themes, the show seems to have a positive outlook. The characters look past their bleak environment, and try to see the positive in things. Still, unless you are sure your child is past their bed wetting stage, I would not recommend letting them watch this. As fun as the show may be for older teenagers and adults, younger children might be frightened by the twisted atmosphere of Adventure Time. Although I don't agree with the 10+ rating given by many parental sites, the TV-PG is quite accurate.

Parents Rating: TV-Y7

Age Rating: 8+

Summary: Power Rangers has had countless adaptations over the last 20 years, all based on 5 teenagers with attitude, called for a higher purpose, to protect the world from evil using Japanese body doubles, I mean super martial arts skills and magic robotic fighting machines. Although the names, dates, and locations change every year or so, the premise is always the same. Good vs. Evil. Since its inception, Power Rangers has pitted high school kids against evil foes for the sake of the planet, with updated to the uniforms, weapons, robots, and powers with every incarnation.

Bottom Line: I watched Power Rangers all the time as a kid so it will always hold a special place in my heart. However, the show is loaded with violence and over stimulation. On the plus side, Power Rangers bolsters positive attitudes and good moral values. In my opinion, as long as you keep your younger kids away, there should be no problem with letting your grade school kids watch, as long as they aren't fighting in the house afterwards.

Parents Rating: TV-G

Age Rating: 8+

Summary: Jessie is a 2011 Disney sitcom about a small town Texas girl who moves to the big city and becomes a nanny to celebrity couples four children. As with mostly all Disney shows, Jessie is relatively harmless and innocent. The show revolves around Jessie taking care of the four children who often create mischief, while still aiming for her dreams.

Bottom Line: Jessie is your standard Disney show. There isn't anything in here that you couldn't watch in front of your grandma. Still, as the show revolves around an 18 year old girl, you may want to keep the viewing audience old enough to understand the show. The parents age rating I found for the show read 8, but I might go a little older than that. Not because of anything inappropriate, but because children before their teen years may not grasp ideas brought up in the show.

Parents Rating: TV-G

Age Rating: 7+

Summary: Big Time Rush follows 4 teenage boys who gave up their lives as hockey players in Minnesota to become a Hollywood boy band. The show tries to illustrate the challenges that boys must face in order to succeed. It centers on their trials as a new boy band to show the record label that they have what to it takes to make it big.

Bottom Line: Big Time Rush is a virtually innocent Nickelodeon show. Your biggest worry with this show is making sure that your child is old enough to understand the themes and ideas brought about in each episode. As the boys in Big Time Rush are high school age, many of the themes involve dating teenage love. This is generally portrayed appropriately for high school and even middle school viewers, but children younger than that might not understand what is going on, and may have a hard time following the plot. All in all, if you happened to walk in on your young child watching this show, there is nothing to fret about; they just probably won't get it.

Parents Rating: TV-Y7

Age Rating: 8+

Summary: In Victorious, we follow aspiring singer Tory Vega, as she tries to navigate her new world at a performing arts school in Hollywood. It's the coming of age story of the young high school girl who gets into crazy situations and has many adventures with her new school friends.

Bottom Line: Although this show is aimed at the “tween” market and received a Y7 rating, there are many references to more mature themes such as dating and relationships. There are several scenes with girls in bikinis and plenty of teenagers kissing. Because of this, you may find that your younger children shouldn’t watch this, but for your older children, already possibly familiar with teenage relationships, there shouldn't be anything wrong with it. Although, it looks like the show was canceled despite high ratings.

Parent Rating: TV-G

Age Rating: 7+

Summary: Good Luck Charlie is about a small family who are adjusting to a new baby. The parents, both working full time, ask their children for help in raising the child. Each episode is part of a video diary for Charlie (the baby) for when she gets older. The show is about the struggles that the family goes through on a daily basis getting used to the new family member. It focuses heavily on the three older children who are now responsible for taking care of their younger sister when their parents are busy.

Bottom Line: Disney wanted to make sure that Good Luck Charlie was aimed at the entire family rather than just the children in the house. This makes it a great family show that has good values and teaches about families taking care of each other. The premise of the older children making a video diary for baby Charlie when she gets older, is something that I found interesting and fun. The only thing that you might want to be concerned about is that there are several sexual references throughout the series. They are mild and subtle so I doubt most children will even know they exist let alone understand them. Keep in mind that Good Luck Charlie is meant for the whole family, so subtle adult humor is to be expected.

Parents Rating: TV-Y

Age Rating: 3+

Summary: Sesame Street has been around since 1969, so I doubt you really need an explanation about the show. However, in case you just moved out from underneath a rock, Sesame Street takes places in a city where humans and puppets teach young children preschool through comedy and music.

Bottom Line: Who doesn't love Sesame Street? I don't know whether or not this matter to you, but there has been controversy over the homosexual implications of Burt and Ernie. Now, this is not the place to argue about this being right or wrong, and it's not place to tell you what you think. However, since the controversy was quite large, I felt it only fair to acknowledge it.

