TL;DR: Art for Kids Hub is the gold standard of "active" screen time. It’s a family-run YouTube channel where a dad (Rob) and one of his kids teach you how to draw everything from Pikachu to a realistic taco. It’s high-energy, low-stress, and actually results in a physical piece of art rather than a dopamine-induced trance.
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If you’ve spent more than five minutes in an elementary school classroom or a suburban living room lately, you’ve probably heard Rob’s enthusiastic "Hey, art friends!"
Art for Kids Hub is a massive YouTube empire run by the Slim family. The hook is simple: Rob sits at a table with one of his four kids—Jack, Hadley, Austin, or Olivia—and they draw something together. The screen is split so you can see exactly what Rob is doing and exactly what the kid is doing.
It’s not a "pro" artist lecturing from a pedestal. It’s a dad and a kid hanging out. They use basic Sharpies and cheap markers. They make mistakes. They laugh. And by the end of 10 to 20 minutes, your kid has a drawing that actually looks like the thing they were trying to draw.
We talk a lot about "brain rot" content—those weird, loud, flashing videos like Skibidi Toilet or infinite Roblox let’s-plays that seem to turn kids into zombies. Art for Kids Hub is the literal opposite of that.
- The Parasocial Connection: Kids feel like they are friends with Rob’s kids. They’ve watched them grow up on screen. When Olivia (the youngest) was just a toddler "drawing" scribbles, my kids felt empowered because they could draw better than her. Now that she’s older and actually quite good, they feel like they’re leveling up with her.
- The "Safety" of the Kid Artist: This is the secret sauce. If it was just Rob drawing perfectly, kids would get frustrated and quit. But because there is a kid on screen whose lines are a little shaky or whose proportions are slightly off, it gives your child permission to be imperfect.
- The Catalog: They have a tutorial for everything. Seriously. If your kid is obsessed with Minecraft, there’s a Creeper tutorial. If they’re into Taylor Swift, they can draw a cartoon version of her. It meets them exactly where their interests are.
Ask our chatbot for a list of the best drawing tutorials for 7-year-olds
While the YouTube channel is the most popular way to access the content, it isn’t the only way. Depending on your family's digital boundaries, you have a few options:
The Pros: It’s free. It’s everywhere. The Cons: It’s YouTube. That means ads (sometimes for things you don't want them seeing) and the "suggested videos" sidebar that can lead them away from drawing and into a MrBeast rabbit hole.
The Pros: This is the "intentional parent" pro move. It’s a subscription-based app (around $5.99/month) that is completely ad-free and distraction-free. It also includes exclusive lessons not found on YouTube. The Cons: It’s another monthly subscription. But if your kid is using it three times a week, it’s cheaper than a single art class.
The Pros: A decent middle ground. You can whitelist the Art for Kids Hub channel so it’s the only thing they can watch. The Cons: The interface can still be a bit "cluttered" for younger kids.
One of the best things about this channel is that it scales. You don't have to worry about them "outgrowing" it for a long time.
- Preschool (Ages 3-5): Look for the "First Steps" or "Preschool" playlists. These use simpler shapes and fewer steps. It’s great for fine motor skills.
- Early Elementary (Ages 6-9): This is the sweet spot. They can handle most of the standard tutorials. This is also where the "entrepreneurship" bug usually bites—expect them to start trying to sell these drawings to you for "mom-bucks."
- Late Elementary/Middle School (Ages 10-13): They might start moving toward the more complex "realistic" drawings or the origami tutorials. If they start getting bored, it might be time to introduce them to digital art via Procreate.
Check out our guide on the best tablets for young artists
The subtitle of this guide mentions "Drawing Without the Drama." If you’ve ever sat down to draw with a perfectionist child, you know the drama is real. The "I messed up!" meltdown is a rite of passage.
Rob handles this brilliantly. In every single video, he says: "The most important thing is to have fun and to practice." He also frequently reminds kids that their drawings should look different from his.
Pro-Tip for Parents: When your kid shows you their drawing, don't just say "That's good." Use "Active Praise." Say, "I love the color you chose for the dragon's scales," or "You worked really hard on those straight lines." If they are crying because they "ruined" it, point to the kid on the screen and show how their lines aren't perfect either.
Is Art for Kids Hub safe? Yes, absolutely. It is one of the "cleanest" corners of the internet. There is no snark, no questionable humor, and no hidden agendas.
The only real "safety" concern is the platform it lives on. If they are watching on standard YouTube, the comments section is usually turned off on "made for kids" content, but the ads are still there.
If you are a family that avoids "consumerism," be aware that they do have a lot of tutorials for branded characters—Disney princesses, Marvel heroes, and Pokemon. This might trigger the "I want that toy" reflex, but usually, the act of drawing the character satisfies the craving.
Learn more about setting up YouTube parental controls
If you want to turn this into a bonding moment rather than just a "here's the iPad so I can cook dinner" moment, try these conversation starters:
- "Which of the Slim kids is your favorite to draw with today?"
- "Rob always says 'practice makes better.' What’s something else we’re practicing right now?"
- "If you could ask Rob to teach you how to draw anything in the world, what would it be?" (Then, actually search for it—he probably has a video for it).
Art for Kids Hub is a rare win for parents. It uses the addictive nature of "follow-along" video content for good. It builds confidence, improves hand-eye coordination, and gives you a fridge full of art that you might actually want to keep.
If you’re looking to transition your kid away from "junk food" content like Blippi or mindless gaming, this is the perfect bridge. It’s entertaining enough to keep them engaged but grounded enough to keep them human.
Next Steps:
- Clear the table: Grab some printer paper, a black marker, and some colored pencils.
- Pick a "Win": Start with something they love. Search "Art for Kids Hub + Bluey" or whatever their current hyper-fixation is.
- Join in: Seriously. Sit down and draw with them. You’ll realize pretty quickly that your stick figures could use some work, too.
Ask Screenwise: What are some other 'active' YouTube channels for kids?