What Our Kids Are Watching This Summer: Our Favorite Guilt-Free Summer TV Shows (For The Whole Family)

I feel like I can solidly call myself an expert in a few different categories: 1. flea market shopping/thrifting, 2. sunless tanning, and 3. best family-friendly shows/movies. We have a pretty loosey goosey Summer TV policy – they get some in the morning while we work (unless they are in camps) and we watch family TV many nights of the week if we aren’t out (we do this year-round actually). We have found that we care less about the quantity and more about the quality of the shows they watch and want to do it as a family (we hate them on individual iPads). So today I wanted to throw out a few that the whole family likes (for the most part) and some that you might not have seen yet. I have found that the ones that inspire them to do something after they watch the show are the most valuable – craft shows that make them want to make something, science shows that make them want to experiment, or shows that show them how to be kind. TV is just so good these days, you’ll see…

Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show

Jack MacBrayer is a national treasure and knowing him personally (yes, I’m bragging) I can tell you that he is so lovely in every single way. He pitched this show a few years ago – essentially a modern-day Mr. Rogers and it finally got made. It’s EXCELLENT. It made me cry with how pure its intentions are and then laugh because it’s funny. The world needs more family TV shows like this. Thank you, Jack and Apple TV for creating such a wonderful family-friendly, and legit ENJOYABLE show.

Making Fun

By far the freshest design/competition show on Television. That shot of the dinosaur doesn’t really do it justice. It’s about 6 old curmudgeon carpenters who have to ‘make’ something a child asks them to – like a 16′ unicorn that poops rainbows. They use engineering, welding, carpentry – all different types of fabrication to create these INCREDIBLE inventions. It’s HILARIOUS and you get the sense that the producers are laughing or stoned when doing the graphics. YOU will love this, not just your kids. I PROMISE. So far only one season and the Hendersons are excited for the next.

Weird But True!

This isn’t one that we all watch, but our kids love the heck out of this show, learn a lot and always want to do experiments afterward. This isn’t one of our nighttime family shows (it’s def more geared for kids) but it’s solid, they learn a lot and it entertains them.

Brainchild

Another great Science show (with my friend Ali Ward who is awesome). Excellent science in an approachable way for kids.

Get Out Of My Room

Kids designing each other’s rooms!!!! I just discovered this and I think it’s only one season, but it’s so cute! These two (Hi Claire!!) work with two siblings to make each other’s rooms fully decked out. The whole family started watching this and it’s pretty darn cute. Warning: they will then want insane rooms, with crazy/fun/expensive ideas. I love how inspired they got after watching it.

It’s LITERALLY JUST ABOUT CUTE ANIMALS and how their ‘cuteness’ keeps them alive. Y’all it’s ADORABLE, innocent, and educational.

Making It

THREE SEASONS of wonderfulness. These people are so talented, so creative and so nice to each other. The hosts are hilarious, and the talent is top-notch. IF YOU LOVE DESIGN BLOGS YOU WILL LOVE THIS SHOW. We have to start it early because they always want to make something afterward.

Before I go: I feel like I can’t publish this post without calling out our other favorite shows that I know I’ve talked about multiple times but want to collect them all here:

1. The Great Pottery Throwdown (6 seasons!) – EXCELLENT, kind, talented, and wonderfully produced. (I’d say 5 and up on this one). Both of our kids wanted to take pottery classes after this and they did 🙂
2. Nailed It – Less educational, more fun, and hilarious. A cooking show that our whole family LOVES.

3. Full Bloom – The flower competition show that had some spectacular moments (but the level of waste is hard to watch at times).
4. Blown Away – INCREDIBLE talent and really exciting to watch.
5. Master Chef Junior – Super impressive kids cooking competition show that inspires our kids to cook. A fun Friday family night would be to watch an episode at 4pm and then make a big meal together.

6. Lego Masters – Duh. So fun. So talented. So many seasons.
7. Domino Masters – They tried to double down on the lego masters and it’s good, but trying to find as many people who are experts in dominos I think proved hard for the casting producers 🙂
8. Holey Moley – Brian and the kids love this one far more than I do – lots of falls, silly gags, etc. But the hosts are super funny and like I said, the kids and Brian LOVE IT. 5.

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