Children are generally drawn to bright and colorful things—which is why watching television appeals to them so much. With TV shows, kids can meet different characters with varying personalities and situations. This can encourage them to be imaginative and motivate them to learn. And over the years, the demand for accessible kid-friendly shows has only increased, especially on platforms like YouTube.
With YouTube, parents and kids have access to thousands of channels with content made just for children. So if you are on the lookout for new shows for your child, we've done the work and delved deep into the world of YouTube channels for kids. We've also asked Early Childhood Educator Och Gonzalez for some comments and recommendations about the topic!
Quick List - Top YouTube Channels for Kids
CoComelon
Filled With Animated Videos and Lullabies That Parents and Kids Can Enjoy Together
Sesame Street
A Classic Channel With Content That Helps Develop a Child’s Cognitive Skills
Super Simple Songs
Parents and Teachers’ Go-To Channel for Kid-Friendly Videos, Songs, and Nursery Rhymes
Och Gonzalez has been an early childhood educator in Manila for over 20 years. As a preschool teacher and grade school academic coach, she has worked with young children and their families to achieve learning goals and address developmental concerns. She has created reading programs that aim to develop literacy skills and a love for reading in young children. She holds an MA in Education from the Ateneo de Manila University and is also the author of the children’s book, “Every Sunday.”
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Experts say that it is safer to introduce digital media to kids aged 18 months and limit exposure to an hour a day. However, with screens and technology everywhere, preventing your child from using gadgets may be challenging.
If you decide to introduce YouTube to your child before they reach 18 months of age, it is vital to set time limits, pick high-quality programs, and prevent solo gadget use. Cautiously approaching digital media use is needed to prevent your kid from becoming dependent on it for entertainment.
It will also instill a sense of discipline, and when properly introduced, it can help develop their reasoning and social skills. Luckily, there are platforms such as YouTube and Netflix Kids that offer a safe environment where children can freely stream with parental guidance.
Once your child starts using digital media, be firm with time limits and make sure to provide other activities that involve hands-on and physical learning. And no matter how old a child is, it's always crucial for a parent to supervise them while they are on online platforms.
When choosing a YouTube channel for kids, make sure to find content that your child will enjoy. Consider interactive videos to keep your child engaged, check the usual run time to limit screen time, and see if the channel tackles age-appropriate themes for your little one. For more detailed information, read through our viewer's guide below.
When choosing a YouTube channel for your little one, consider their interests and likes. Recognizing the kind of content your child enjoys will keep them invested in what they are watching and help them absorb the concepts better.
Children are innately curious. Hence, it's no surprise that most of them love watching content that revolves around adventures, fantasies, and mysteries. Through interactive dialogues and engaging characters, they invite kids to participate in problem-solving, clue-searching, and other mind-stimulating activities. Hence, these shows actively engage children and encourage them to think.
These shows aren't merely fun, as they also help sharpen a child's thinking and social skills. So if your child is into these kinds of content, you're in luck as you can find a lot of them on YouTube. Some of the shows you should check out include PAW Patrol, Masha and the Bear, and PJ Masks.
Adventure and fantasy themes are great for nurturing kids' creative thinking. These themes show them that there is no limit to what the imagination can do. And just like other types of pretend play, they also boost children's vocabulary and memory skills.
Children have a shorter attention span than adults, so introducing new concepts and ideas can be challenging. This is why many parents often use learning tools, like educational YouTube videos, to motivate kids to learn. Their kid-friendly graphics and engaging characters help keep little ones focused while learning various lessons.
Educational YouTube channels often tackle topics like math, science, language, and arts in a fun way to keep kids invested in learning the subject. This way, your child can learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes, nursery rhymes, and more!
Some educational content use animations to convey lessons, while others use the live-action approach. They usually have a primary host who tackles the material for live-action content, and they are equally engaging like animated characters. One good example is Steve from the show Blue's Clues.
YouTube videos are especially helpful in simplifying math and science concepts through the use of engaging visuals. Kids struggling with homework that involves abstract concepts can benefit from academic videos on the platform that features various ways to approach a difficult topic.
Because the content is in video form rather than print, it keeps them engaged longer and shows them connections between real life and math concepts learned in school.
While YouTube Kids provides a safe online environment for children to stream age-appropriate videos, it is still best to double-check the channel's content before introducing it to your kid. Doing this will prevent them from being overwhelmed or confused with the content they consume.
