The 10 Best TV Shows for 8-10 Year Olds →

Eight- to ten-year-olds are a hard demographic to find shows for. It’s the age when kids start to be aware when things are too babyish, and their tastes begin to veer into solidly tween territory — but they aren’t ready for more mature content yet. 

So, what are the best TV shows for 8-10-year-olds? If you’re struggling to find streaming shows that are both safe and enjoyable for your middle grade kiddo, look no further. 

El Deafo

El Deafo is an animated miniseries based on a graphic novel. It tells the true story of the author who became deaf as a child following an illness. 

Why it made our list

El Deafo features authentic disabled representation with positive messages about recognizing one’s own strengths that will resonate with any child. The show encourages empathy, acceptance, and expressing emotions.  

Content considerations

The scene where Cece is hospitalized isn’t scary, but it is emotionally intense. If your child has suffered medical trauma, you may want to warn them ahead of time, watch that episode together, and make space to talk about it afterward. 

Where to watch

Prime Video, Apple TV+

Ghostwriter

In this wholesome and fun reboot, a group of tween friends must solve the mystery of a ghost haunting their neighborhood bookstore — one that’s bringing fictional characters to life in the real world.

Why it made our list

Ghostwriter is a well-written show that encourages reading by including characters and storylines that bring to life classic and modern books. It features a diverse cast, positive messages, and good role models. 

Content considerations

Ghostwriter has no content considerations that parents need to be aware of. 

Where to watch

Prime Video, Apple TV+

Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street

This show follows tween Gortimer Gibbons and his two best friends as they navigate life on Normal Street, a seemingly ordinary suburb with a hint of something magical just below the surface. 

Why it made our list

A good, live-action show with tweens is hard to come by, which is why Gortimer Gibbon’s is such a gem. The series features strong values, quality friendships, and nurturing family relationships. Themes of compassion and teamwork along with positive adult role models are intertwined with engaging storylines. 

Content considerations

In an effort to stop cursing, one of the characters uses stand-ins for curse words such as “son of a blueberry.” It’s innocent and funny, but be prepared for some copycat action. 

Where to watch

Prime Video

Julie and the Phantoms

This musical comedy-drama follows Julie, a teenager. While coping with the recent death of her mom, Julie reignites her passion for music with the help of a teen boy rock band whose members have been dead for 25 years. 

Why it made our list

This show deals honestly with issues like grief, sexual identity, and the social pressures of high school while remaining wholesome enough for the older elementary set. Characters explore their feelings and overcome their struggles with the help of strong support systems. The cast isn’t very diverse, but gets some points for a mixed female lead. 

Content considerations

The original songs the band plays on the show are available for download. If your child has a tendency to purchase songs without your permission, take a second to update their purchase settings. If they have an Apple device, here’s how to set purchase limits using iPhone parental controls. 

Where to watch

Netflix

LEGO Masters

This reality TV series follows teams of two as they build creations out of LEGO based on an assigned theme. 

Why it made our list

It’s a fun, engaging show that parents will enjoy just as much as their kids. It features diverse competitors, an upbeat tone, and a supportive atmosphere. Builds are breathtaking and can spark creativity for viewers. 

Content considerations 

The show is heavily branded, so you can use the opportunity to help your child learn about the ways companies advertise their products to kids. While there’s no cursing, there is the occasional curse-adjacent word like “hell” or “damn.”

Where to watch 

Fox, Hulu, Disney+

Masterchef Junior

Masterchef Junior is a family-friendly cooking competition where kids ages 8 to 13 are given ingredients and instructions and must cook dishes within a time limit. 

Why it made our list

The adult host and judges are respectful and supportive of the young chefs. Contestants display tenacity under pressure and perseverance through obstacles. The contestants are very skilled, and many want to work with food when they grow up, which might just inspire your own budding chef.

Content considerations

Occasional mild language such as “hell” comes up. 

