When it comes to screen time, the tween years can be tricky—namely because tweens desperately want to be more “grown up” than they really are and the struggle to find quality programming that doesn’t expose them to sex, drugs and rock n’ roll far too soon is real. As a mom to a precious 10-year-old, I get this. That’s why I did some digging to find the best TV shows for nine to 12 year-olds, all thoroughly vetted, age-appropriate content that will appeal to a wide range of interests.
Before you read on, keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics advises limiting screen time for this age group to no more than two hours per day, excluding screen time related to homework, and urges parents to develop a family media plan and set clear-cut boundaries around screen usage. (And if you look at the statistics, which show that kids in this age range spend anywhere between six and nine hours a day on screens, it’s no wonder that such careful planning is recommended.)
Additionally, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry highlights several common issues that crop up when it comes to the type of content this age group is exposed to—specifically, risk-taking behaviors, negative stereotypes, misleading and inaccurate information and inappropriate sexual content (to name a few). As such, I made a point to screen shows for this type of questionable content and exclude viewing material that fails to adequately balance relatable narratives with positive messaging on age-appropriate themes such as friendship, family dynamics, responsibility and integrity. Read on and ready the remote.
