Jump to content

Menu
Giving You and Your Child a Road Map to the Best Possible Education
The Well-Trained Mind Community

Wholesome family TV shows

Vida Winter

By Vida Winter,
in The Chat Board

 Share

Recommended Posts

MyLittleBears

MyLittleBears

Posted
Posted

We watch a lot of old stuff. I love lucy, andy griffith, i dream of genie, get smart, honeymooners etc. My family and I used to watch Wild America on pbs every sunday night. I remember looking forward to it as a kid.

  • Like 2
HRAAB

HRAAB

Posted
Posted

We watch a lot of old stuff. I love lucy, andy griffith, i dream of genie, get smart, honeymooners etc. My family and I used to watch Wild America on pbs every sunday night. I remember looking forward to it as a kid.

We also watch old tv shows including the ones you mentioned. In addition to those my girls like Bewitched, Twilight Zone, Alf, Green Acres. We also like All Creatures Great and Small, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Sherlock Holmes with Jeremy Brett.

  • Like 2
gardenmom5

gardenmom5

Posted
Posted (edited)

sabrina the teenage witch

modern marvels and myth busters

dog with a blog

wishbone- if you can find it . . . (probably on youtube.)

Edited by gardenmom5
Tenaj

Tenaj

Posted
Posted

We've been watching Star Trek:  The Next Generation with my 10 and up kids.  We've really enjoyed it.  There have been a handful of episodes that we skipped because the subject matter was a bit much for us but overall it's been a good time.  There are seven seasons so it's lasted a long time.  We tried watching the original series but for some reason it was more frightening for my 10 year old.  We may try it again now that he used to the sci fi genre.  

 

It's on Netflix if you have that available.

  • Like 4
Tanaqui

Tanaqui

Posted
Posted (edited)

I suppose that depends on what you want to avoid.

 

We watch a lot of old stuff. I love lucy, andy griffith, i dream of genie, get smart, honeymooners etc.

 

For example, I wouldn't choose to watch Lucy, Genie, or Honeymooners myself because I don't like the gender relations on those shows. For crying out loud, Ricky spanks Lucy on more than one occasion, and the Honeymooners has Ralph threatening his wife as his catchphrase. I think that's seriously problematic - certainly a lot worse than a commercial for Cialis. But to each their own.

 

Edited by Tanaqui
  • Like 14
mamaofgirls

mamaofgirls

Posted
Posted

We also like the Middle and that 80's Show after it.... but it always gets turned off before Modern Family.

 

Boy Meets World - the early years, Home Improvement and Full House are classics. Wish they made more like them..

Noreen Claire

Noreen Claire

Posted
Posted

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a perennial favorite in my house. The 7 & 4 yr olds are watching it again - we have watched it through with my kids *at least* 3 other times over the last few years. You can get the DVDs through Netflix (it isn't available streaming) or through the library.

 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/avatar-the-last-airbender

 

However, We have NOT watched the follow-up show, The Legend of Korra. As much as I would like to see it, and the reviews are excellent, it does have some darker themes and, I've been told, a same-sex relationship that my husband was uncomfortable with for our kids until they are a bit older.

  • Like 3
MyLittleBears

MyLittleBears

Posted
Posted (edited)

 

I suppose that depends on what you want to avoid.

 

 

For example, I wouldn't choose to watch Lucy, Genie, or Honeymooners myself because I don't like the gender relations on those shows. For crying out loud, Ricky spanks Lucy on more than one occasion, and the Honeymooners has Ralph threatening his wife as his catchphrase. I think that's seriously problematic - certainly a lot worse than a commercial for Cialis. But to each their own.

 

 

 

Yeah I explained to my boys how inappropriate this behavior is an how men and women need to have mutual respect. Allowances for your wife are not appropriate, etc. I also don't like how disrespectful Alice is towards her husband and how she chooses when and where to give him money because she is the only one smart enough to handle $. 

 

 

 

We kind of laugh it off and know this is not how real life works.

