For a shared watch with a child around ages 9–12, these seven series offer stories about friendship, family change, fantasy, music and growing up. The recommendations come from Anna Earl’s March 12, 2026 Parents article; they are personal picks, not a ranked or tested comparison. The platform names below reflect that article’s publication date, not a guarantee that a show is available in your country today. Read the Parents article.
Choose by the kind of story your tween wants
The list ranges from contemporary friendships to classic adaptations and supernatural adventures. Two shows connect directly to books: The Baby-Sitters Club draws on Ann M. Martin’s series, while Anne With an E adapts L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables. The summaries and descriptions here reflect Earl’s article rather than independent content ratings or suitability assessments.
| Show | Story hook | Lead or source connection | Platform named in the March 12, 2026 article |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexa & Katie | Best-friendship and the start of high school | Alexa Mendoza and Katie Cooper; Alexa’s leukemia is part of the story | Netflix |
| Andi Mack | A family change reshapes a young teen’s life | An older sister returns home | Disney+ |
| The Baby-Sitters Club | Friendship and a contemporary take on a familiar book series | Adapted from Ann M. Martin’s books; the article says it ran for two seasons | Netflix |
| Anne With an E | Imaginative coming-of-age story | Adapted from L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables; an orphan is taken in by an older brother and sister | Netflix |
| Just Add Magic | Fantasy adventures sparked by a magical cookbook | Three best friends | Amazon Prime |
| Julie and the Phantoms | Music and a supernatural twist | A musically gifted teen; produced by Kenny Ortega | Netflix |
| Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love | Science, family and a cross-country move | Ashley is described as a 15-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist | Netflix |
Seven shows to consider
1. Alexa & Katie
Best friends Alexa Mendoza and Katie Cooper are about to begin high school. Alexa’s leukemia is part of the premise, while Earl describes the series as focusing on experiences relatable to tweens without dwelling on the scarier aspects of cancer. That is the article’s characterization, not a medical or content-suitability assessment; families may want to consider the topic in light of their own child’s needs.
2. Andi Mack
Andi’s life changes when her older sister returns home. Earl suggests it may also appeal to parents who remember Lizzie McGuire, making it a possible pick for watching across generations.
#1 Best Overall
3. The Baby-Sitters Club
This modern adaptation of Ann M. Martin’s books follows the familiar club into a contemporary setting. Earl praises its balance of fidelity to the source and freshness for modern tweens, and reports that the series lasted two seasons. Readers interested in the story’s book roots can look for Ann M. Martin’s original Baby-Sitters Club series.
4. Anne With an E
Based on Anne of Green Gables, the series follows an imaginative orphan taken in by an older brother and sister. Earl describes the adaptation as timely and relevant. The original L. M. Montgomery novel is a natural companion for viewers who want to explore Anne’s story on the page.
Rank #2
5. Just Add Magic
Three best friends discover a magical cookbook, setting off adventures. Its fantasy premise makes this a straightforward option for a tween looking for friendship alongside magic.
6. Julie and the Phantoms
A musically gifted teen anchors this series, produced by Kenny Ortega, known in Earl’s article for directing and choreographing High School Musical. The article describes the show as canceled and notes that viewers may wish it had continued; it does not establish current availability.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches7. Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love
Ashley is described as a 15-year-old robotics engineer and rocket scientist who moves across the country to live with her uncle and work for NASA. The premise centers an unusually accomplished teen, giving the list a science-focused alternative to its friendship and fantasy stories.
Check streaming availability before settling on a show
The Parents article named Netflix for five titles, Disney+ for Andi Mack, and Amazon Prime for Just Add Magic on March 12, 2026. Those labels are dated references, not confirmation of what is currently included or available in a particular territory. Search each service’s local catalog before planning a watch; availability can vary by country and change over time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Make shared viewing a conversation
These are picks for watching with tweens, not a universal age or suitability guide. A useful starting point is to let the child choose by premise, then talk about what stood out: how friends handle change, what makes a family feel supportive, or why a character’s choices seem believable. For topics such as illness, families can decide whether to preview an episode or discuss it together.
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