25 Kids’ TV Shows That Adults Secretly Love Watching Too

Posted by , Updated on March 25, 2024

Do you have any television programs that you might be hesitant to admit that you like? Is one of the reasons you don’t want to confess your admiration for these shows because they are geared towards children?

Don’t feel bad! Many adults secretly love kids’ shows. After all, they offer a fantastic escape from reality and, for a little while, they help us forgot the harshness of adult life. Many kids’ TV shows have elements of magic, family values, and life lessons, which we can relate to as grown-ups.

We grew up watching some shows that we are eager to share with our own children. Then there are programs with new characters, new storylines, and new adventures that hook us in. Here are 25 Kids’ TV Shows That Adults Secretly Love Watching Too.

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25

Phineas and Ferb

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Phineas and Ferb is a show that follows the story of two stepbrothers with a lot of curiosity about the world and how things work. Phineas is usually the one with ideas while Ferb (who usually doesn’t talk) goes along for the ride.

Adults get a kick out of the imagination that goes into making one of Phineas’s inventions, or perhaps it’s the friendship that these two brothers have. It could also be they love the characters and can’t help but repeat all the catchy phrases.

24

Girl Meets World

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Girl Meets World is the spinoff series of Boys Meets World (a popular family show that ran in the ’90s). In this series, Corey and Topanga have two children: a boy and a young high school student named Riley.

What made this show good was it brought back all the characters we loved from Boy Meets World, but then added some new fresh faces that we couldn’t help but adore.

Riley faces some of the same problems her father dealt with in high school as well as issues that are more relevant today.

23

SpongeBob SquarePants

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You know him, you love him, and his theme song will be stuck in your head for days. Yes, we are talking about everybody’s favorite living sponge.

SpongeBob has humor for kids and adults alike. Some of the jokes are aimed at adults, yet when kids get older they may have an, “A-ha, so that’s what they meant,” experience.

Spongebob also teaches lessons about forgiveness, friendship, and putting up with things that anger you, but it a funny way.

22

Good Luck Charlie

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Good Luck Charlie is another show that went off the air (perhaps because Charlie got older). You may still be able to catch reruns or order DVDs on Amazon.

The show centers around high school student Teddy, who is making a video diary for her baby sister, Charlie. Charlie is a toddler most people can’t help but adore. She is awfully adorable (she is a toddler, after all).

Good Luck Charlie offers wholesome family entertainment, and the young Charlie has a personality that made many people want to keep watching.

21

Carmen Sandiego

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Almost everybody played the computer game, “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” It spawned a game show, television series, and comic books. In the game, Carmen was a world-renowned art thief, and it was your objective to find and capture her with clues given to you.

Now that Netflix has remade the series, Carmen uses her skills for good. She is still a thief, but she helps people instead of just robbing for the thrill of it.

20

Voltron: Legendary Defender

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What ’80s child doesn’t remember getting up on Saturday mornings, getting a gigantic bowl of any sugary cereal (sometimes mixing them together), sitting on the floor in pajamas, and watching Voltron? You know your adrenaline rocketed when Team Voltron formed Super Voltron and battled the evil King Zarkon.

What better way to relive your childhood than by watching Voltron again on Netflix? It may not be exactly how you remember it, but give it a chance. You may be surprised.

19

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

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This show might be a guilty pleasure for some adults. You can’t deny that the family dynamics and the interaction of the characters are quite amusing.

The show stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse, twin brothers who first rose to fame playing the character Julian in the Adam Sandler comedy Big Daddy. Sometimes the jokes are a bit corny, but they are often hilarious. It’s funny to see the hijinks that kids get up to sometimes.

18

Bunk'd

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The show Bunk’d is a spinoff of the popular show Jessie. It follows the children as they attend Camp KeeKeewaka.

Adults like this show because of its wholesome values … and they also probably find themselves singing along to the music of the show.

17

Liv and Maddie

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Liv and Maddie is a show about twin sisters named, of course, Liv and Maddie. Liv was once a popular TV actress who returns back home after the show ends. Maddie, unlike Liv, is someone who doesn’t crave the spotlight.

Adults like this show not only because their children enjoy it, but also because, despite Liv and Maddie being polar opposites, they will still be there for each other no matter what.

16

Vamparina

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Vamparina is about a girl vampire living in the real world. Adults love this clever show because of its similarity to the Addams Family.

It teaches about accepting each other’s differences. It also takes the tale of being the new kid in town to another level.

15

Johnny Quest

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Johnny Quest has been around since the ’60s. It tells the story of the son of a scientist, Johnny, who helps his father on many adventures.

Like many kids shows that have been around for a while, adults are sure to have fond memories of their childhood.

14

Wizards of Waverly Place

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It’s a shame this show went off the air, but it did give Selena Gomez a start. Whenever you have a show that has magic in it, you’re in for a treat.

Wizards of Waverly Place has it all: family issues, comedy, and magic for the kid in all of us.