Some YouTube videos have themes that are better suited for older children, like those in grade school. These kinds of videos tackle more complicated concepts that could be too advanced for younger kids. Proper screening will also help ensure quality screen time for your child.
Parental supervision is equally essential when introducing your kids to digital media. Should you wish to regulate further what type of content they can consume, you can utilize the parental controls and settings on the app. This way, you can decide what kinds of clips your kid can and cannot watch.
As with anything involving online engagement, parental supervision is essential. While it may be tempting to let your child watch freely as you go about your chores, you need to make sure that the choices he or she has are all content that you've previously vetted.
You can let your child participate in the decision-making with you, but explain the benchmarks of safe viewing to them so that they understand why certain shows aren't meant for them to watch.
There are several channels you can find on the app, but not all of them will be able to keep your kid engaged. Since children have a shorter attention span, you should look for videos that are appealing to them. For content with themes like adventure and fantasy, select ones with colorful animations and an engaging storyline.
Meanwhile, for educational YouTube content, it will be helpful to ensure that the material is not text-heavy. Instead, look for ones that teach through catchy songs and interactive characters or hosts that your little one can sit through for a few minutes without getting bored.
On average, a child's attention span is two to five minutes times the year of their age. Lengthy videos may cause your kid to get bored or even overstimulated. So when looking through different YouTube channels, we suggest going for ones with videos that are less than an hour long.
It is also vital that you expose your child to an appropriate amount of screen time to prevent them from growing dependent on it for entertainment. And though screen time varies from parent to parent, experts recommend limiting it to an hour for children aged two to five.
Even for older kids who may be allowed an hour or two of screen time, make sure they don't stay seated and hooked for that entire time. Break up those hours into 15- to 20-minute segments to refresh their brain and rest their eyes.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | ||||
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Type of Content | Age Range | Video Durations | Features | |||||
1 | CoComelon Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes | ![]() | Filled With Animated Videos and Lullabies That Parents and Kids Can Enjoy Together | Educational | 3 to 5 Years Old | 3 to 60 Minutes | Kids' Songs, Educational Videos for Toddlers, Nursery Rhymes, Dance Along, Short Episodes, Sign Language for Kids | |
2 | Sesame Street Sesame Street | ![]() | A Classic Channel With Content That Helps Develop a Child’s Cognitive Skills | Educational | 3 to 5 Years Old | 1 to 60 Minutes | Dance Videos, Full Episodes, American Sign Language Series, Full Episodes in Spanish, Mecha Builders | |
3 | Super Simple Songs Super Simple Songs - Kids Songs | ![]() | Parents and Teachers’ Go-To Channel for Kid-Friendly Videos, Songs, and Nursery Rhymes | Educational | 1 to 8 Years Old | 1 to 60 Minutes | Rhymington Square Songs, Bedtime Songs for Kids, Finny The Shark Songs, Super Simple Podcast, Noodle & Pals, The Roundabouts, Sesame Street | |
4 | SAG-AFTRA Foundation StorylineOnline | ![]() | A Book Lover’s Haven With Stories Narrated by Celebrities | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed | 3 to 10 Years Old | 5 to 15 Minutes | Children’s Books, Stories Narrated by Celebrities, Illustrated Videos | |
5 | Pinkfong Pinkfong Baby Shark - Kids' Songs & Stories | ![]() | Keep Your Kids Entertained Through Animated Content With Catchy Lyrics and Fun Dance Moves | Educational | 1 to 5 Years Old | 1 to 60 Minutes | Happy Birthday Songs, Songs and Stories for Children, Learning Videos and Songs, Games, Nursery Rhymes | |
6 | Netflix Netflix Jr. | ![]() | Let Your Little One Sing and Dance With Their Favorite Netflix Characters | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed, Educational | 1 to 8 Years Old | 2 to 30 Minutes | Full Episodes and Specials, Mystery Stories, Animated Adventures, Fun Games, Dance and Sing Along Videos, Volcano-Themed Videos, Bedtime Stories | |
7 | Sunlight Entertainment Ryan's World | ![]() | A Family-Owned YouTube Channel That Shares Fun Challenges and DIY Crafts for Kids | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed, Educational | 2 to 6 Years Old | 5 to 60 Minutes | Challenges, Animated Adventures, Science Experiments, Educational Videos, Funny Cartoons, Toy Reviews, Gameplays, Family Vlogs | |
8 | National Geographic Partners Nat Geo Kids | ![]() | Suitable for Curious Grade-Schoolers Looking to Learn More About Science, History, and More | Educational | 7 to 12 Years Old | 1 to 30 Minutes | Weird Animal Facts, Dino Road Trip, Amazing Animals Series, Sharkfest, Destination World, Underwater Journey, Cool Fun Facts, Natural History Series, Spaced Out Series | |
9 | BASABATA BasaBata | ![]() | Teaches Kids How to Speak and Read in Filipino | Educational | 3 to 10 Years Old | 2 to 15 Minutes | Videos on Filipino Alphabet, Vocabulary, Phonics, Learning How to Read, and Learning How to Speak in English | |
10 | Cosmic Kids Cosmic Kids Yoga | ![]() | A Fun Way to Teach Kids Yoga, Relaxation, and Mindfulness | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed | 3 to 10 Years Old | 1 to 30 Minutes | Interactive Adventures, Introduction to Kids Yoga, Mindfulness Series, Yoga Quest, Yoga in Space, Guided Relaxations |
Cocomelon is an excellent channel for parents who are initially introducing their children to digital media. This popular kids' channel centers on the lives of JJ and his siblings and the different adventures they have throughout the day. It's best for kids aged three to five years, with videos below ten minutes.
