Paramount Plus is essentially the digital home of the ViacomCBS empire. For parents, that means one thing: Nickelodeon. If your kid is into Paw Patrol, Dora the Explorer, or the massive SpongeBob SquarePants universe, this app is likely already a staple in your house.

But it’s also the home of CBS (sports and procedurals), MTV (teen nostalgia and reality chaos), and now Showtime. This makes it a bit of a "Jekyll and Hyde" platform. One minute you’re watching a sentient sponge flip burgers, and the next, the algorithm is suggesting a gritty crime drama where someone gets their head put in a vice.

Because Paramount+ has integrated so much adult-leaning content recently, the "set it and forget it" approach to parental controls doesn't really work here. You need a strategy.

It’s the Nickelodeon factor. For kids under 10, Nickelodeon is a massive cultural touchstone. Whether it's the high-energy (and occasionally ear-splitting) antics of The Loud House or the comforting, educational vibes of Blue's Clues & You!, there is a deep well of content here.

For older kids and tweens, Paramount+ has cornered the market on "reboot culture." They’ve got the iCarly revival and new Zoey 102 movies that appeal to kids who want to feel a bit more "grown up" without jumping straight into the TV-MA deep end.

Paramount Plus doesn't make this as intuitive as Netflix, but it’s manageable if you do it from a computer rather than trying to peck it out with a TV remote.

When you create a profile, you’ll see a toggle for "Kids Mode." Turn it on.

The biggest flaw in most streaming apps is that a kid can just click "Switch Profile" and jump into yours. To stop this:

Now, whenever someone tries to switch to an adult profile, they’ll need that PIN. Pro tip: Don't make the PIN your birth year or "1234." Kids are basically tiny hackers when they want to see something they aren't supposed to.

Learn more about why profile PINs are the first line of defense

At this age, you want to avoid "bright-fast-loud" shows that lead to post-screen-time meltdowns.

This is where kids start wanting "cool" shows, and Paramount+ has plenty.

The most important thing for parents to know about Paramount Plus in 2026 is the integration of Showtime.

Showtime content is not for kids. We’re talking about shows like Yellowjackets (cannibalism, trauma, gore) or Dexter (serial killers). If you haven't set up that Profile PIN, these shows often appear in the "Trending" or "Recommended" banners on the home screen.

Unlike Disney+, which feels like it was built from the ground up for families, Paramount+ feels like a corporate merger that happened in a boardroom. The "walls" between the kids' stuff and the adult stuff are a bit thinner.

Check out our guide on how to talk to your kids about "accidental" exposure to adult content

If you are on the "Essential" plan (the cheaper one with ads), your kids are going to see commercials. Paramount is generally good about keeping the ads age-appropriate on Kids Profiles, but "age-appropriate" often just means "commercials for toys and sugary cereal."

If you find that your kid is suddenly asking for every Transformers toy they see, the ads are the culprit. If it’s within your budget, the ad-free "Paramount+ with SHOWTIME" plan is often worth the extra few bucks just to keep the marketing machine out of your living room.

Instead of just locking the door and saying "because I said so," use the Paramount+ controls as a conversation starter about digital boundaries.

You can say: "We use a PIN on the adult profiles because some of the shows on here are for grown-ups and have things that are too scary or confusing for kids. Just like I don't let you drive the car yet, some shows are for when you're older."

If they find a way around the PIN (and they might), don't freak out. Use it as a moment to check in. Why were they trying to get into the other profile? What did they see?

Paramount Plus is a goldmine for Nickelodeon fans, but it’s a bit of a "Wild West" if you don't take ten minutes to set up the Profile PIN.

The "Kids Mode" is a great start, but the PIN is the actual lock on the door. Without it, your kid is one accidental click away from the gritty world of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe.

Set the ratings, lock your profile, and let them enjoy the SpongeBob marathons in peace.

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