The 10 Best TV Shows for 7-Year-Olds

Finding quality programming for grade schoolers is no small feat, especially when they’ve reached an age where they’ve been exposed to (and perhaps particularly drawn to) the endless supply of content available on YouTube. This is a battle I fight on the daily with my seven-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter, which is why I feel extra qualified to round up a list of the best TV shows for seven-year-olds that check all the boxes. Read on for some age-appropriate recommendations that are plenty entertaining and boast educational value, to boot.

As a mom of a seven-year-old boy, it wasn’t hard for me to compile a list of TV shows for seven-year-olds that I would personally recommend to another parent. Some are all-around winners that I think most parents will enjoy watching with their kids, while others have caveats (i.e., not for those sensitive to overstimulation). Still, it was my aim to put together a diverse roundup that appeals to many different interests and includes shows that kids can grow with, you know in case there’s an older sibling at home and you’re looking for something they can both agree to watch. Finally, I prioritized shows that have positive messages, since I think screen time is best when there’s social-emotional learning to be had, as well as those that provide some STEM education.

• Number of Seasons: 3
• Rating: TV-Y7
• Average Episode Run Time: 23 minutes
• Genre: anime, action-adventure
• Educational Value: spiritual lessons, friendship, morality
• Reviews: IMDb 9.3/10; Rotten Tomatoes 100%

This anime show is inspired by Asian mythology and revolves around several central characters who have the gift of being able to “bend” the four elements: fire, water, earth and air. There’s a good deal of action and a degree of cartoon violence, but the pace of it is pleasant and age-appropriate. There’s also strong character development and positive messages about friendship, loyalty and honor throughout.

• Number of Seasons: 3
• Rating: TV-Y
• Average Episode Run Time: 7 minutes
• Genre: humor, family dynamics
• Educational Value: conflict resolution, healthy communication
• Reviews: IMDb 9.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 86%

One of my personal favorites (yep, you’re never too old for Bluey), this hilarious and oh-so clever Australian cartoon centers around a family of dogs. The humorous portrayal of family life is spot-on, the narratives are playful and the portrayals of parenting, home life and marriage are as perfect as you can get while still staying true to real life. In other words, it’s honest, wholly positive and positively entertaining.

• Number of Seasons: 3
• Rating: TV-Y
• Average Episode Run Time: 24 minutes
• Genre: humor, discovery, adventure
• Educational Value: general knowledge, kid-guided learning
• Reviews: IMDb 8.4/10

As a particularly sensitive adult viewer, I will admit that I find this show a little…abrasive. (The StoryBots have an aggressive boss who shouts and the scenes tend to roll out at a breakneck pace.) Nevertheless, the content is entirely appropriate for seven-year-olds and it’s educational, to boot—namely because the show involves finding answers to the wide range of questions posed by real-life curious children. That said, I caution against watching this one with children who are easily overstimulated.

• Number of Seasons: 1
• Rating: TV-G
• Average Episode Run Time: 30 minutes
• Genre: physical sciences, psychology
• Educational Value: scientific method, relatable experiments
• Reviews: IMDb 8.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 100%

Considerably less grating and equally, if not more, educational—Brainchild is an excellent show featuring real people and a very likable young adult host who conducts a wide variety of experiments. Social, physical, biological—pretty much every kind of science is represented here and it’s all presented in a way that’s incredibly engaging for children and adults alike.

• Number of Seasons: 3
• Rating: TV-Y
• Average Episode Run Time: 27 minutes
• Genre: fantasy, adventure, time travel
• Educational Value: conflict resolution, friendship, problem solving
• Reviews: IMDb 8.3/10

Your kid might not be a tween yet, but they don’t need to be in order to appreciate this imaginative show about three young girls who inherit a magical cookbook. It’s a lot like a kid-friendly version of the movie Practical Magic (i.e., there’s no death, violence or sex) and there are positive messages about friendship, teamwork and problem solving peppered throughout the highly engaging storylines. Let’s just say this one is sure to be a hit among Harry Potter fans.

• Number of Seasons: 4
• Rating: TV-Y
• Average Episode Run Time: 11 minutes
• Genre: action-adventure, humor
• Educational Value: marine biology, teamwork
• Reviews: IMDb 7.6/10

This sweet cartoon features a team of deep sea explorers who help solve a host of marine problems, whilst teaching kids about the diverse species that live in the ocean. It’s a lively, wholesome and educational choice. If your kid takes to the show, I highly recommend checking out one of the Octonauts movies; they’re more like double-episodes than actual movies and the music in is great.

• Number of Seasons: 7
• Rating: TV-Y
• Average Episode Run Time: 26 minutes
• Genre: humor, action-adventure
• Educational Value: zoology, environmental messages
• Reviews: IMDb 7.7/10

Real-life zoologists do the voice acting in this lively animated series, which introduces kids to fascinating wildlife, as well as more complicated concepts revolving around environmental concerns, endangerment and extinction. In other words, if you want to watch a kid-friendly show with your child that will teach you a thing or two about animals, while providing an opportunity to start a conversation about conservation and green living, this one fits the bill.

• Number of Seasons: 1
• Rating: TV-G
• Average Episode Run Time: 7 minutes
• Genre: humor, science, adventure
• Educational Value: natural sciences, environmental messages
• Reviews: IMDb 7.6/10

Along the same lines as Brainchild, but with an emphasis on natural sciences—this travel docuseries features three charming young adult hosts, all siblings with a shared love of exploration, who explore various destinations and natural landmarks. Each easily digestible episode packs in a lot of scientific and historical information. Highlights include visits to a kelp forest in California, the Sequoia National Park and the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park (to name a few).

• Number of Seasons: 1
• Rating: TV-Y7
• Average Episode Run Time: 22 minutes
• Genre: anime, humor, action
• Educational Value: friendship, teamwork, problem solving
• Reviews: IMDb 7.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes

I have a Pokemon card collection (hey, it’s nostalgic!) and love playing the trading card game with my seven-year-old son. That said, I can really only tolerate the show for a few minutes because I find it to be, well, an assault on all my senses. Still, Pokemon-obsessed viewers who are less sensitive to overstimulation will enjoy the action-packed storylines, which also include plenty of positive messages about friendship and caring.

• Number of Seasons: 4
• Rating: TV-Y7
• Average Episode Run Time: 22 min
• Genre: mystery, action, adventure, crime
• Educational Value: teamwork, problem solving
• Reviews: IMDb: 4.6/10,Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Anyone who remembers the original Inspector Gadget cartoon will appreciate the nostalgia here. Needless to say, the animation is decidedly more modern than the 80s version, but the dimwitted bionic detective retains his charm and young viewers will be thoroughly engaged by the whodunit excitement each episode serves up.