Paramount Plus: More Than Just the SpongeBob App
TL;DR
If you have a toddler, Paramount Plus is basically a non-negotiable because it’s the exclusive home of the Paw Patrol empire. For everyone else, it’s a mix of heavy-hitter nostalgia like Avatar: The Last Airbender, live sports (NFL on CBS!), and some surprisingly high-quality Star Trek content. The parental controls are effective but annoying to set up—you have to do it through a web browser, not the TV app.
Quick Links to the Good Stuff:
- For the Littles: Blue's Clues & You!, Bubble Guppies, and Dora.
- For the Big Kids: The Loud House and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- For the Tweens: iCarly (the original is still better) and Star Trek: Prodigy.
Think of Paramount Plus as the digital garage where Viacom keeps all its toys. It’s the streaming home for CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, and Paramount Pictures.
For parents, this means the app is essentially the "Nickelodeon Channel" on demand. While Netflix and Disney Plus get all the headlines, Paramount Plus quietly owns the most valuable real estate in a preschooler’s brain. If your kid is obsessed with SpongeBob SquarePants, this is the only place to get the full library plus the spin-offs like Kamp Koral.
It’s the "Orange Splat" factor. Nickelodeon has spent decades mastering the art of kid-centric entertainment. Unlike the polished, "perfect" vibe of some Disney content, Nick shows have always been a bit messier, louder, and more focused on the absurdity of being a kid.
In 2026, we’re seeing a massive resurgence in "legacy" Nick content. Your kids might be talking about Avatar: The Last Airbender not because they saw the live-action version, but because the original animated series is constantly trending on TikTok. Plus, Paramount has been smart about integrating with platforms kids already use; there are Roblox events for SpongeBob and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that drive kids right back to the streaming app to see the "real" characters.
Not everything in the vault is a winner. Here is the Screenwise breakdown of what’s worth your data and what’s just "brain rot" in a different wrapper.
Ages 7+ This is, quite simply, one of the best animated shows ever made. It deals with war, loss, and responsibility without ever feeling "too old" for elementary kids. If you’re looking for a "gateway" show to watch with your kids that won't make you want to scroll your phone in boredom, this is it. Follow it up with The Legend of Korra.
Ages 3-6 Look, we all have opinions on the "copaganda" of Chase and the gang, and the theme song will haunt your dreams. But for pure "I need to shower and keep the toddler safe" utility, Paw Patrol is the gold standard. It’s predictable, low-stakes, and teaches basic problem-solving.
Ages 8+ This was a bold move by Paramount—creating a Star Trek show specifically for kids who have never seen Star Trek. It works. It’s high-quality CGI, has great voice acting (Kate Mulgrew is back!), and introduces concepts of diplomacy and science in a way that feels like an adventure, not a lecture.
Ages 6-11 This show is... a lot. It’s chaotic and loud (obviously), but it’s one of the few modern cartoons that actually depicts a large, messy family dynamic well. It’s great for siblings to watch together, though the humor can occasionally lean into that "snot and farts" territory that Nick is famous for.
Ages 8-12 Based on the popular Big Nate books, this show captures the middle-school struggle perfectly. It’s funny, relatable, and much better than the "wimpy kid" clones you find on other platforms.
The "Skip It" List
- The iCarly Reboot: It’s aimed at the original fans (who are now in their 30s), so it has adult themes that aren't great for your 10-year-old who just finished the original series. Stick to the original iCarly.
- Caillou: Technically available on many platforms, but if you see it here, just keep scrolling. No one needs that kind of negativity in their house.
- The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish: It’s fine, but the original Fairly OddParents had a charm that these reboots often miss.
Here is the "No-BS" part: Paramount Plus has some of the most frustrating parental control setups of any major streamer.
Unlike Disney Plus or Netflix, where you can often tweak settings or lock profiles directly on your Roku or Apple TV, Paramount Plus requires you to log into your account via a web browser (on a computer or phone) to set a PIN or adjust maturity ratings.
How to lock it down:
- Go to ParamountPlus.com and log in.
- Go to Account -> Parental Controls.
- Switch the toggle to ON.
- Create a 4-digit PIN. Do not make it your kid's birth year. They are smarter than that.
- Select the rating threshold. If you set it to "Older Kids," it will require a PIN for anything rated TV-PG and above.
The Catch: Paramount Plus uses a "Master PIN" system. This means if you want to watch Yellowstone or Tulsa King after the kids are in bed, you have to enter that PIN. It’s a minor inconvenience for major peace of mind.
Learn more about setting up Paramount Plus parental controls
One of the biggest reasons families keep Paramount Plus is the live sports. If your family follows the NFL, you get whatever game is airing on your local CBS station.
But for soccer families, this app is the holy grail. It has the UEFA Champions League and NWSL. If you have a kid playing club soccer, watching these matches together is actually a great way to bond and talk about teamwork and perseverance (and how much money professional players make, which is a great lead-in to talking about Robux).
If you are on the "Essential" plan (the cheaper one), your kids will see ads. Unlike YouTube, these are traditional TV commercials. While Paramount tries to keep them age-appropriate on the Nick Jr. shows, "age-appropriate" still means your kid is being sold toys, sugary cereals, and other movies.
If you’re trying to minimize consumerism or "I want that!" meltdowns, the "Paramount+ with SHOWTIME" tier is ad-free for on-demand content (though live TV still has commercials). It’s a few extra bucks a month, but for many parents, the lack of toy commercials is worth the price of a latte.
Since Paramount Plus has such a deep library of "retro" shows from the 90s and 2000s, it’s a great platform for "Media History" nights.
Try this: Watch an episode of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and then watch the modern Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Ask your kids:
- "Why do you think the animation looks so different?"
- "Do the turtles act the same way now as they did when I was a kid?"
- "Which version feels more 'real' to you?"
This moves them from passive "zombie" watching to active, critical thinking about the media they consume.
Paramount Plus isn't the most "prestige" app in your rotation, but it’s a workhorse. It provides high-value entertainment for the under-12 crowd and enough live sports and Star Trek to keep the adults from canceling.
Just remember: Set that PIN on your laptop today. Don't wait until your 5-year-old accidentally starts an episode of South Park because they liked the "funny cartoon characters" on the thumbnail.
Next Steps
- Audit your subscription: Are you paying for the ad-tier? If so, observe how your kids react to the commercials.
- Set the PIN: Use a browser, not the app.
- Start a series: Try Avatar: The Last Airbender for your next family binge-watch.
Check out our guide on the best shows for 7-year-olds
Ask our chatbot about the best Star Trek series for beginners