The internet, and particularly YouTube, can be a pretty buck wild place that young kids, and even tweens and teens, should not explore without limits. But by curating a mom- and kid-approved YouTube playlist, screen time doesn’t have to be so scary. In addition to creating curated playlists, I have found it helpful to limit my kids’ video options to only the channels supported on the YouTube Kids app and website. YouTube Kids is different and separate from traditional YouTube. It is designed for children to use and watch, and gives parents the power to adjust content settings based on their children’s ages. Content settings options in YouTube Kids include Preschool (ages 4 and under), Younger (ages 5-7) and Older (ages 8-12).
Below are some YouTube channels that get my Mom Stamp of Approval. While all of these channels are available on traditional YouTube, at least some, if not all, of each channel’s videos can also be found on the YouTube Kids app or website. Give these channels a try to see which ones get your family’s stamp of screen-time approval.
Preschool YouTube Channels
Mother Goose Club
Mother Goose Club’s mission is to “foster joyful learning” in young children. Perfect for babies and preschoolers, kids will love singing and dancing to classic nursery rhymes and original songs with the colorful Mother Goose Club characters.
Sesame Street
The gang’s all here! Sing along and learn with all of your Sesame Street favorites: Elmo, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch, Abbie Cadabbie and the rest. A proven winner for kids and parents, the Sesame Street YouTube channel offers full episodes, compilation videos, and song clips.
PBS Kids
Full episodes and clips of all the PBS Kids tent poles and classics in one place: Wild Kratts, Daniel Tiger, Dinosaur Train, Molly of Denali, Super Why, and more! Even older kids will enjoy videos from Odd Squad and Mega Wow.
Honorable Mentions:
Baby Einstein
Super Simple Songs
Disney Junior
Younger Kids YouTube Channels
Jonathan Bird’s Blue World
Underwater nature cinematographer Jonathan Bird takes viewers on watery adventures throughout the world. Explore underwater caves, swim with sharks, and learn all about the ocean and its creatures as you go.
Art for Kids Hub
This channel features an artist dad and his kids as they give step-by-step instructions to create all kinds of simple line drawings, from dinosaurs and sports cars to emojis and Pokemon.
Homeschool Pop
Homeschool Pop is “a cool place to learn.” From Spanish lessons and geology to Constitution Facts for Kids and so much more, kids will learn a ton without even realizing it or complaining.
Honorable Mentions:
National Geographic Kids
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Tasty Plus
Older Kids & Tween YouTube Channels
Dude Perfect
Dude Perfect is the #1 YouTube channel in the world, and the dudes all live and film right here in Collin County (Frisco)! Follow the five best friends as they hit amazing trick shots, check off their world bucket list, and enjoy good, clean fun together.
Mark Rober
Former NASA and Apple engineer Mark Rober tackles fun and interesting DIY projects. Popular videos include Backyard Squirrel Maze, World’s Largest Devil’s Toothpaste Explosion, Shark Attack Test, and more. Physics has never been so fun!
TED-Ed
These lessons worth sharing are an extension of the traditional TED Talks for adults. These animated videos clock in at 4-5 minutes each and cover topics such as Why Isn’t the World Covered in Poop? and A Day in the Life of an Ancient Egyptian Doctor.
Honorable Mentions:
SoulPancake
Brave Wilderness
Deer Meat for Dinner
Amy Poehler’s SmartGirls
In a world where the slippery slope from kid-friendly to inappropriate keeps getting faster and steeper, it’s comforting to know that there are a few safe havens. No matter your kids’ areas of interest or age level, there is a mom-approved YouTube channel out there for them, if you know where to look.
