Best TV shows the whole family can watch together these school holidays

It’s the second week of the school holidays and your kids are climbing the walls. Don’t despair — there’s plenty on the small screen to keep the children entertained and your brain intact.

Here are a few of our tried and tested TV favourites to watch with the whole family.

Modern Family (Disney Plus)

Modern Family has become something of a modern classic in recent years. Though it began in 2009, all these years later the plots remain current, the characters still relatable, and it more than stands the test of time. It’s a delight to watch the extended Pritchett family grow through 11 fabulous seasons — well worth a rewatch.

Archibald’s Next Big Thing (Netflix)

You may not have heard of this delightful animation, all about a relentlessly optimistic chicken named Archibald and his family, but it should certainly be on your radar. Based on a book written by Arrested Development’s Tony Hale, it stars the comedian as the central character and has a delightfully offbeat premise. A hidden gem!

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Netflix)

Not yet discovered these great Spider-Man spin-offs? Rectify this immediately! This film came out in 2023 as a sequel to 2018’s incredibly popular — and incredibly clever — Into The Spider-Verse. Dare we say it: it might even be better. The animation is terrific, but the best part is the story: it’s engaging from the get-go, for tweens, teens and adults alike. Good news: there’s another film in the works.

Wicked (Netflix) and The Wizard Of Oz

Wicked hit streaming just in time for the holidays — hooray! If you are one of those who missed it the first time around in the cinemas (guilty!), it’s well worth a watch on the small screen. Before you dive in, head on over to Max, Binge or Apple TV Plus to watch the original film. It’s amazing that at 85 years old, it still holds up. The perfect double-header.

KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

It’s hard to underestimate just how popular this original animated film is with young audiences — it’s rocketed up the streaming charts, and is one of the world’s most popular flicks for kids right now. It’s so popular, in fact, that songs from the film’s fictional band are racing up the US pop charts. They recently surpassed Blackpink as the highest-charting female K-pop group!

Dancing With The Stars (Seven)

If you’ve not yet checked out this latest season, now’s the perfect time. We’re getting to the pointy end of the competition and things are getting serious. This week sees the first group of dancers return to the floor for another chance to impress the judges. With Rebecca Gibney now out of the comp, the trophy is anyone’s to win! Great fun for the whole family.

For little ones

Bluey (ABC Kids)

We couldn’t have this list and not include Bluey — it’s far and away the best thing on TV for kids. And let’s face it, it’s an absolute joy to watch as an adult as well. The best bit? You can “set and forget” with this one, knowing your kids are well looked after by everyone’s favourite Heeler family while you get those household jobs done.

Do Not Watch This Show (ABC Kids)

Got small people in your lives? Chances are they own at least one of Andy Lee’s children’s books. This series has been reimagined for television, and it sees everyone’s favourite blue monster Wizz getting up to all sorts of adventures with his mates: a lime, a kiwi, a tortoise and a scientist. Goofy good fun.

Ginger And The Vegesaurs (ABC Kids)

Take a trip to Vegesaur Valley to hang with “the juiciest and freshest creatures ever to rule the planet”. This locally produced series about a group of fruit and vegetable dinos is super popular here and in the UK, where it racked up 48 million views on BBC iPlayer, leading the British broadcaster to come onboard as a producing partner for subsequent seasons. Silly and sweet — your new favourite.

Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical (Apple TV Plus)

This one’s for all of us who grew up watching Charlie, Snoopy and the gang as kids. The classic cartoons are available to watch on Apple TV Plus, and it’s heaps of fun to watch them again with your kids (who will probably be more than a little bemused by the decidedly lo-fi animation and simple plots). A new special, Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, will hit screens on July 18.