Finding common ground with your teenager can be tricky but it is vital for maintaining a strong relationship and keeping the lines of communication open. Finding a mutually enjoyable television program is one way to find a common bond, and depending on the program, it can open the door to some important conversations. When looking for a program to binge watch with your teenager, consider the rating, your child’s personality and maturity level and be open to suggestions. Your first step could be to ask your teen if he or she has a program that they would recommend to you, and let them share it with you. However, since many questions to teens are answered by shrugs and grunts, here is a list of potential winners for parents and teens.
13 Reasons Why
- Find it on Netflix
- Rated TV-MA
I’ve shared my thoughts on 13 Reasons Why in the past, and it’s still not one that I really enjoyed. I didn’t find the show entertaining and felt it was more depressing than anything. However, since I believe many teenagers are going to watch it anyway, I recommend watching it with them so that you can have a conversation about it. It covers the topic of teen suicide and brings up other sensitive issues like rape and bullying.
Atypical
- Find it on Netflix
- Rated TV-MA
This is a great show on so many different levels. It focuses on a family with an autistic son and neurotypical daughter who are navigating the transition into adulthood. The sibling relationship and dynamic between the parents play an important role in the show. The actor who plays Sam (autistic 18 year old) is excellent in his portrayal of an autistic man. The show does have many sexual references, as Sam is exploring the idea of having a girlfriend and what that means to him.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
- Netflix (Canada), TBS
- Rated TV-14
This is my teenage daughter’s favourite show and we all watch it as a family. It is hilarious, bordering on silly, if you just want a good laugh. The show is based out of a Brooklyn police department so there are obviously many references to crime in the show, and there are sexual innuendos.
Friday Night Lights
- View on Prime, NBC.com
- Rated TV-14
Even as a person who doesn’t appreciate football or sports in general, I couldn’t get enough of this show. My husband and I binge watched all five seasons a few years ago, and I recently ran through them all again with one of my teens. You fall in love with the characters and it brings up many valuable topics and situations for teenagers and parents to discuss.
Glee
- View on Netflix (US)
- Rated TV-14
Glee was a fun family program centered around a high school glee club. The show covered many issues that teens face, including teen pregnancy, bullying, family issues and concerns about sexuality.
Gossip Girl
- View on Netflix
- Rated TV-14
Admittedly, I didn’t watch this one with any of my teenagers, but I would watch the series again if one of them wanted to watch it with me. The storyline isn’t your typical teen experience (or none I’ve had) but it’s a soap opera-ish teen drama with some fun twists along the way.
Lost in Space
- View on Netflix
- Rated TV-PG
My science fiction loving family all enjoyed this series, and even my tween could watch with us. This is a remake of the original Lost in Space and it is a vast improvement. We’re hoping for a second season.
Pretty Little Liars
- View on Netflix
- Rated TV-14
This is another show about scheming teenagers that take their drama far beyond the typical high school drama. It’s a fun guilty pleasure that will leave you guessing… who is A?
Stranger Things
- Watch on Netflix
- Rated TV-14
A little too scary for my 11 year old, Stranger Things has just enough mystery and excitement to keep the teenagers interested, without crossing the line into horror (at least in my opinion). An instant cult classic, this is a great show to share with your teens.
The 100
- View on Netflix
- Rated TV-14
If you dystopian fiction like we do, this is the science fiction show for you. We are only two seasons in but my oldest son (past the teen years) tells me it just keeps getting better. There’s lots of action and there is quite a bit of violence in the show, accompanied by an engaging story line and characters.
The Flash
- View on Netflix and CW
- Rated TV-PG
With a family of Marvel fans and superhero nerds, we have to watch The Flash. It’s another show that we can watch with the entire family. There’s some violence and some of the stories may be a little complicated for children under ten.
The Goldbergs
- View on Crave
- Rated TV-PG
Parents who grew up in the eighties will love sharing The Goldbergs with their kids. It’s fun to reminisce about life back then while our kids laugh and ask if we really dressed that way, spoke that way or listened to that music. Yes we did. We really did.
Not all of these shows will work for all families, but hopefully you can find one or two that will be a good fit for you. Do you have any suggestions to add to the list?
NormaJane says
No teens in the house but we “old folks” 😉 enjoy Stranger Things & 100 on Netflix too.
Sheri says
No teens are necessary! These are just shows that I believe both adults and teens would enjoy.