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Original poster

TV shows for 8-12 year old that won't have the adults crying inside

101 replies

Glamgwen · 29/09/2023 08:20

Just that really! Looking for TV/film recommendations (on any streaming service) that grown-ups & kids of this age can enjoy together. We loved Wednesday & Heartstopper and looking for a similar boxset or films we can get stuck into for Autumn. Nothing too cutesy American (we're not fans of the Descendants)

OP posts:
maddiemookins16mum · 29/09/2023 14:02

Anne with an E is good (but not as good as the 1980s one). Plus, Free Rein, if horses are popular in your household.

GrouchyKiwi · 29/09/2023 14:12

The Dragon Prince
Avatar: The Last Airbender

Inbestigators is cute, but possibly for the younger demographic.

My kids also like all the cooking/baking shows, and some of the home ones like Dream Home Makeover.

marypoppinsreturns · 29/09/2023 14:23

The unlisted on kids Netflix- my 9 year old and I both enjoyed it.

DCINightingale · 29/09/2023 14:27

A PP above recommended Lego masters, I can highly recommend the Australian lego masters series - very enjoyable to watch, with some brilliant lego builds but the host is very entertaining and all family friendly.

lljkk · 29/09/2023 14:29

Oldies but Goodies:

The Princess Bride
Merlin
Miranda

SummerInSun · 29/09/2023 14:42

Some factual shows - Inside the Factory on BBC, Car SOS (we fast forward through the sad stories but my DH does that when he watches it by himself anyway!), Horrible Histories.

purpleme12 · 29/09/2023 14:44

We both really enjoyed Dodger here.
Really wanted another series

drspouse · 29/09/2023 14:44

JustMaggie · 29/09/2023 09:21

"The good place" was quite fun

For an 8-12 year old?
DD just watched Is It Cake?

3WildOnes · 29/09/2023 14:48

drspouse · 29/09/2023 14:44

For an 8-12 year old?
DD just watched Is It Cake?

Show quote history

I was also going to question if the Good Place is suitable for 8-12 year olds?!
I can't remember how many episodes Mindy is in but would definitely need to skip those and then not sure the story would follow. Can't remember if there are other unsuitable scenes?

We all enjoyed a series of unfortunate events on Netflix.

PictureConsequences · 29/09/2023 14:59

Young Sheldon here with my DS10.

ElfDragon · 29/09/2023 15:04

My 10 year old currently likes Taskmaster (we watch the bleeped ones), and Once Upon a Time. Lego masters has also been a big hit. Also Pottery throwdown, and sometimes BakeOff. For some reason, The Wheel has them completely hooked, as did The Wall (no idea why, we don’t watch game shows really)

Morty12 · 29/09/2023 15:04

DCINightingale · 29/09/2023 14:27

A PP above recommended Lego masters, I can highly recommend the Australian lego masters series - very enjoyable to watch, with some brilliant lego builds but the host is very entertaining and all family friendly.

We loved Legomasters Australia too, the UK one is ok but much preferred the Australian version.

Snowontheroof · 29/09/2023 15:09

It's pretty old now, but Spellbinder was a very good series. I don't know if it's available anywhere, though...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spellbinder_(TV_series)

Spellbinder (TV series) - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spellbinder_(TV_series)

Original poster
Glamgwen · 29/09/2023 15:15

Some great suggestions here, thanks so much for your replies😊

OP posts:
cocksstrideintheevening · 29/09/2023 15:32

Young sheldon
GBBO
Any of the master chefs, particularly junior

piscofrisco · 29/09/2023 16:01

Modern family
Life in pieces

Dontbugmemalone · 29/09/2023 17:01

The Inbestigators- Netflix
Little Lunch - Netflix
The Babysitters Club - Netflix
Itch - BBC iPlayer
Jamie Johnson - BBC iPlayer
The Traitors - BBC iPlayer (might be a bit of bad language)
Malcolm in the Middle - Disney plus and I think Channel 4, this was a huge hit in our house.
Taskmaster Bleeped - Channel 4
Brainchild - Disney Plus

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 29/09/2023 17:05

My dc loved Dance Academy - Australian drama in a ballet school.

They also have an ongoing fondness for Mako Mermaids and H2O. And are in their 20s. Everytime they go to the beach, they still shriek “Oh, no. I just got splashed”, before diving into the sea.

tenpoundpombear · 29/09/2023 17:39

Oh yes The Babysitters Club was a hit here too (mainly with me 🤣) she reads the books though so I thought she'd enjoy it.

She also liked the "to all the boys" movies and XO, Kitty.

DaisyWaldron · 29/09/2023 17:52

Good Omens
Steven universe
We enjoyed Sweet Tooth, but the second season is quite dark and upsetting, with character deaths. My children are more heartless than I am about that sort of thing, though, so it was fine.
His Dark Materials
Clarkson's Farm
The Goes Wrong Show

BadgerFace · 29/09/2023 18:13

This is a great thread! I just tried to watch A Kind of Spark with my DD but she was a bit too sensitive for it. It looked great though for family viewing to me!

CoffeeWithCheese · 29/09/2023 18:23

DD has a worrying fascination with Escape to the Country...

A Kind of Spark on CBBC iPlayer was fantastic - other than that, most of the stuff my 10 and 11 year old watch makes me sob inside.

MillieMollyMandi · 29/09/2023 18:32

Locke & Key is an excellent series

Lalgarh · 29/09/2023 19:56

Masked Singer, even though inn hindsight there's far too much Jonathan Ross.

And actually quite a lot of the "dad" TV like Retro Electro workshop or Bangers and Cash. Or Bake off

drspouse · 29/09/2023 20:10

Just a warning, The Babysitters Club has a boy who likes pink and is therefore clearly a girl. That would fall for me into "unsuitable AND wants to make me tear my eyes out".