Parents Rating: TV-Y7

Age Rating: 9+

Summary: The Legend of Korra is the sequel to the series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. This show focuses on the next generation of Avatar. The Avatar is a master of bending (magic) all elements, and uses his/her power to protect the people, keep the peace, and is a guardian against evil. As this show is the sequel to the original, it follow a new group of kids around, led by Korra, who are trying to protect the neutral Republic City against the Equalists, a secret society hell bent on riding the world of benders (magic users).

Bottom Line: The Legend of Korra is a fun Nickelodeon cartoon for your older children. You may want to keep your younger children away because of the violent nature of the show. When the benders use their powers, it is most often in a fight where even main characters get hurt and die. With this incarnation of the series, they have introduced a new type of bending called “blood bending.” This is usually expressed in the show with agonizing pain, bones breaking, and death. Because of this, and in spite of a Y7 rating, I would recommend waiting until a child is 10 or older before allowing them to watch this.

Parents Rating: TV-G

Age Rating: 8+

Summary: ICcarly follows a Carly and her friends as they navigate high school and try to maintain a weekly web show. Not looking for fame or fortune, instead Carly and her friends use their web show to be good role models for other teenagers. ICarly tackles many of the issues that teenagers face throughout adolescence, from navigating high school, dating, and getting older. This of course is done through weekly shenanigans and misadventures.

Bottom Line: The average parents rating I found for this show was 8+. I wholeheartedly disagree with this rating. Although the show attempts to show a good role model through Carly and her friends, ICarly is filled with sexual innuendos. The biggest problem with this show is that it aims at a tween demographic, and yet it has adult themes. I believe that the recommended age for ICarly would be closer to 14-16. Unfortunately, kids in that age rating may get bored with this shows tween feel.

Parents Rating: TV-Y7-FV

Age Rating: 8+

Summary: There are 4 incarnations of Ben 10, the original, Alien Force, Ultimate Alien, and Omniverse, all of which focus on 10 year old Ben who found a mysterious device called an Omnitrx. Ben uses the Omnitrix to transform into various monsters to defeat the forces of evil. Throughout the various incarnations, we see Ben getting older, and dealing with more age appropriate themes. In the newest series, Ben 10: Omniverse, we see a 16 year old Ben facing more aliens, new adventures, and a new partner.

Bottom Line: As Ben gets older, so do the themes in the show. I found that in the earlier incarnation, the original Ben 10, Ben is a 10 year old and the show is quite appropriate for that age group. In Ben 10: Alien Force, we see a 15 year old Ben, now of dating age, flirting and kissing. Ben 10: Ultimate Alien takes place very shortly after Alien Force so the age rating would be quite similar. In Ben 10: Omniverse, there is one episode that has overtly sexual concepts. One of Ben’s friends Julie, is captured by a villain and forced into doing sexual things. While adult situations do not seem to take place in every episode, the one occurrence is enough to show that Ben 10: Omniverse requires an older audience. I do not believe that Y7-FV is an appropriate rating for Omniverse, but for the previous incarnations, it seems to hold well.

Parents Rating: TV-Y

Age Rating: 3+

Summary: Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends is about Thomas, a train, and his friends living on the island of Sodor, and working on the railroad. The show has been on since 1984, and centers on conflict resolution and friendship.

Bottom Line: Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends is a great show for your young children. The show has a positive message, and teaches toddlers and preschoolers about things that are relevant to them: making friends, sharing, dealing with bullies, and even having small fights with friends. There has however, been controversy over the shows political correctness. Apparently, some people have found the show to be too politically correct, even removing Christmas from from the shows calendar and replacing it with Winter Holidays. Whether or not you’re offended by this is your business, but I don't think that it affects the positive message that Thomas and Friends teaches our children.

Parents Rating: TV-G

Age Rating: 5+

Summary: Phineas and Ferb follows the two stepbrothers through their crazy summer adventures. The boys are highly creative, building crazy inventions to fuel their antics. Their sister, Candace, constantly tries to get them caught, but never seems to be able to. Phineas and Ferb's pet platypus, Perry, is a secret agent who continuously fights to foil the plans of the evil Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, unbekownst to the stepbrothers.

Bottom Line: Phineas and Ferb is a family show, and does have jokes aimed at adults. These jokes ate generally in the form of pop culture references. Despite the G rating, Phineas and Ferb is fun for the whole family, from your 5 year old to you.

Parents Rating: TV-Y7

Age Rating: 8+

Summary: In a world where magic exists and war destroyed everything, 4 nations remain Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Each of the 4 nations have citizens among them than can control their respective elements with magic, called bending. The prequel to Legend of Korra, Avatar: The Last Airbender follows Aang, the aspiring Avatar, and his friends as they try to defeat the evil Fire Nation and get Aang to learn all of the bending techniques so that he can fulfill he destiny and become the Avatar.