However, they also have playlists and live videos, so you won't have to keep on playing one video after the other. The bright colors, 3D animation, and catchy music are what kept toddlers engaged. Aside from learning about shapes, letters, and numbers, young children can also learn about prosocial life lessons like helping a friend or sharing their toys.
Type of Content | Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 3 to 5 Years Old |
Video Durations | 3 to 60 Minutes |
Features | Kids' Songs, Educational Videos for Toddlers, Nursery Rhymes, Dance Along, Short Episodes, Sign Language for Kids |
Since its creation in 1969, Sesame Street has managed to stay relevant. Its colorful community continues to develop children's cognitive skills, self-esteem, and feelings of competency. Sesame Street centers on the lives of adorable monsters, birds, grouches, and humans who coexist and thrive together.
Their videos often teach young kids about the alphabet, numbers, and colors. Some episodes also show moments of empathy and self-awareness that children can apply in their day-to-day lives. If your child knows how to speak Spanish or is still learning, then this YouTube channel is a great choice since they have videos in that language as well.
Type of Content | Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 3 to 5 Years Old |
Video Durations | 1 to 60 Minutes |
Features | Dance Videos, Full Episodes, American Sign Language Series, Full Episodes in Spanish, Mecha Builders |
Type of Content | Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 1 to 8 Years Old |
Video Durations | 1 to 60 Minutes |
Features | Rhymington Square Songs, Bedtime Songs for Kids, Finny The Shark Songs, Super Simple Podcast, Noodle & Pals, The Roundabouts, Sesame Street |
Type of Content | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed |
---|---|
Age Range | 3 to 10 Years Old |
Video Durations | 5 to 15 Minutes |
Features | Children’s Books, Stories Narrated by Celebrities, Illustrated Videos |
Pinkfong is home to the famous children's song Baby Shark, so it is no surprise that it is a go-to for parents looking for a kid-friendly YouTube channel. However, Pinkfong offers more than just Baby Shark content. Their video catalog contains thousands of nursery rhymes, songs, and stories your kids will surely enjoy!
All of their content, including catchy songs and engaging stories, was created by experts to capture the hearts of millions of children around the world. If you are throwing a birthday bash for your child, Pinkfong has a list of birthday songs you can play at the party—from a rock version to a retro rendition.
Type of Content | Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 1 to 5 Years Old |
Video Durations | 1 to 60 Minutes |
Features | Happy Birthday Songs, Songs and Stories for Children, Learning Videos and Songs, Games, Nursery Rhymes |
Type of Content | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed, Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 1 to 8 Years Old |
Video Durations | 2 to 30 Minutes |
Features | Full Episodes and Specials, Mystery Stories, Animated Adventures, Fun Games, Dance and Sing Along Videos, Volcano-Themed Videos, Bedtime Stories |
Type of Content | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed, Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 2 to 6 Years Old |
Video Durations | 5 to 60 Minutes |
Features | Challenges, Animated Adventures, Science Experiments, Educational Videos, Funny Cartoons, Toy Reviews, Gameplays, Family Vlogs |
Nat Geo Kids is a YouTube channel that is best for older kids like grade-schoolers. Their videos cover topics from science to history, making them an excellent tool for children who want to further understand what they learned at school.
