If you have a toddler, you've probably found yourself in the great screen time debate: when you do let them watch something, what's actually worth their eyeballs? Enter the two heavyweight champions of toddler TV: Ms. Rachel and CoComelon.
Ms. Rachel (real name Rachel Griffin Accurso) is a former preschool teacher who creates YouTube videos that feel like interactive circle time. She speaks directly to kids, uses exaggerated facial expressions, teaches sign language, and focuses heavily on language development. Her videos are slower-paced, with lots of repetition and pauses for kids to respond.
CoComelon, on the other hand, is the bright, hyper-stimulating juggernaut that somehow hypnotizes toddlers into a trance-like state. It's animated nursery rhymes and daily routine songs with rapid scene changes, bold colors, and that distinctive animation style that makes parents' eyes glaze over after 30 seconds.
Both are massively popular. But when it comes to actually helping with toddler routines and development? They're not even playing the same game.
Let's be real: both shows work as toddler catnip, but for different reasons.
CoComelon is engineered for engagement. The fast cuts (scene changes every 2-3 seconds), bright colors, and catchy songs trigger dopamine responses. It's the digital equivalent of sugar cereal—kids love it, they'll ask for it constantly, and it works to keep them still. The songs about brushing teeth, bedtime, and eating vegetables are genuinely helpful for teaching routines... in theory.
Ms. Rachel captures attention differently. She's using actual early childhood education techniques: direct eye contact (with the camera), responsive pauses, simple language with clear enunciation, and social-emotional learning. Kids aren't hypnotized—they're engaged. She'll say "Can you say 'more'?" and then actually wait for your kid to respond. It feels less like watching TV and more like having a patient teacher visit your living room.
Here's where things get interesting. While there isn't a head-to-head clinical trial of Ms. Rachel vs. CoComelon (someone fund this study, please), we have plenty of research on what makes educational media actually educational for toddlers.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that screen time for kids under 2 should be limited, but when it happens, it should be high-quality, educational content watched with a caregiver. For ages 2-5, they recommend no more than one hour per day of quality programming.
Studies on fast-paced media (like CoComelon) show that rapid scene changes can actually impair executive function and attention in young children. A 2011 study found that just 9 minutes of fast-paced TV affected 4-year-olds' ability to focus on tasks immediately afterward. The constant stimulation doesn't teach kids how to sustain attention—it teaches them to expect constant novelty.
Language development research consistently shows that toddlers learn language best through responsive, back-and-forth interaction. This is where Ms. Rachel shines. Her "serve and return" approach (she asks a question, pauses, then responds) mimics the interaction patterns that actually build language skills. She's essentially doing video-based speech therapy techniques.
CoComelon's songs can help with vocabulary and routine recognition, but there's limited opportunity for that crucial interactive component. Your kid is watching other kids brush their teeth to a catchy tune—but they're not being invited to participate or respond.
So which one actually helps with daily routines like bedtime, meals, and potty training?
CoComelon has the songs. "Yes Yes Bedtime," "Potty Training Song," "Breakfast Song"—they're earworms that can genuinely help kids remember steps in a routine. Some parents swear by playing these songs during actual routine times (not just during screen time) as audio cues.
But here's the catch: if your kid is watching CoComelon for 30-60 minutes, they're getting overstimulated, and then you're trying to transition them to... bedtime? Good luck with that. The show might teach about bedtime, but the medium itself is working against the goal.
Ms. Rachel doesn't focus as much on specific routines, but her videos teach the underlying skills that make routines possible: following directions, understanding language, emotional regulation, and attention. A toddler who can better understand and respond to "It's time to put on pajamas" is going to have an easier time with routines than one who just knows the bedtime song.
If you're choosing between these two for your toddler, Ms. Rachel is the clear winner for actual development and learning. She's using evidence-based teaching methods, her pacing is appropriate for young brains, and she's genuinely supporting language development.
CoComelon isn't evil—it's just optimized for engagement over education. It's digital candy. Occasional use? Fine. Daily habit? You're likely to see attention issues, difficulty transitioning away from screens, and that zombie-like stare that makes you wonder if you should just throw the TV out the window.
If your toddler is already deep in the CoComelon hole:
- Start mixing in Ms. Rachel videos and watch them together. Respond when she asks questions, pause the video to talk about what you're seeing.
- Use CoComelon songs as audio-only during actual routine times (Alexa can play them) rather than as screen time.
- Expect some pushback when you reduce CoComelon time—it's designed to be addictive. Be patient and consistent.
For any toddler screen time:
- Co-viewing is key. Don't just use it as a babysitter (I know, I know—but try).
- Keep it under an hour total per day, ideally broken into shorter sessions.
- Read this guide to screen time limits for toddlers for more specific strategies.
- Balance with plenty of unstructured play, outdoor time, and real-world conversation.
Better alternatives to consider:
- Bluey for slightly older toddlers (3+)—genuinely great storytelling and family dynamics
- Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood—slower-paced, focuses on social-emotional learning and routines
- Sesame Street—the OG educational show, still excellent
Look, no toddler show is going to magically make your kid sleep through the night or potty train themselves. Routines are built through consistency, patience, and approximately 47,000 repetitions of the same instructions. But if you're going to use screen time as part of your parenting toolkit, Ms. Rachel is actually supporting your goals instead of working against them.
And if your kid is currently obsessed with CoComelon? You're not a bad parent. We're all just doing our best with tiny humans who have big feelings and zero impulse control. But maybe it's time to introduce them to a nice lady with a pink shirt who actually wants to have a conversation.