Where to watch

Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu 

Star Trek: Prodigy 

This action-filled animated series is set in the world of Star Trek. It follows a group of alien teens in the 24th century who find the abandoned starship Protostar and embark on a quest for adventure and freedom. 

Why it made our list

The animated aliens represent a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes, and the show features positive themes such as fighting for what is right. Despite their differences, the main characters come together to work or the common good. 

Content considerations

The show features forced servitude and captivity, as well as violence using various weapons. It’s fairly mild overall, though. 

Where to watch

Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+

SCIGIRLS 

Each episode of this animated series follows a new group of tween girls curious about the world as they use science to solve a problem. 

Why it made our list

In a world where the STEM gap could still be considered a chasm, it’s refreshing to see a show that unabashedly strives to change how girls view traditionally male-dominated fields. SCIGIRLS is filled with positive messages and role models, and episodes show kids the scientific process through various disciplines. 

Content considerations

SCIGIRLS has no content considerations that parents need to be aware of. 

Where to watch

Prime Video, Apple TV+

Tiny World

Tiny World is a visually stunning nature documentary series that spotlights the smallest members of the animal kingdom in their extraordinary quests to survive and thrive. 

Why it made our list

This is an outstanding show that the whole family can enjoy together. It educates kids about often unseen parts of nature and inspires in them a curiosity about the natural world. 

Content considerations

Nature being nature, you will see a fair amount of animals in danger, such as animals being pursued by predators. However, no animals die, and nothing too graphic is shown. There are references to animals mating, so be prepared to answer questions, but no visuals are shown. 

Where to watch

Prime Video, Apple TV+

Wizards Beyond Waverly Place

In this the sequel to the 2007 Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, Justin Russo, a former wizard who has traded in magic for a normal life, finds himself pulled back in when Billie, a powerful young wizard, shows up at his door in need of help. 

Why it made our list

We love that Billie is a strong, young, Black female lead. While her rebellious streak and troublemaker tendencies mean she’s not exactly perfect, this also makes her realistic and relatable. Justin is a positive adult role model, and Billie is open to learning and shows personal growth, so the show’s message is ultimately positive. We also appreciate that Justin defies masculine stereotypes as a dad who manages the family’s calendar, sews, and cooks. 

Content considerations

The Wizards encounter some monsters (although they lean more silly than scary) and find themselves in occasional danger. There are some mild insults like “dumb” and the occasional stand-ins for curse words like “freaking,” but overall, the language is clean. There are a few innuendos like “get a room,” but these will go over many kids’ heads. 

Where to watch

Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu

The bottom line

As with any new media your child consumes, we recommend checking out the show ahead of time — or watching it with them. It’s also a good idea to stay informed about what your child watches and searches online. With BrightCanary, you’ll be able to see if their YouTube searches send them down a rabbit hole of concerning content, or if their friends are sending them content they’re not quite yet ready to see. Download BrightCanary on the App Store and start your free trial today.

How Does Social Media Influence Eating Disorders?

From so-called thinfluencers to the glamorization of harmful eating habits and online personalities promoting juice cleanses, diet culture and unrealistic body standards are nearly inescapable on social media. But how does social media influence eating disorders? In this article, we’ll explore this issue and offer proactive tips for parents.

Eating disorders and adolescents 

In adolescents, eating disorders are the third most prevalent chronic illness, with cases more than doubling in the past decade. While anorexia and bulimia are the most well known, disordered eating can take a number of different forms, such as binge eating disorder and extreme picky eating. These disorders tend to emerge in adolescence, and it’s estimated that 13% of young people develop one by the age of 20. 

Social media’s impact on eating disorders

Due to their complexity, no single risk factor causes eating disorders. However, research suggests that the misuse of social media platforms is likely a significant contributing factor.

Here are some social media trends that may influence eating disorders: 

What I eat in a day 

#WIEIAD or “What I Eat in a Day” is a social media trend where users detail everything they eat in a 24-hour period.

