The least annoying kids shows on Netflix to watch now

We love our children, but the truth is there are only so many Cocomelon sing-along sessions any of us can take before we burst. Netflix has a vast array of preschool and ages-seven-and-up kids shows at parents’ disposal for both education and entertainment. And while all are quality, there are some that are decidedly less irritating to watch on repeat than others. So we’ve made a list of the least annoying kids shows on Netflix for parents (and older siblings) desperate for a break.

There seems to be a common ingredients list that every kids show follows in order to achieve popularity with its wide-eyed elementary audience: great music, captivating visuals, and expressive and likable characters.

But there are some shows that take these criteria and ramp up the visuals while dumbing down some of the characters, story and overall content. Despite their young age and still very young minds, children of any age do not like being “talked down to” and this is becoming more widespread knowledge as the years go by.

And we’re seeing better kids series come out of this knowledge. The characters are more relatable, the stories are more exciting and the music doesn’t sound like something Barney would write. And, dare we admit it, some of us adults are getting just as caught up in these shows as our kids.

These kids shows on Netflix are making family TV time a little less painful

City of Ghosts (for kids 7 and up)

First on our list of the least annoying kids shows on Netflix is City of Ghosts. Don’t let the title fool you–this is an incredibly wholesome show about the neighborhoods of Los Angeles and a diverse group of young kids aiming to learn about the history of the restaurants, music schools and more that make up their beloved city. It’s got a very Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood vibe to it, except there are also friendly ghosts that make an appearance.

Trash Truck (for all ages)

If you don’t know Glen Keane, he’s one of Disney’s most famous animators, known for Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, and, most recently, Netflix’s Over the Moon. Well, Trash Truck is an animated series he did together with his son Max Keane. And Keane (Max) based the series on his own son. Pretty cute, right? This family-made and family-focused series follows the adventures of a little boy named Hank and his best friends–a giant trash truck, black bear and raccoon.

Spirit Riding Free (for kids 7 and up)

For those in the mood for a little DreamWorks nostalgia, Spirit Riding Free is a continuation of the movie many of us know and love, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. The animated series centers on a girl named Lucky Prescott who moves out west and befriends young riders Pru Granger and Abigail Stone as well as a familiar-looking horse who happens to be the next generation in the Spirit lineage. The series follows similar themes to the original film of freedom and life on the frontier.

Ridley Jones (for all ages)

You can never have enough female-centric preschool series and Ridley Jones definitely deserves its place as one of the least annoying kids shows on Netflix. Its Disney-quality soundtrack and Night at the Museum/Tutenstein vibe keeps the attention of child and adults alike. The series is about a young girl named Ridley who lives in a treehouse in a museum (as is any kid’s dream) and is responsible for caring for all the exhibits, which so happen to come to life after dark.

Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous (for kids 7 and up)

For all the parents that are anxiously awaiting the day they can induct their children into the Spielberg fandom, DreamWorks has made the wait a lot shorter with their kids series, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. The show takes place during and after the events of the film Jurassic World and follows a group of young campers who have to navigate the Isla Nublar alone when their summer camp is cut short by the rampage of the Indominus Rex.

Ada Twist, Scientist (for all ages)

What happens when you throw three scientifically-enclined kid characters into one show? You get a successful series that encourages young minds to dream big and think big. Ada Twist, Scientist is one of those kids shows on Netflix that finds fascination in the everyday, with its main character Ada and her friends aiming to discover the reason behind stinky shoes and the science of making pancakes. Each episode ends with an appearance from a real-life scientist.

What other kids shows on Netflix do you recommend? Let us know in the comments below!