Bottom Line: Avatar: The Last Airbender, much like its sequel is a fun show for your older but not yet teen children. Unlike its sequel, Avatar does not have the intense violent nature, but still posseses plenty of fantasy violence to warrant keeping your toddlers away. I would recommend around 8, simply because the story line may be too hard to follow for children younger.

Parents Rating: TV-G

Age Rating: 8+

Summary: Hannah Montana is the story of a young girl, Miley, trying to live a double life. While a simple high school student by day, Miley is the pop sensation Hannah Montana by night. This show deals with the trials and tribulations of a high school life, dating, and family while adding the fantasy of a pop star secret persona. Hannah Montana uses music and comedy to entertain, without having to rely on too complicated of a story line.

Bottom Line: Hannah Montana is an innocent Disney show with no profane or sexual innuendos. Your tween daughters around the age of 9 will probably love it. The show features Hannah Montana's music quite often. Hannah Montana is of course played by Miley Cirus, who at the time, sang about rather innocent things. However, as of recently, Miley is showing her more edgy side, and there is a distinct possibility that if you children like here in this, they will want to listen to her newer music, which of course is quite inappropriate for the same age group as the show. This show was canceled but still plays on syndication.

Parents Rating: TV-Y

Age Rating: 4+

Summary: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic bring us to the land of Eqestria where Twilight Sparkle and her friends must use the Elements of Harmony to defeat the evil Nightmare Moon and save Princess Celestia.

Bottom Line: My Little Pony is aimed at our younger viewers of age 4 and 5. However, there are many sexual references hidden throughout the show. They are explained to be a running joke from the writers and that children will not get them. Also, some of the episodes are rather dark and sad. There is plenty of fantasy violence, and even some near death/death situations. Personally, I might let my 4 year old watch this if I was with them, but I would recommend 8+. Now, there is a separate issue to be discussed with this show. Although the target demographic for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is young girls, there has been a tremendous response from male viewers up to 35. These men are elegantly called “Bronies”. For more information on the internet phenomenon, click the link here.

Parents Rating: TV-G

Age Rating: 7+

Summary: Shake it Up follows two teens as they attempt to become professional dancer on a television show. The show revolves around the teens lives as they navigate the social circles of their schools, their family lives, and of course their new life on the hit TV show they are dancers for.

Bottom Line: Shake it Up is a prime example of everything I don't want my daughter to become. I think it sends a negative message about teen girls, their sexuality, and their social behavior. Although this show received a G rating and the average age rating of 7, I would recommend not letting any children watch this show unless they demonstrate maturity and the ability to not mimic what they see. My recommended age rating would have to be 16.

Parents Rating: TV-PG

Age Rating: 14+

Summary: Degrassi: The Next Generation, renamed Degrassi in its 10^th season, is the 4^th incarnation of the Degrsassi Universe, with the original airing in 1979. It centers on a group of high school students as they deal with the issues of growing up, going to high school, and even taboo issues like teen pregnancy, violence, and drugs.

Bottom Line: Degrassi is not for younger children, and it doesn't claim to be. It has a PG rating for a good reason and I would recommend waiting until the teenage years to start watching it. Degrassi deals with real world issues through the teenage perspective. However, the entire series, since its inception, has a positive message and can teach teenagers how to deal with some of the issues that may affect them. I think that watching this show with your younger teenagers might be a good idea, so that they can talk about things after. Older teenagers, more familiar with life, should be fine watching this on their own, but keep in mind, they may still have questions for you about sensitive topics.

Parents Rating: TV-Y

Age Rating: 2+

Summary: Barney and Friends take place on a playground where all the boys and girls of the neighborhood play. This show has been on since 1992, and is not going anywhere. The show focuses on friendship, problem solving, and respect for preschoolers

Bottom Line: This show is fun for all ages. There isn't anything profane or inappropriate for even the youngest of viewers. However, as with everything in this world, someone has found a way to make a controversy even about Barney. The show has some criticism of how Barney and Friends doesn't teach children to deal with negative feelings and emotions. Now, that doesn't bother me in the slightest, I would rather teach that at home rather than on TV anyway.

Parents Rating: TV-Y7

Age Rating: 7+

Summary: The Powerpuff Girls, Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles, are super powered sisters accidentaly made in a lab by their father Professor Utonium. The girls use their super powers to protect their city against all the evil villains that apparently live in that one city.

Bottom Line: The Powerpuff Girls is what it is. They don't try to deal with any issues, or teach a positive message, it’s about candy coated violence. Now don't judge too quickly, this show is funny, and doesn't have anything other than over exaggerated fantasy violence that you would want to keep away from your kids. I agree with the 7+ age rating with this show, it’s fun, colorful, and hilarious. Some have even speculated that it is empowering to young girls; instead of being the damsel in distress, they are the heroes.