 

 

ETA:

 

I also tell them no to drop anvils on each others heads as they do on bugs bunny.  ;)

Edited by MyLittleBears
  • Like 2
shanezomom

shanezomom

Posted
Posted

Another vote for The Middle. Someone recommended it to us in December and we have loved it. (Unlike Parks and Rec which we started out loving, but it turned a little too adult in later seasons.)

  • Like 1
Tanaqui

Tanaqui

Posted
Posted
I also tell them no to drop anvils on each others heads as they do on bugs bunny.  ;)

 

I see a huge distinction between comic slapstick with no real world analogs and the normalization of spousal abuse.

 

  • Like 3
poppy

poppy

Posted
Posted (edited)

I like The Middle a lot.  There was a review in the New Yorker which affectionately described Frankie as a Trump voter, which made me laugh.

 

Black-ish is almost as clean, maybe a few mild swears. It has a lot of kid humor ,  and the kid actors on that show are delightfully weird.  

 

 

I remember seeing an episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy got a black eye by accident (Ricky threw something at her and she didn't catch it), and all the friends laughed about how Ricky must have finally hit her .  "That Cuban temper, ha ha ha".    It was shocking to me and that was maybe 20 years ago that I saw it? I don't think kids today would take it as an actual life lesson.  It is very dated.  Something like The Dick Van Dyke show would probably be a lot better.  It was only maybe 10 years later, but, it feels like a much bigger gap than that.

Edited by poppy
  • Like 2
Matryoshka

Matryoshka

Posted
Posted

Some super-wholesome shows we've been watching lately are When Calls the Heart and Granite Flats.  Soooo G-rated, but my teen girls really like them.  Found them both on Netflix; the former is Hallmark channel and the latter seems to be from BYU (Brigham Young University?) so that probably explains the wholesomeness.  But still good stories. :)

 

On the more PG-level (so I'd say probably fine for 11 and up or so), we do love Stargate SG-1 (except the very first episode if it's unedited for network TV - that one's different!), Stargate Atlantis (but not Stargate Universe) and of course, anything Star Trek.

  • Like 1
Paige

Paige

Posted
Posted

I like Girl Meets World. It's so nice and family friendly- I think my kids think it is too wholesome! It's one of the better Disney shows. The kids also really like all of the kid cooking shows.

  • Like 1
Closeacademy

Closeacademy

Posted
Posted

English-speaking shows:  We either watch older stuff from the 80s and before or documentaries mostly on animals or history.  We also like shows about food and travel.

 

But we actually watch a lot of Korean dramas.  They usually have a certain number of episodes (16-20) and are a complete story.  Most are rom-coms but you can find adventure and history as well.  There is usually only hand-holding and maybe some kissing toward the end of the story.  Those who are younger usually show respect toward those who are older.  I find that other than alcohol use that they usually align with our values.  And if some character is evil they usually get punished in some way--mostly death or prison.  It's also a nice way to learn about another culture and passively learn another language. 

Murphy101

Murphy101

Posted
Posted

I like The Middle a lot. There was a review in the New Yorker which affectionately described Frankie as a Trump voter, which made me laugh.

 

Black-ish is almost as clean, maybe a few mild swears. It has a lot of kid humor , and the kid actors on that show are delightfully weird.

 

 

I remember seeing an episode of I Love Lucy where Lucy got a black eye by accident (Ricky threw something at her and she didn't catch it), and all the friends laughed about how Ricky must have finally hit her . "That Cuban temper, ha ha ha". It was shocking to me and that was maybe 20 years ago that I saw it? I don't think kids today would take it as an actual life lesson. It is very dated. Something like The Dick Van Dyke show would probably be a lot better. It was only maybe 10 years later, but, it feels like a much bigger gap than that.

