History SoYouWantTo / WriteAKidFriendlySeries

* WesternAnimation/Recess

* WesternAnimation/RegularShow has managed to {{Get|tingCrapPastTheRadar}} Crap Past the Radar a lot of times.

* WesternAnimation/AdventureTime

* The early WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants episodes. (Season 1-4). Seasons five to nine are in the Epic Fails.

Keep in mind that kids probably won't be buying your story. Their parents will be buying it for them. Most parents do not know their kids very well and believe them to be incredibly fragile. For this reason, tread carefully with dark and mature subject matter. Don't avoid it completely, but try not to make your book only known for being challenged. Best advice would be to add five lighthearted (this does not mean watered down) moments for every heavy moment.

* Series/TheElectricCompany

Heard somewhere that while adults tend to favor mercy, children cry out for justice. You thought the Brothers Grimm were cruel? Apparently children enjoy seeing the baddies get what's coming to them, without pulling punches. It assures them that someone's keeping track of things like that.

Kids are smarter than you probably give them credit for! And in today's world, what with television, the internet, and the playground, they're exposed to a lot more at an early age. While you shouldn't [[ViewersAreGeniuses assume]] they're capable of reading into things the way adults can, neither should you [[ViewersAreMorons talk down to them]].

* RLStine

* TheDeltoraSeries

* WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants

* ''Film/TheOogielovesInTheBigBalloonAdventure'' pretty much falls into all pitfalls: A shallow, TastesLikeDiabetes story with [[UncannyValley creepy]] unlikable characters that doesn't treat its audience right.

* Film/TheOogielovesInTheBigBalloonAdventure pretty much falls into all pitfalls: A shallow, TastesLikeDiabetes story with [[UncannyValley creepy]] unlikable characters that doesn't treat its audience right.

* Series/Power Rangers (and it's Japanese progenitor, Super Sentai)

* Literature/RowanOfRin

* WesternAnimation/{{Animaniacs}} managed to get away with [[Radar/{{Animaniacs}} a lot of things.]]

* ...

* TheBoxcarChildren
* RowanOfRin

Because these guidelines will reduce your options. For example, you can't make a really scary villain (though he might end up [[NightmareFuel unintentionally scary]] or [[FridgeHorror scary in hindsight]]). And you can't rely on misinterpreted swear words as a plot point.

* The Oogieloves pretty much falls into all pitfalls: A shallow, TastesLikeDiabetes story with [[UncannyVally creepy]] unlikable characters that doesn't treat its audience right.

!!'''The Epic Fails'''

Don't default to vapid, flat characters and rely on flashy action scenes or cute design for appeal. [[RoundedCharacter Engaging, deep characters]] that undergo development over time are just as important in kids' shows as they are anywhere else. This mirrors the point above - they're not going to understand complex webs of intrigue and deception, and you should be wary of anything that verges on [[UnfortunateImplications innocence-destroying]], but at the same time, they'll appreciate a well-rounded character more and for longer than a [[FlatCharacter cardboard cutout]]. This mirrors the point above that you shouldn't talk down to them; a good question to ask is, if you fast forward ten or twenty years, are your viewers going to remember your show fondly or regrettably? A good children's series can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. This isn't about GettingCrapPastTheRadar or even [[ParentalBonus Parental Bonuses]] - amidst the [[SugarBowl tooth-rotting cute]], [[ShonenDemographic kinetic fight scenes]] or [[DerangedAnimation quirky,]] [[DisneyAcidSequence zany antics]], is there, honestly, a good story in there? All too often, kid's series forget the story part of the story.

* AvatarTheLastAirbender

FUCK TVTROPES

NIGGERNIGGERNIGGERNIGGER

Writing for children is different from writing for adults. Here's some advice on how to make it work.

!'''Necessary Tropes'''

While a series written for teens can get into sex, swearing, and violence, a series written for kids needs to avoid that stuff like the plague. Or, at the very least, use the utmost caution, and always ask yourself whether you really ''need'' to include that element. Or even, "Am I writing for the correct demographic?" Maybe you're not.

But assuming you want to stick with the "kid-friendly" label, then:

* No sexuality
* No gore
* No more than mild violence
* No more than moderate scariness
* No more than extremely mild swearing (mostly euphemisms, like "dang"; possibly "hell" but more likely "heck")

Depending on the specific demographic you're writing for, the requirements might be even more stringent (e.g., some Christian publishers (thought not all of them) might be troubled over a kiss between people not married). So, research! Find out what you can and can't do before you get too far into the plot.

Because these guidelines will reduce your options. For example, you can't make a really scary villain (though he might end up [[NightmareFuel unintentionally scary]] or [[FridgeHorror scary in hindsight]]). And you can't rely on misinterpreted swear words as a plot point.

!'''Choices, Choices'''
!'''Pitfalls'''

Kids are smarter than you probably give them credit for! And in today's world, what with television, the internet, and the playground, they're exposed to a lot more at an early age. While you shouldn't [[ViewersAreGeniuses assume]] they're capable of reading into things the way adults can, neither should you [[ViewersAreMorons talk down to them]].

And don't shy from topics like sorrow and death. Treated right, these can still make excellent material for young readers. You can even get into [[GrayAndGrayMorality grays]] a bit... if you're careful.

Kids get that it's not a black-and-white world probably earlier than you'd expect. On the other hand, they don't want to see KarmaHoudini characters any more than adults do. Make sure the baddies get what's coming to them.

!'''Potential Subversions'''
!'''Writers' Lounge'''
!!'''Suggested Themes and Aesops'''
!!'''Potential Motifs'''

Heard somewhere that while adults tend to favor mercy, children cry out for justice. You thought the Brothers Grimm were cruel? Apparently children enjoy seeing the baddies get what's coming to them, without pulling punches. It assures them that someone's keeping track of things like that.

!!'''Suggested Plots'''
!'''Departments'''
!!'''Set Designer''' / '''Location Scout'''
!!'''Props Department'''
!!'''Costume Designer'''
!!'''Casting Director'''
!!'''Stunt Department'''
!'''Extra Credit'''
!!'''The Greats'''

* TheBoxcarChildren
* RowanOfRin
* TheDeltoraSeries
* ...

!!'''The Epic Fails'''

Kids are smarter than you probably give them credit for! And in today's world, what with television, the internet, and the playground, they're exposed to a lot more at an early age. While you shouldn't [[ViewersAreGeniuses assume]] they're capable of reading into things the way adults can, neither should you talk down to them.