Why it’s problematic: #WIEIAD videos often endorse unhealthy eating habits that can lead to imbalanced diets, body image issues, and disordered eating. Even if the food featured in a video is healthy for the creator, nutritional needs vary from person to person. Kids who imitate these diets hoping to achieve the creator’s body type may not get the calories or nutrients they need to thrive. 

Thinspiration/fitspiration 

Thinspiration refers to images and text promoting and idealizing thinness. Fitspiration is the promotion of health and fitness. 

Why it’s problematic: Thinspiration is the more worrisome of the two, often highlighting bony body parts, emphasizing body comparison, and promoting restrictive eating. 

Fitspiration tends to be less extreme than thinspiration — but not all fitspo accounts are healthy. Studies comparing the two reveal that fitspiration often promotes similar problematic attitudes about fitness, body image, and restrictive eating. Both tend to endorse an unrealistic ideal of a “fit-and-thin” body type. 

Thinfluencers 

Thinfluencers are social media creators who post content promoting weight loss, often through extreme dieting, with the goal of fitting a thin societal standard. 

Why it’s problematic: Thinfluencers can become negative role models for impressionable kids. Young people who spent their formative years in the pandemic may be especially vulnerable. Because the internet was a big way kids found connection during that time, they may be more likely to form a parasocial relationship with influencers, making them especially susceptible to their messages. 

Clean eating

Another concerning trend is a hyperfocus on clean eating. While eating mostly whole foods and minimizing ultra-processed foods is generally a good idea, social media has turned clean eating into a trend that kids are encouraged to buy into. This shows up as sponsored posts for “detox” green powders and online personalities with no nutrition credentials promoting fads like juice cleanses and raw food diets. 

Why it’s problematic: Orthorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an unhealthy fixation on eating only healthy and clean foods. Social media content focusing on clean eating and detoxes may entice kids into unhealthy relationships with food or reinforce already existing habits. 

Eating disorder warning signs

Maiken Wiese, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist specializing in eating disorder recovery for teens and adults, shared the following list of eating disorder red flags for parents to watch for: 

• Skipping meals

• Eating alone or away from family 

• Eliminating entire food groups 

• Increased concern about appearance 

• More stress and arguments around meals 

• Eating very slow or very fast 

• Generally not being as mentally present as usual during meal times

Although we’ve all been conditioned to imagine a person with an eating disorder as looking emaciated, that isn’t always the case. Wiese cautions parents that their child’s appearance may or may not change, but that has no bearing on how dangerous disordered eating can be. 

Tips for parents

Wiese emphasizes that parents don’t cause children to develop eating disorders. Instead, “they can be incredibly helpful and some of the best supporters of children building a better relationship with food and their bodies.”

Here are some actions parents can take: 

• Lead by example. According to Wiese, “By eating with your child and taking your own focus away from dieting or weight, you provide a powerful example and can make food experiences about more than just the food: the atmosphere, the conversation, and connecting with others.”

• Check your own attitude about food and weight. Wiese says that children can internalize messages parents put out about food and weight. She advises parents to “refrain from speaking negatively about your body, other people's bodies, or food around your children.”

• Teach media literacy. Research has shown that an adolescent girl’s body image is significantly more negative after viewing images of thin bodies, suggesting an association between exposure to these images and an increase in eating disorder symptoms. Researchers point to media literacy as a potential intervention. Teaching your children to think critically about the content they view is an important step parents can take to minimize the impact of negative social media messages about food and body image.

• Stay involved in your child’s online life. Regularly talk to your child about the content they view online. Periodically sit with them to view their feed together, and use a monitoring app like BrightCanary to stay on top of the media they consume.

• Get help if you suspect your child has an eating disorder. If you think your child may have an eating disorder, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for help. Wiese also points parents to F.E.A.S.T., an online resource to help caregivers support a child with an eating disorder. 

The bottom line

There’s no single reason a person develops an eating disorder, but research suggests that the misuse of social media platforms is likely a significant contributing factor. Parents can help support their child to develop a healthy relationship with food by modeling a positive attitude about eating and their own bodies, teaching media literacy, and staying involved in their child’s activity on social media. 