Dh and I were watching a classic black and white movie and we're just shocked at some of the references. In one scene this very wealthy businessman (Cary Grant) is donating a huge sum to a home for unwed pregnant women and he quips that when a man donates enough they can't complain if he avails himself of their facility. 😳 And later he is at a hotel with an of course naive woman who he is upfront he only wants as a mistress and she has last minute misgivings and locks the bedroom door. So he is by the pool chatting with an older man whose paramour has also given him a cold shoulder and he asks the man what did he do about it. The man very casually says something like, "why I slapped her but good and I bet she'll have a different attitude when I get back" and Cary Grant just sorta nods like, well I'll think about that and offers to play around of cards with the man. 😳 Dh and I were both just ... Yeah not watching this with the kids.

  • Like 3
ktgrok

ktgrok

Posted
Posted

Star Trek The Next Generation is good. My other go to choices now have me stymied as both star actors who are probably sexual predators. But the shows themselves are great, The Cosby Show and 7th Heaven. although the later seasons of 7th heaven get into premarital sex.

 

If reality/documentary/non fiction are okay, then Dogs with Jobs is my daughter's favorite right now, along with Unlikely Animal Friends. Both are on Netflix. NOT Animal House, which is sensationalistic and sad. We've also enjoyed Extreme Homes as well. Oh, and Rick Steves travel shows!!! Those are on the PBS app if you have Roku/Amazon firestick/etc. 

Farrar

Farrar

Posted
Posted

My kids' favorite thing to watch with us is Jane the Virgin... so take anything I say with a grain of salt, but...

 

The kids' shows we've enjoyed most together have been Avatar, mentioned above, and Gravity Falls.

 

My kids enjoy Doctor Who. I tried to get them to enjoy Merlin and Robin Hood, also from BBC, but those didn't take, still good, enjoyable, family stuff with minimal s*x and violence.

 

My kids also love Amazing Race and some other reality shows like Masterchef Junior.

 

We like watching documentaries together. The last big hit here was On the Way to School.

 

In general, I think *any* media you consume should be worthy of some discussion. I mean, there's no way to find something that reflects your beliefs completely. I get that you don't want to stray too far, but having those discussions is potentially the best way to connect with your kids about your values, so I'd say be willing to be a little flexible.

  • Like 3
shanezomom

shanezomom

Posted
Posted

We just stumbled on a quirky little treasure called The Detectorists from BBC on Amazon Prime. Not for kids because of swear words but for you adults when you want something refreshing and charming. I have come to love British series like this with low key acting and subtle humor that delights in the ordinary.

Lizzie in Ma

Lizzie in Ma

Posted
Posted

Whatever you find make sure it doesn't have commercials- it seems no matter what the rating of the show, the commercials can be completely inappropriate. I don't like having to explain Cialis commercials to children while watching football! We are about to cut the cord and go straight streaming the commercials have me so steaming mad.

 

Yup, this is, in the end, what made us get rid of cable at our house so many years ago.  We were watching Full House, my kids were really little and on came a commercial for shows I would never let them see and I flipped out.  Worse it was the Family Channel!!!  This was well before streaming but we used the library and netflix dvds and I had gone out and bought some childhood favorites on dvd like McGyver, Wonder woman, The Justice league, Jonny Quest, Land of the Lost and those are what my kids watched, commercial free.

  • Like 2
TammyS

TammyS

Posted
Posted

 

I suppose that depends on what you want to avoid.

 

 

For example, I wouldn't choose to watch Lucy, Genie, or Honeymooners myself because I don't like the gender relations on those shows. For crying out loud, Ricky spanks Lucy on more than one occasion, and the Honeymooners has Ralph threatening his wife as his catchphrase. I think that's seriously problematic - certainly a lot worse than a commercial for Cialis. But to each their own.

 

 

I guess this depends on interpretation.  Lucy is pure slapstick and not meant to be taken seriously.  And when you watch the Honeymooners, and Ralph "threatens" his wife, you will notice that she never, ever looks worried that he would ever do it, or even impressed by the "threat" at all.  She just stands there and looks down her nose at him.  If anything, I think the gender relations in the Honeymooners is problematic for the opposite reason, that it portrays men as stupid buffoons who need their wives to keep them straight (as do far too many of the modern sitcoms).  But I don't bother interpreting it that far, because it's the Honeymooners, for crying out loud.