13

Gravity Falls

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Gravity Falls combines science fiction, humor, wacky characters, and subtle adult references all in one. It’s not hard to see why adults like this cartoon as well.

The show is about two siblings who go to spend the summer with their great uncle in a place called Gravity Falls. Shortly after arrival, they realize that things are not always as they seem, and they get into crazy adventures.

12

Sesame Street

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Come on, everybody: “Sunny day, sweepin’ the clouds away.” Don’t act like you don’t know the lyrics.

If you are a parent, then your kids have probably asked to watch this show a gajillion times, and you are already saying, “This show is brought to you by the letter P” … as in “Please no more!”

However, Sesame Street is filled with colorful characters such as Big Bird, Snuffy, Bert and Ernie, and who could forget lovable Elmo? It might be a guilty pleasure, but don’t act like you don’t hum along with the songs.

11

Adventure Time

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Adventure Time is one of those shows that border on being for adults … but kids can feel safe to watch it as well. Many grown-ups love the visual effects of the cartoon. Some describe it as being psychedelic.

Adventure Time follows the adventures of Finn and his dog, Jake, in the Land of Ooo. The show borders on absurdity but is still very well written.

10

The Powerpuff Girls

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They’re bubbly, adorable, and can kick your butt. They’re The Powerpuff Girls and they have a huge following of both kids and grown-ups. Kids like the show because it’s exciting and easy to follow, but the message of anti-bullying and friendship are some of the reasons adults love this show as well.

Characters with names like Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup fight evil, yet they still have good hearts. Adults appreciate the message this show brings.

9

Doug

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There are plenty of reasons to love Doug. The theme song is cool as heck. It’s got a great humming harmony. The characters are well thought out … everybody from the school bully, Roger, to Doug’s crush, Patty Mayonaise.

Doug follows the story of a typical elementary school kid that doesn’t involve the tragic mess that is sometimes associated with high school. Yes, there is a bully but no one on the show seems to be deeply affected by it. There are no cyberbullies, or kids making fatal mistakes.

In some ways, it shows what we wish schools would be like.

8

Regular Show

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What do a blue jay named Mordecai and a raccoon named Rigby have in common? They are both characters in a very popular show called Regular Show.

The story involves the two previously mentioned characters trying to cure the boredom of their dead-end job. What starts as a simple problem is usually turned into a big fiasco that the two workers, along with their friends, must try to fix.

7

Batman Beyond!

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Batman Beyond is set in the future. The original Batman, Bruce Wayne, is now retired and has been replaced by a teenager named Terry.

The show still has the action that kids love, but the storylines and character development draws in adults as well.

6

Animaniacs

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Animaniacs was a cartoon from Warner Brothers in the ’90s.

The Animaniacs follow the crazy journeys of three siblings: Wacko, Yacko, and Dot. They were crazy, funny, and infuriating to people of authority. But we still loved them.

Why? Maybe because they defied the system in a humorous way, got us to see that life is too short to be so uptight all the time, or maybe it’s just because there is more silliness in us than we care to admit.

5

Drake and Josh

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Adults love Drake and Josh because it’s very relatable. It explores the relationships between step-siblings who eventually become friends despite their differences. It gives the message that it’s okay to be goofy at times and to be yourself.

The show is a great escape for those who just want to get away from the real world for a while. Probably the biggest reason adults like it is because they have watched characters Drake and Josh grow up and mature throughout the years.

4

Pokemon

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What is it about Pokemon that makes adults enjoy it as well as kids? One can’t deny the appeal of Pikachu’s lovable personality … but he’s also kind of a badass. Adults love the anime aspect of the show as well as the adventure.

The show has gripping storylines and great show development. The fact that the show spawned an app that has adults acting like Pokemon hunters proves that this show is one for all ages.

3

Looney Tunes

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Looney Tunes isn’t going away anytime soon. Why should it? It’s been loved by generations of people. Parents, grandparents, and kids can’t get enough of Bugs Bunny, Daffy, Porky, or Elmer Fudd. Bugs is the O.G. of cartoons, a legend; he’s funny and slick.

The show has so many great qualities that it’s hard to pick just one. It has obvious humor for the kids and hidden references that adults can chuckle at as well.

2

Rugrats

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Oh, if babies could have full-on conversations. Actually, that’s quite terrifying, but the show Rugrats does it in a way that’s endearing. The innocence of children and their imagination is the subject of many Rugrats episodes.

Adults love all the babies, from leader Tommy Pickles to his timid friend Chucky. They love how the babies are able to outsmart the bratty Angelica without even meaning to do so.

1

Star Wars: Rebels

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Anything Star Wars is going to have a fan base of adults and kids alike. This show is no different. It takes place after what happens in Revenge of the Sith, and before Luke Skywalker enters the picture.

The evil empire is hunting down the last of the Jedi order. The show still continues the tradition of Star Wars and adds some new elements as well.



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