Harry Potter Age-by-Age Guide

Being introduced to the joys of Harry Potter is a rite of passage for many kids, and one delight of discovering the series is that fans get to see Harry grow up.

But with the wizarding world's expansion to include adventures like the Fantastic Beasts series and spellcasting games like Hogwarts Legacy, it's not always easy to figure out where to start.

If your family is just getting into this magical world, here's a quick age-by-age guide for enjoying Harry Potter with your kids. And remember that all kids are different, so keep in mind your child's ability to handle scary stuff before you check these out.

Age 8+

This is a great age to begin. Consider reading aloud together or listening to audiobooks.

Read:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Book 1)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)
• Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them
• Quidditch Through the Ages

Watch:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses (Spin-off game show; save this one for after you finish all of the movies!)

Play:

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Spells
• Harry Potter Reading Club
• Harry Potter Scholastic
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• World of Harry Potter Trivia

Age 10+

The movies get darker, and the books get more intense (beloved characters die).

Read:

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Book 4)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Book 5)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two (Screenplay; save for after you finish all the movies!)

Watch:

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (Save this reunion special for after you finish all of the movies!)

Play:

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter for Kinect
• Scene It? Harry Potter HD
• Wizarding World
• Lego Harry Potter Collection
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• The Harry Potter Alliance
• Harry Potter Film Wizardry

Age 12+

At this age, your kids can probably handle everything J.K. Rowling sends their way, but you might want to watch the more mature movies with them.

Read:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two (This is good for kids age 10+ but includes spoilers for Book 7. So don't read it until after you've finished that one!)

Watch:

• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Play:

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Hogwarts Legacy

You can also check out these lists for reviews on all the Harry Potter books, movies, apps, games, and websites that we've rated.