Apple clearly decided to go for quality over quantity, and it shows. Most of their family content is either based on beloved IP (Snoopy, Fraggle Rock) or created by people who actually remember what good children's television looks like (hello, Sesame Workshop).

The interface is clean, the parental controls are straightforward, and—this matters—there are no ads. Your kid won't be begging for the latest toy every seven minutes. Plus, everything is downloadable for road trips, which is clutch.

Snoopy in Space and The Snoopy Show are both excellent. They've taken Peanuts and given it a gentle modern update without losing what made it special. Snoopy in Space has actual NASA involvement and sneaks in real space facts. The Snoopy Show is pure cozy comfort—perfect for winding down before bed.

Helpsters is from Sesame Workshop and it's basically problem-solving: the musical. If your kid loved Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, this hits a similar vibe but with more emphasis on computational thinking. Not kidding—it's teaching pre-coding concepts through catchy songs.

Stillwater is based on the Jon J. Muth books and it's... genuinely lovely? A panda teaches mindfulness and emotional regulation to neighborhood kids through Zen stories. It's the kind of show where you might actually sit down and watch with your preschooler because it's not grating.

Ghostwriter is a reboot of the '90s PBS show, and it's shockingly good. A ghost haunts a bookstore and releases fictional characters into the real world, and a diverse group of kids has to solve literary mysteries. It's genuinely celebrating reading and storytelling without being preachy about it. Ages 7-11 is the sweet spot.

Pinecone & Pony is adapted from a graphic novel and follows a girl and her best friend (a pony, obviously) in a magical forest. It's got that Hilda energy—adventure, friendship, problem-solving, gorgeous animation. Ages 5-9 will eat this up.

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock is pure nostalgic joy for parents, but here's the surprise: kids who've never seen the original love it too. The puppetry is incredible, the songs are bangers, and the messages about community and environmentalism feel timely without being heavy-handed.

Surfside Girls is a mystery series about two best friends solving supernatural cases in their California beach town. It's got genuine scares (nothing traumatizing, but real tension), strong female friendship, and actual character development. Think Gravity Falls lite. Ages 10-14.

Harriet the Spy is an animated adaptation that really gets the source material. Harriet is neurodivergent-coded (though not explicitly stated), and the show handles her social struggles and intense observational nature with real care. Ages 8-12, especially for kids who feel like outsiders.

Best Foot Forward is a live-action comedy about a 12-year-old with a prosthetic leg navigating middle school. It's based on the real experiences of the kid who stars in it, and it manages to be funny and heartfelt without being an After School Special. Ages 9-14.

Luck is an animated movie about the secret organizations that create good and bad luck. It's from Skydance Animation (former Pixar folks) and it shows—gorgeous animation, emotional depth, and humor that works for both kids and adults. Ages 6+.

Wolfboy and the Everything Factory is visually stunning—like, screenshot-as-desktop-wallpaper stunning. It's about a kid who discovers a magical realm where everything in our world is created. The art style is unique and the storytelling is genuinely imaginative. Ages 6-12, but adults will be into it too.

Slumberkins is fine if your kid already loves the plushies, but it's pretty slow and the social-emotional lessons are laid on thick. Not bad, just... meh.

Pretzel and the Puppies is aggressively fine. It's dogs. They solve problems. Your 3-year-old might like it. You will zone out completely.

Here's the good news: Apple TV+ is probably the safest major streaming platform for kids. The content is genuinely curated, there's no user-generated content, and the parental controls actually work without a PhD in settings navigation.

You can set up Kids Profiles that limit content to age-appropriate shows and movies. No algorithm trying to keep eyeballs glued to screens, no weird recommended content from the depths of the internet.

The one thing to watch: some of the "family" content is rated TV-PG and might have mild scares or complex themes. Surfside Girls has actual ghosts and some tense moments. Harriet the Spy deals with social rejection and hurt feelings. These aren't bad things—just know your kid and preview if you're unsure.

The library is small. This is both a pro and a con. Pro: you won't spend 20 minutes scrolling. Con: if your kid gets obsessed with something, they might burn through it quickly. Most shows have 1-2 seasons.

New content drops slowly. Apple releases episodes weekly for some shows (very retro!) rather than dropping whole seasons at once. This can actually be great for managing binge-watching, but it requires patience.

The value proposition is real. At $9.99/month with family sharing for up to 6 people, and frequent free trial offers with Apple purchases, it's one of the better deals in streaming. Plus you get the whole catalog—not just kids' stuff. Ted Lasso and Severance for the adults, Snoopy for the kids.

Apple TV+ won't replace your main streaming service, but as a supplement for intentional screen time, it's genuinely excellent. The kids' content is thoughtfully made, the interface isn't designed to maximize addiction, and there's enough variety to cover ages 3-14.

If you're trying to curate what your kids watch rather than just letting the algorithm decide, Apple TV+ makes that easier than most platforms. The library is small enough to actually know what's on it, and the quality bar is consistently high.

Best for: Families who want curated, ad-free content and don't need 10,000 options. Parents who are tired of YouTube rabbit holes and want actual shows with beginnings, middles, and ends.

Skip if: You need a massive library to keep multiple kids of very different ages entertained, or if you don't have any Apple devices (it works on other platforms but the integration is obviously best in the Apple ecosystem).

Start with whatever matches your kid's age range above, set up a Kids Profile so they can browse safely, and download a few episodes before your next car trip. You can try it free for 7 days, or if you've recently bought an Apple device, you might have 3 months free.

And if your kid falls in love with Snoopy, the original Peanuts specials are also on there. You're welcome.