TL;DR: YouTube Kids isn't a "set it and forget it" app. To avoid the "brain rot" of infinite unboxing videos and weird AI-generated loops, the best move is switching to "Approved Content Only" mode. This turns the app from an open firehose into a curated library of stuff you actually want them to see.
Quick Links to High-Quality Content:
- Best for Drawing: Art for Kids Hub
- Best for Science: SciShow Kids
- Best for Bedtime: Storyline Online
- Best for Deep Thoughts: Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell
We’ve all been there. You hand over the iPad so you can finish a 20-minute workout or, let’s be real, just drink a coffee while it’s still hot. You think they’re watching Octonauts, but when you glance over 15 minutes later, they’re mesmerized by a video of a giant hand opening 50 plastic eggs, or worse, a low-budget animation of a toilet with a human head singing a catchy but nonsensical song.
Welcome to the YouTube Kids rabbit hole.
The app is marketed as a safe haven, and compared to the "Main" YouTube app, it is. But "safe" doesn’t always mean "good." According to recent community data, over 60% of parents with kids under age 8 report that YouTube Kids is their primary source of "screen time guilt." We worry about the "autoplay loop" that turns our kids into zombies and the weird, repetitive content that feels like it was designed by an algorithm rather than a human being.
If you’ve heard your kid describe something as "so Ohio" (which essentially means weird or cringey) or mention Skibidi Toilet, they’ve already encountered the weirder side of digital culture. Here is how we move past the basic timer and actually curate a digital space that builds their brains instead of melting them.
Most parents use the "Preschool," "Younger," or "Older" age filters. These are fine, but they still rely on YouTube's algorithm to decide what’s appropriate. And let’s be honest: the algorithm prioritizes "watch time" over "educational value."
The real pro-parent move is Approved Content Only.
When you enable this in the settings, your child cannot search for videos. They can only watch the channels, collections, or specific videos that you have hand-selected. This effectively turns YouTube Kids into a personalized streaming service.
How to do it:
- Tap the Lock icon in the bottom corner of the app.
- Solve the math problem or enter your passcode.
- Select Settings and then your child’s profile.
- Under "Content Settings," select Edit Settings.
- Choose Approved Content Only.
- From here, you can go through and "plus" the channels you trust.
Before we judge them for watching 40 minutes of Minecraft parkour videos, we have to understand the "why."
Kids love YouTube Kids because it offers autonomy. In a world where adults tell them when to eat, sleep, and put on shoes, the iPad is a place where they are the boss. The autoplay feature exploits this by removing "stopping points." In traditional TV, a show ends and the credits roll. On YouTube, the next hit of dopamine starts in three seconds.
This is why "The Timer" often fails. If the timer goes off in the middle of a video, it feels like a personal affront. If you use the Approved Content Only mode, you can at least ensure that the content they are choosing is high-quality, making the eventual transition away from the screen a little less painful because their brain isn't as "fried" by over-stimulating junk.
If you’re going to curate their feed, you need the good stuff. Here are the Screenwise-approved channels that provide actual value, whether it’s through movement, creativity, or genuine education.
This is the gold standard. A dad and his kids teach you how to draw everything from Pokemon characters to seasonal decorations. It’s interactive, it requires physical materials (paper and markers), and it builds actual skills.
Hosted by Jessi and her robot rat friend, Squeaks, this channel answers the "why" questions that exhaust parents. Why is the sky blue? Why do we have snot? It’s fast-paced but deeply educational.
If your kid has the "zoomies" but you’re stuck inside, this is the answer. Jaime Amor leads kids through yoga adventures based on popular stories like Frozen or Star Wars. It’s screen time that gets them moving.
Don't let the simple animation fool you. This is arguably the best math-learning tool ever created for the 4-7 age range. It teaches number sense, multiplication, and even square roots in a way that kids actually internalize.
For the "Older" crowd (ages 8+), Mark Rober is a former NASA engineer who builds insane contraptions (like the famous Glitter Bomb). It’s high-energy, funny, and teaches the engineering design process better than any textbook.
Digital boundaries should grow with your child. Here’s how to think about YouTube Kids at different stages:
- Preschool (Ages 2-4): Strictly Approved Content Only. At this age, they don't need "variety." They need high-quality, slow-paced shows like Bluey or Trash Truck. Avoid anything with "surprise eggs" or "unboxing"—it’s essentially a 10-minute commercial for plastic waste.
- Early Elementary (Ages 5-8): This is the peak YouTube Kids era. They might start asking for specific creators like MrBeast. Be careful here; while MrBeast is "clean," the pacing is incredibly fast and can lead to that "screen zombie" irritability.
- Tweens (Ages 9-12): This is often when kids want to move to the "Big YouTube." Before you make the switch, consider "Supervised Accounts," which allow them to use the main app but with heavy filters and no "Create" features.
Ask our chatbot about the differences between YouTube Kids and Supervised Accounts
While YouTube Kids does a decent job of filtering out violence and nudity, it struggles with "contextual safety."
- AI-Generated Content: There is a flood of "brain rot" content—weird, AI-generated videos that use familiar characters (like Mickey Mouse or Minecraft Steve) in bizarre, repetitive situations. It’s not "dangerous," but it’s the digital equivalent of eating a bowl of sugar for dinner.
- The "Skibidi" Phenomenon: You might see your kid watching videos of heads popping out of toilets. This started as a series on YouTube and became a massive meme. It’s mostly harmless, but it can get creepy. If they’re obsessed, talk to them about why they think it’s funny. Usually, it’s just because it’s "random."
- Commercialism: Even on the "Kids" app, many creators are just there to sell toys. If your child starts "needing" every toy they see on screen, it might be time to prune the channel list.
Instead of being the "Screen Time Police," try being the "Digital Curator."
When you want to introduce a new boundary, don't just say "YouTube is bad for you." Try: "I noticed that when you watch those unboxing videos, you seem really grumpy when I ask you to turn it off. Let’s find some channels together that are more fun to watch but don't make your brain feel tired."
Sit down with them once a week and ask, "What’s the coolest thing you learned on YouTube this week?" If they can’t answer, or if the answer is "nothing," use that as a jumping-off point to find better content together.
YouTube Kids is a tool, and like any tool, it works best when you read the manual. By moving away from the "all-you-can-eat" algorithm and toward Approved Content Only, you take back control. You aren't just limiting their time; you're increasing the quality of their time.
Digital wellness isn't about counting minutes; it's about making sure those minutes count.
- Audit the App: Open YouTube Kids tonight and look at the "Watch It Again" history. If it’s 90% unboxing and 10% learning, it’s time to switch to Approved Content Only.
- Pick Three: Choose three high-quality channels (like Art for Kids Hub or SciShow Kids) and make them the "featured" options.
- Create a "No-Fly List": If there's a specific channel that drives you nuts (looking at you, Blippi), you can block the entire channel by tapping the three dots next to any of their videos.
Check out our guide on the best alternatives to YouTube for kids