A little screen time can be a parent’s lifesaver.
We’ve all had moments when that glowing rectangle comes to the rescue — from diffusing a store meltdown to carving out 10 quiet minutes to fold laundry.
Watching videos can even teach your child a thing or two (because really, do you want to sing the ABCs on repeat a dozen times?).
In a world where costly cable bundles and multiple streaming subscriptions compete for your wallet, YouTube is an excellent place to find a huge selection of free videos.
Not sure what to play? Here are some kid-appropriate channels your youngster will likely enjoy.
Toddlers
Content with vivid visuals, catchy melodies and friendly characters will captivate toddlers while introducing letters, numbers, colors, shapes and more.
LittleBabyBum
LittleBabyBum’s nursery rhyme clips are both instructive and fun, blending familiar songs with original tunes. New uploads arrive weekly, and some compilations run for more than an hour.
Baby Joy Joy
An adorable infant in a hooded onesie leads toddlers through musical journeys on Baby Joy Joy. This channel features an especially catchy take on the ABC song.
Kids TV
Kids TV — Nursery Rhymes and Baby Songs is a well-liked channel full of preschool-focused videos. Little viewers adore characters like Bob the Train and the Bottle Squad.
Baby Einstein
This long-standing brand’s YouTube presence mixes animation, puppetry and live-action. The Baby Einstein channel also offers videos centered on music, crafts and infant gear.
Kids
From toy demos and games to cooking and crafts, these channels keep older children engaged and spark new ideas for activities when screen time ends.
Ryan ToysReview
Ryan ToysReview follows a young boy, his family and a whole bunch of toys. The channel also features science experiments, pranks, challenges, songs and humorous sketches.
EvanTubeHD
For additional toy unboxings, try EvanTubeHD. Millions of subscribers tune in to watch this boy unwrap, describe and play with a wide range of sought-after toys.
CharlisCraftyKitchen
CharlisCraftyKitchen will inspire kids to head into the kitchen to whip up sweet treats. You’ll also find challenge videos, haul videos and more content here.
Will It Slime?
If your children are fascinated by slime, Will It Slime? demonstrates how to make every kind of slime imaginable — butter, fluffy, magnetic and beyond. So. Many. Varieties.
Educational
Slip in a little learning outside the classroom. These channels make education entertaining.
Crash Course Kids
Host Sabrina Cruz explores elementary science topics on this channel. Crash Course Kids helps children learn about engineering, physical science, life science and more with straightforward explanations and a blend of animation.
Cool School
Cool School covers reading, language, art class and other subjects — and manages to keep it… well, cool! Kids can follow recurring teachers like Ms. Booksy, Crafty Carol and Jim Class.
SciShow Kids
SciShow Kids answers curious kids’ “why?” questions. This science-focused channel tackles subjects such as why we get hiccups and why the sky is blue.
Free School
Want your child to explore geography and grammar? How about art and animals, classical music and constellations? Free School has material on all of these topics.
As Seen On TV
These channels bring television shows to your phone or tablet. Watch clips and episodes of programs your kids already adore.
Sesame Street
“Sesame Street” is the longest-running children’s program and draws millions on YouTube by sharing the beloved segments kids know. Find clips, sketches, songs and even full episodes on this channel.
Disney Channel
This feed supplies content from Disney Channel hits like “Raven’s Home,” “Bizaardvark” and “Tangled: The Series.” Viewers get trailers, clips, how-tos, behind-the-scenes footage and some complete episodes.
Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon’s YouTube page offers behind-the-scenes pieces, show snippets, trailers, music performances, quizzes and more. Kids can catch favorites such as “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “The Loud House” and “Henry Danger.”
Cartoon Network
Can’t get enough of “Teen Titans Go!” or “The Amazing World of Gumball”? Visit Cartoon Network’s YouTube channel for clips from those series and other network staples.
Music
Sometimes kids just want to dance! Don’t say I didn’t warn you — these tunes will stick in your head, too.
Kidz Bop
Kidz Bop amuses children with child-friendly renditions of popular radio hits. Parents will appreciate that lyrics are adjusted to be appropriate for youngsters.
The Kiboomers
The musical videos on The Kiboomers channel are ideal for younger listeners. They include classic nursery rhymes, original songs and music in different languages.
Disney Music VEVO
Disney and music are a natural pair. The Disney Music VEVO channel features chart-worthy songs from beloved children’s movies.
Best Baby Lullabies
If your child resists naps, Best Baby Lullabies may not be their top pick — but it could be yours. These soothing tracks are great for naptime or bedtime, with looped audio running an hour or longer.
Samira Allen is a contributing writer at Savinly. She enjoys covering family topics and personal finance.