  • Like 3
Tanaqui

Tanaqui

Posted
Posted
But I don't bother interpreting it that far, because it's the Honeymooners, for crying out loud.

 

This is how these things sneak into our heads, because we think they're not worthy of thought or discussion.

 

I mean, if you're up for editing what your child watches in the first place, you presumably think that their viewing choices are worth considering carefully.

  • Like 3
shawthorne44

shawthorne44

Posted
Posted

Whatever you find make sure it doesn't have commercials- it seems no matter what the rating of the show, the commercials can be completely inappropriate. I don't like having to explain Cialis commercials to children while watching football! We are about to cut the cord and go straight streaming the commercials have me so steaming mad.

 

 

I've found an improvement on that.  I built one of the computers mentioned by this guy

 

http://mymediaexperience.com/htpc-builds/performance-htpc/

 

Then I got a lifetime subscription to PlayOn with PlayLater and Ad skip.   So, the playon software records the show off the streaming site, and then it skips the commercials at playback.   Most of the legal streaming sites still have the national commercials on the stream, and they try to force you to watch them.  Also, they take episodes off after a couple of weeks.  

 

At least a few times a week I still say "Bah!   We showed you, you commercials!"   

TammyS

TammyS

Posted
Posted

This is how these things sneak into our heads, because we think they're not worthy of thought or discussion.

 

I mean, if you're up for editing what your child watches in the first place, you presumably think that their viewing choices are worth considering carefully.

 

Have you actually watched the Honeymooners?  Ralph is the one being made fun of.  His behavior is what is being held up as ridiculous.  The Honeymooners not only doesn't normalize spousal abuse, it holds up even the threat of it to ridicule.

 

Having an action or attitude portrayed on a show doesn't automatically "normalize" it.  And least of all in slapstick comedy where the action or attitude is held up to ridicule. 

shawthorne44

shawthorne44

Posted
Posted

I guess this depends on interpretation.  Lucy is pure slapstick and not meant to be taken seriously.  And when you watch the Honeymooners, and Ralph "threatens" his wife, you will notice that she never, ever looks worried that he would ever do it, or even impressed by the "threat" at all.  She just stands there and looks down her nose at him.  If anything, I think the gender relations in the Honeymooners is problematic for the opposite reason, that it portrays men as stupid buffoons who need their wives to keep them straight (as do far too many of the modern sitcoms).  But I don't bother interpreting it that far, because it's the Honeymooners, for crying out loud.

 

I have always truly loved I Love Lucy.  But, I couldn't watch it for several years after watching a show about Desi, and they mentioned that their marriage was really like that.   Including the spanking for being bad.   I felt like throwing up the next episode in which he spanked her.  Actually, I don't think I ever went back to watching it.   

 

 

We like Scorpion, including DD.   I think because it has a kid as a major character on par with the adults.   

  • Like 1
Tanaqui

Tanaqui

Posted
Posted (edited)
Having an action or attitude portrayed on a show doesn't automatically "normalize" it.  And least of all in slapstick comedy where the action or attitude is held up to ridicule.

 

Saying that something is "slapstick comedy" doesn't mean that everything it does is okay. You may think it is. I don't. And I'm not going to agree just because you keep asserting that you're right and I'm wrong, no more than Noreen upthread will agree with me that she's being ridiculous about Legend of Korra because I think same-sex relationships are perfectly normal.

 

The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy were produced during a time when Hollywood had a real obsession with spanking women. It wasn't a one-off, it was part of a pattern, and the legality of a man spanking his wife non-consensually was very much not determined yet. With that context, I don't think I can just pass all that talk about violence and all that spanking off as slapstick as easily as I ignore Wile E. Coyote dropping anvils all over the place.

