The First Years (2014) Parents Guide: Is the series OK for kids?

Content includes innocent middle-school romantic crushes, rumors about sexuality, and awkward kissing practice between friends. Mild discussions around sex education and period anxiety occur, along with a plotline involving a threat to post a nude photo online, though no explicit physical content or nudity is shown on screen.

Physical violence is infrequent and mostly restricted to schoolyard shoving, heated arguments, and minor physical altercations. A notable exception involves a student setting a malicious prank that accidentally injures a gym teacher off-screen.

Language consists primarily of mild schoolyard insults, teasing, and name-calling such as 'nerd,' 'weirdo,' and 'loser.' Mild exclamations are occasionally used during arguments, but severe profanity and graphic slurs are entirely absent.

Substance use is minimal throughout the season. In the season finale, a student attempts to sneak alcohol into the end-of-year school party. Other episodes feature virtually no drinking, smoking, or drug use.

The series regularly tackles sensitive middle-school topics including intense peer bullying, body image and eating disorders, grief over a parent's terminal illness or death, depression following an accident, and coming out. These dramatic scenarios are presented constructively for a young audience without becoming graphic or gratuitous.