This YouTube channel makes it more fun for kids to explore the world with its wild, wacky, and weird videos. If your little one is into dinosaurs, then he or she will definitely like their Dino Road Trip videos. Your child can also travel to different places without leaving your home with Nat Geo Kids' Destination World clips, which showcase unique things from each continent.
Type of Content | Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 7 to 12 Years Old |
Video Durations | 1 to 30 Minutes |
Features | Weird Animal Facts, Dino Road Trip, Amazing Animals Series, Sharkfest, Destination World, Underwater Journey, Cool Fun Facts, Natural History Series, Spaced Out Series |
Type of Content | Educational |
---|---|
Age Range | 3 to 10 Years Old |
Video Durations | 2 to 15 Minutes |
Features | Videos on Filipino Alphabet, Vocabulary, Phonics, Learning How to Read, and Learning How to Speak in English |
Type of Content | Adventure and Fantasy-Themed |
---|---|
Age Range | 3 to 10 Years Old |
Video Durations | 1 to 30 Minutes |
Features | Interactive Adventures, Introduction to Kids Yoga, Mindfulness Series, Yoga Quest, Yoga in Space, Guided Relaxations |
Below, Early Childhood Educator Och Gonzalez answers some of the web's most asked questions. So before you hit that subscribe button, have a read to make sure you choose a good YouTube channel for your child!
You can find out if a channel is child-friendly by investigating or doing some research about the creator. However, sometimes even so-called kid-friendly channels might include content that's not useful for kids. Your best course is to watch the videos yourself and check their suitability for your child.
Yes, that's totally fine, as long as you've verified beforehand that these channels are appropriate for your kid. Exposure to different types of content and topics broadens your child's understanding of the world around them and helps nurture a healthy curious attitude.
Generally, toy review videos are useful in the sense that they show kids and parents what to expect from a toy and how it works. But if your child consumes this kind of content too much, it may lead to the development of unwanted behavior and a consumerist and materialistic mindset.
Toy unboxing videos, in particular, do not seem to have any real and lasting value for children; in fact, they may unintentionally teach kids to associate happiness with material things and lead to a lack of gratitude and discontentment with what they have.
Curious about which YouTube channels for Kids Och Gonzalez recommends? See some of them below and know why they are her top picks!
If you need a channel that tackles all sorts of math topics, this one is among the best. In fact, their super useful math videos are one of the reasons why Khan Academy burst into the public consciousness so quickly. They also feature videos in other subject areas, but their collection of math videos is quite extensive.
Topics that may seem abstract and difficult to understand like geometry, decimals, and fractions become much simpler and easier to grasp with their straightforward explanations. This is why it has become the go-to channel for school-age kids and parents struggling with math homework. They also now have a version for younger kids called Khan Academy Kids.
Do you have a budding scientist in the family? Support your child's explorer spirit and curiosity with Nat Geo's highly informative videos. You'll find videos on popular themes like animals, science, and even history and culture. With such a wide range of topics, this one is great for sparking imagination and feeding curiosity.
The channel presents information to broaden children's perspectives on the wider world. They can go on virtual trips to other countries and planets, as well as explorations into ordinary things like ice cream or eggs. With such a diverse range, the world is truly at your fingertips with just a click of the mouse!
Who doesn't love Sesame Street? This oldie-but-goodie has helped raise older generations, and it has stayed strong and steady through the years, continuing its mission to this day. This mission involves teaching kids not just foundational skills like letters and numbers, but more importantly, the values that would help them be kind and productive members of society.
Among its aims is to foster a more inclusive mindset in young children, so they frequently feature sign language in their songs and lessons. And with the beloved and funny puppets they've always used, the show still produces content that's as engaging and educational as ever.
Since the recommended screen time for children below five years old is an hour a day, you will need to find other things to keep your little one entertained. So check out the links below and discover other products for kids to enjoy!
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Author: Hannah G. Caga
Re-editors: R. Victoriano, M. Florendo
Our viewer's guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the viewer's guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the channel recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from YouTube.
No. 1: CoComelon|Cocomelon - Nursery Rhymes
No. 2: Sesame Street|Sesame Street
No. 3: Super Simple Songs|Super Simple Songs - Kids Songs
No. 4: SAG-AFTRA Foundation|StorylineOnline
No. 5: Pinkfong|Pinkfong Baby Shark - Kids' Songs & Stories
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