Best TV series to watch with your children

Bond with your kids with our pick of TV shows.

One of the best things about being a parent is that you get to live vicariously through your children. Relive your youth with them by watching cartoons with some sugary cereal on a Saturday morning (Hey, we don’t judge).

Here are our top picks:

Teen Titans Go! – Netflix

With superhero shows and movies being all the rage over the last 10 years, Teen Titans Go! offers a unique appeal to both parents and children. The show focuses on the DC superhero team, consisting of Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, Raven and Cyborg, each character has their own eccentricities and are often found in crazy situations. The writing is smart and funny and it’s great to enjoy with your child.

Ducktales – Showmax

Many parents who grew up in the 90s will remember the original Ducktales, with its catchy theme song, exciting adventures, fast-paced action and memorable characters. Who can forget Scrooge McDuck swimming in his money vault? The reboot version of the animated show will bring a sense of nostalgia to old fans, and is set to garner a whole new set of young fans. The reboot features original characters Huey, Dewey and Louie as well as everyone’s favourite side character Launchpad. The show is a great link to carrying on the Disney TV legacy.

LEGO City Adventures – DSTV Nickelodeon Channel 305

Aimed at children aged eight to 12 years old, LEGO City Adventures is loaded with hysterical, action-packed and often absurd slices of urban life. The CG-animated comedy series explores the hopes, dreams and misadventures of an ever-expanding community of unique characters. Brick by brick, LEGO City Adventures offers a rollercoaster ride of non-stop fun, with unorthodox silliness and heroic moments in every episode! It’s produced by Flaunt Animation of Scotland and France’s Passion Pictures and written by Jon Colton Barry (Phineas and Ferb), Steven Banks (SpongeBob SquarePants) and Jamie Moyer (Modern Family).

Doc McStuffins – Disney Junior DSTV Channel 309

For the younger children, a familiar favourite to enjoy watching with parents is six-year-old toy doctor Dottie “Doc” McStuffins as she fixes up broken toys. The show sends excellent messages to children about the importance of caring, being polite, helping others, and taking care of yourself. As a parent, you can enjoy watching the doc for the positive influence that she can have on your child as an intelligent African American character who isn’t a princess or ballerina. Be warned though, the catchy songs will be stuck in your head well after the episode has ended.

A Series of Unfortunate Events – Netflix

This show is based on the popular books by Lemony Snicket, and parents who are looking for a break from animation can sink their teeth into this dark fantasy series with their kids and tweens. The series offers a great adaptation of the books and is laced with mystery, humour and misadventures. Starring the ever-popular Neil Patrick Harris, the show delivers a big-budget feel with amazing production value and production design. Parents should be aware that the series has some mature themes which may not be suitable for younger children.