How about Shark Tank and What Would You Do?

Both of these shows have started some good discussions at our house.

Also Last Man Standing and the show following it featuring a Hispanic woman playing a law student.

Anonymous wrote:My just-turned-11-year-old enjoys Full House reruns.

My almost 12-year-old DD, 7.5-year-old nephew & almost 6-year-old niece all LOVE Full House (& are excited for the upcoming Netflix sequal -- hopefully that will be family friendly, too!). Bewitched & The Brady Bunch are two another shows I watched as a kid that they all really like; The Brady Bunch is even appropriate for my 4-year-old, who recently started watching it occasionally. My 14-year-old used to like both FH & The BB but now deems himself "too old" for them -- even though his mom still watches them!

The 12-year-old & the 14-year-old also like Wonder Years (as do DH & I). DD was 10.5 when she first watched it & I remember watching (& enjoying) the first episode when it premiered when I was 9 or 10 but it's probably a bit too mature at times for younger elementary kids.

Modern Family & Blackish are two current sitcoms that my older kids like watching with us that, IMO, are fine for kids starting around late elementary school.

As with most things, you obviously need to know your own kid & what he or she is ready for, as well as your own values & parenting style IRT what you think is appropriate (& at what age). If you (&/or the other parent) has never seen a particular show recommended on this thread, I'd suggest watching an episode or two before allowing your kids to start watching it.

Big Brother/Survivor/Amazing Race. Lots of strategy and social skills on BB and Survivor. I like seeing my kids work through the problems presented and I like for them to see how strategy, competition skills, and social skills are key; one cannot replace the others. I think that is true in life. One should focus on strengths, but also work to improve at areas that are not as easy because they matter, too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go old school. Fame is great - they deal with a lot of issues we can talk about. Same for Punky Brewster, Different Strokes, Silver Spoon, Blossom, etc.

But why are there not new shows produced like this?

There are an endless supply of syrupy, kid-friendly sitcoms on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

I'm not the OP, but that's not really what OP wants.

Great suggestions from the PPs! I'll have to check some of these out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go old school. Fame is great - they deal with a lot of issues we can talk about. Same for Punky Brewster, Different Strokes, Silver Spoon, Blossom, etc.

But why are there not new shows produced like this?

There are an endless supply of syrupy, kid-friendly sitcoms on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

But that's not what the OP (and me) are looking for. We're looking for FAMILY shows.
The Middle and Blackish are the only two current sitcoms we generally watch as as family. I really like Fresh Off the Boat, and 90% of the time it's totally family-friendly, but one episode made me a little weary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go old school. Fame is great - they deal with a lot of issues we can talk about. Same for Punky Brewster, Different Strokes, Silver Spoon, Blossom, etc.

But why are there not new shows produced like this?

There are an endless supply of syrupy, kid-friendly sitcoms on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

I would NEVER let my children watch the shows on Nickelodeon, they have horrible manners and model poor social interaction.

BattleBots

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go old school. Fame is great - they deal with a lot of issues we can talk about. Same for Punky Brewster, Different Strokes, Silver Spoon, Blossom, etc.

But why are there not new shows produced like this?

There are an endless supply of syrupy, kid-friendly sitcoms on Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

Shark Tank
The Fosters (definitely some mature/teen themes)

If you like dogs then pit bull and paroles is a great show.

Comedies: Galavant, Moone Boy, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Action: Scorpion, The Librarians, Agent Carter, Granite Flats (this last one is on Netflix and the tamest of the ones I listed. Similar to Encyclopedia Brown)

Informational Shows:
Myth Busters, How it’s Made, Timeblazers, Horrible Histories
Egypt: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0483603/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Probably Online Somewhere:
Comedies: The Neighbors, Sports Night, Psych, Chuck, Eureka, Wings, Fresh Prince, Newhart, Night Court

Mysteries/Action: Death in Paradise, White Collar, Leverage, Foyles War, Quantum Leap, Sea Quest

You can read Common Sense Media reviews and preview episodes so you know that they are okay for your family.

The Carbonara Effect on I think True TV. My whole family thinks it's hysterical (from 8 year old to grandma). It's this really nice / sweet magician who does hidden camera pranks on people while pretending to work in specific stores. It's not mean, it's done really well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We go old school. Fame is great - they deal with a lot of issues we can talk about. Same for Punky Brewster, Different Strokes, Silver Spoon, Blossom, etc.

But why are there not new shows produced like this?

OP, here. There are some fantastic ideas here and will keep following. Thank you! I will look into suggestions and some of the "oldies" I used to watch myself. Glad to see other posters who share my mindset and I don't understand why there are t many choices in the middle of little kid shows and "The Office" that are new...

Anonymous wrote:We go old school. Fame is great - they deal with a lot of issues we can talk about. Same for Punky Brewster, Different Strokes, Silver Spoon, Blossom, etc.

But why are there not new shows produced like this?

Anonymous wrote:Master Chef Junior and Amazing Race are fun and enjoyable for all ages

+1. Also Battlebots, Wizard Wars, Brain Games