Edited by Tanaqui
  • Like 5
kewb

kewb

Posted
Posted (edited)

Avatar: The Last Airbender is a perennial favorite in my house. The 7 & 4 yr olds are watching it again - we have watched it through with my kids *at least* 3 other times over the last few years. You can get the DVDs through Netflix (it isn't available streaming) or through the library.

 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/avatar-the-last-airbender

 

However, We have NOT watched the follow-up show, The Legend of Korra. As much as I would like to see it, and the reviews are excellent, it does have some darker themes and, I've been told, a same-sex relationship that my husband was uncomfortable with for our kids until they are a bit older.

 

 

We love Avatar The Last Air Bender.  Korra was not as good as Avatar but it grew on me.  It definitely is a little heavier in themes.   The same sex relationship doesn't come into play until the very end and felt like more of an afterthought then a central theme of the show.

 

 

Other hits in our house:

Full House

Monk

Leverage

The Middle

 

Older Shows:

I Love Lucy -We had plenty of discussion about what was considered acceptable behavior at the time and how it is not acceptable. My kids were able to see how I Love Lucy was the template for Drake and Josh.

The Andy Griffith Show

Bewitched

Edited by kewb
  • Like 1
AmandaVT

AmandaVT

Posted
Posted

Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, Cutthroat Kitchen, chopped and a few other food network shows. I found the Brady Bunch on one of our cable channels and we've watched a few episodes of that recently too. 

LucyStoner

LucyStoner

Posted
Posted

We mostly watch science shows and documentaries or movies as a family. For a long time my older son only liked one sitcom and he is sort of over it now (Big Bang Theory) and my younger son is still young enough for stuff like Magic School Bus and Curious George and not really into sitcoms at all. Big fat age gap means not much overlap of fictional materials.

 

There is one show that my older son likes to watch with me now and that's the Wonder Years. We are just in the first season but he really likes it so far. I am enjoying rewatching it with him. I do have to explain some things at times but not because it's inappropriate. Usually it's helping him understand a tidbit of 20th century history or a reference to a political figure and occasionally it's just a question about something non-verbal he was wondering about. The whole series is on Netflix.

  • Like 1
shawthorne44

shawthorne44

Posted
Posted

Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis! We've been through all of the Star Treks and while the kids loved them, we had to remember to skip certain episodes and there were scenes in them we'd rather have skipped. SG is family friendly all the way through. SG-1 is a bit cheesy at first. They seemed really happy to have obtained the movie soundtrack license!!! It settled down by the 2nd or 3rd season though. 

 

Little Big Shots just started and the kids look forward to every episode. 

 

Can't wait for the MacGyver reboot!

 

Mythbusters

 

Good Eats

 

Brain Games

 

Quantum Leap - I would put it on your list for the future. Many episodes require the good kind of discussions ;) One of my oldest's favorite episodes is about an interracial couple in the middle of the Watts riots. 

 

Agents of Shield - I've heard good things, but only watched the first episode

 

The Librarians? - Hulu has a tv show based on the Noah Wyle movies. I've had them in my list, but don't know the content. Worth checking out if they are!

 

 

We really enjoyed the Librarians

 

  • Like 1
Murphy101

Murphy101

Posted
Posted

To me clean means very few if any sex scenes. It's just not necessary to be graphic to get the point of romance in the story line across. I don't mind violence as long as we're not talking too scary or disturbed.

 

We watch as a family:

 

The Libraians

Agents of Shield

Once upon a time, tho I might rethink after the last couple seasons bc it's just getting lame.

Flash

The goldbergs

The middle

 

I don't have to make constant PSA to the kids about the content of these shows. I do make them, but it's not annoyingly often.

 

My teens, but not younger ones, also watched Bones, Longmire, Dr who, Sherlock, and elementary.

These have more violence and mature content, and I make more PSA of a type I'd prefer not to make with my 7 yr old while watching them. But they aren't just a lot of graphic cussing and screwing around. In fact, there is very little of either, and it's usually not graphic.

 

I think the worst shows I was even alone are walking dead, Vikings, and the blacklist.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...