BrightCanary can help you supervise your child’s social media use and show you what they see on their feeds, what they’re searching, and even what they’re messaging. The app’s advanced technology scans your child’s activity and messages, alerting you when they encounter something concerning.

Supporting Children Through Screen Withdrawal →

by Andrea Karin Nelson

Link to original article

You know the scene. Your ordinarily sweet, happy, agreeable (or mostly, anyway) offspring turns into a whining, screaming mess when you tell them screen time is over. 

We’ve all been there. And we all know that setting healthy screen limits is in our children’s best interest. But the pushback we face when we try to set or enforce those limits can weaken the resolve of even the most determined among us. 

Understanding Screen Withdrawal

When your child pitches a fit about screen time ending, they aren’t being difficult for the sake of being difficult (although it can certainly feel like that in the moment). It turns out there’s a scientific explanation for this familiar screen time woe.

Screen time, like other pleasurable activities, releases dopamine, sometimes called the “feel good hormone.” When screen time ends, dopamine levels drop, and a child may experience withdrawal. Experts say this experience can feel painful to children. 

The younger the child, the less they have developed the skills to regulate their emotions and navigate transitions, further leading to breakdowns and tantrums when screen time is over. 

How to Limit Digital Device Meltdowns

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize the tantrums when screen time is over. 

1. Set Realistic Goals 

If you’re looking to reduce your child’s overall screen time, don’t do it all at once. Small reductions in screen time will be easier for them to handle and more likely to lead to new habits that stick. 

Rather than jumping right to your end goal, start by reducing screen time by one-third or one-half and work downward from there. 

For example, if your child spends four hours a day on screens, aim to cut it back to about three-and-a-half hours. After a few days or weeks, cut it back to two hours.

2. Be Transparent, Predictable, and Consistent

It’s never too young to start teaching your children digital literacy. Explain the reason for your screen time limits to your child in terms that match their age. For a toddler or preschooler, it could be as simple as saying, “It’s good for your brain to also do things that aren’t on screens.” As children get older, you can go into more detail. 

Children thrive on routines. Allowing screens at the same time each day will help them know what to expect and be better able to adjust to limits.

3. Stick to Established Screen Time Limits

If your child learns that you occasionally give in to their begging for extra screen time, they will continue to beg each time in the hopes that you’ll cave again. If you need to give extra screen time — say, when your child is home sick and you’re on a deadline at work — explain your reasons and let them know it's a temporary change. 

How to Ease the Transition When Screen Time is Up

There are things you can do to help your child transition from screen time to the next activity and minimize the chances of an outburst. 

Help them plan something fun to do after screen time

Before your child starts using screens, have them decide what they want to do after screen time is over. Give your child something to look forward to, whether it’s their favorite snack or a trip to the park. Your child’s dependence on screens may have caused them to lose interest in other activities they previously enjoyed, so you may need to suggest some activities at first. Over time, they’ll rediscover old interests — or develop new ones — and start to need your ideas less and less. 

Give countdown warnings

Giving periodic time checks can be helpful in preparing your child to transition away from screen time. 

Experts suggest involving your child in the process of countdown warnings to help minimize power struggles by giving them some control in the matter. They can help choose at what increments to receive warnings and set the timer themselves.

Pay attention to timing

Avoid ending screen time in the middle of a show or at the pivotal point of a game. This will only increase your child’s frustration at being told it’s time to stop. 

One way to do this is to set screen limits by the number of show episodes instead of a time limit.

If your child’s screen time involves a game that requires wrapping up (getting back to base in Minecraft, for example), their final countdown warning might need to include a gentle reminder to begin that process. 

Final thoughts

Screen time withdrawal is real and takes time and effort to work through. Habits don’t change overnight. Be patient with your child (and yourself!). By being intentional and starting small, you’ll be well on your way to a healthier digital balance in your household.