TV shows for 8 year old - suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Hi all, my 8 year-old has finally graduated to "real" TV. We both like reality shows but neither of us likes watching the cattiness and fighting that's on Project Runway or shows like that. I found Master Chef Junior on Fox and we're having a ball watching it together - it's competitive without being mean. Do you have any suggestions for other shows we might like watching together? We are currently posted overseas so anything on Netflix or currently on one of the public channels (that I can get on their websites) would be appreciated. Would also be happy to buy older season on Amazon.

Thanks for any help you can give us!

[Anonymous]

My 8 yo loves staying up to watch the Middle.

[Anonymous]

My seven year old loves to watch Call of the Wildman - Turtleman. This Kentucky guy who wrestles and removes animals for people without hurting them. It's very country, so if you don't like that,don't start watching. But Common Sense Media rates it pretty well.

He also likes Goosebumps series. Scary stories for kids.

Both on Netflix

[Anonymous]

Common Sense Media is a good resource:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/reviews?media_type=29231&recommended_age=8&sort=stars_rating

[Anonymous]

Mythbusters

Who Do You Think You Are?

[Anonymous]

Chopped

[Anonymous]

If "Cash Cab" is still around, that's really fun for people watching, not just the questions.

We love I Love Lucy and we've got the DVDs. They really are brilliantly done. (Just need to explain that they didn't know that smoking was dangerous back then.)

My 9 and 11 y.o. still want to watch "Martha Speaks." It's about a dog that talks and they learn new words in every episode. The kids really learn it.

oh, this is good--Bear Grills (Gryllis..can't remember the spelling) reruns of Man vs. Wild (or Man v Wild). My kids have tried to make forts and all sorts of things after watching that show.

Personally I think (with the exception of things like Martha Speaks) if you find a good clean adult show, it's often better for kids than a show geared towards kids (which seems to entertain by teaching a kid how to be a sassy brat and fashion consumer)

[Anonymous]

The Last Airbender is great. Top Chef Masters is also pretty good without cattiness.

[Anonymous]

We watch Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer shows together and talk about our dog's habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 yo loves staying up to watch the Middle.

we watch this as a family too-love it-my 5 year old, 8 year old and 10 year old. They also started watching the Goldbergs. My 8 year old loves game shows-cash cab, The Chase, Family Feud, he also likes Chopped, Brain Games, and the various countdowns on NGEO Wild and APL-10 deadliest animals, 10 stinkiest whatever.

[Anonymous]

Most 8 years olds are into the Disney and Nickelodeon shows. I.e., Good Luck Charlie, Austin and Ally, etc. etc.

[Anonymous]

We are planning to watch the Sing Off as a family this season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most 8 years olds are into the Disney and Nickelodeon shows. I.e., Good Luck Charlie, Austin and Ally, etc. etc.

my boys find most of those shows-"girly", sometimes they watch Drake and Josh and Kickin It-or something like that but it is rare

[Anonymous]

OP here, and thanks so much for the suggestions! The problem with those Disney shows is that *I* detest them, and am looking for more "grown up" stuff that's safe for him to watch without the cattiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, and thanks so much for the suggestions! The problem with those Disney shows is that *I* detest them, and am looking for more "grown up" stuff that's safe for him to watch without the cattiness.

Well, I'm sure on that case you can always look for old episodes of Lassie and Little House on the Prairie.