TL;DR: StacyPlays is the "Mr. Rogers of Minecraft." If you are tired of the screaming, high-octane "brain rot" often found on YouTube, Stacy Hinojosa is the antidote. Her content is G-rated, focused on animal rescue, storytelling, and kindness. It is one of the safest corners of the internet for elementary-aged kids.
Quick Links:
- The Main Channel: StacyPlays YouTube
- The Game: Minecraft
- The Books: Wild Rescuers by StacyPlays
- The Series: Dogcraft
If you’ve spent more than five minutes looking over your kid's shoulder while they watch YouTube, you’ve probably seen the chaos. It’s a lot of neon colors, creators screaming at the top of their lungs, and memes like "Skibidi Toilet" that make you feel like your brain is melting. In a world where everything is "Ohio" (weird/cringe) or "Sigma," finding a creator who is just... nice... feels like finding a literal diamond in a Minecraft cave.
Enter StacyPlays.
Stacy Hinojosa has been a staple of the Minecraft community for over a decade. While other creators were chasing clicks with pranks or toxic "frenemy" drama, Stacy built a massive following—the "Milk and Cookies" community—based on a love for animals and wholesome storytelling.
StacyPlays is primarily a gaming channel, but it’s more "digital dollhouse" than "hardcore gamer." Stacy plays Minecraft, but she uses the game as a canvas to tell stories. Her videos aren't about winning or "pwnage"; they’re about building animal rescues, exploring new biomes, and interacting with her real-life (and digital) pets.
She is famous for her "no-swearing" policy and her incredibly calm demeanor. If your kid is watching Stacy, you won't hear a single "what the hell" or even "this sucks." She treats her audience with respect, and in return, her community is one of the most positive spaces on the platform.
Kids, especially those in the 6–11 age range, are drawn to Stacy for a few reasons:
- The Animals: If your child is the type who wants to pet every dog on the street, they will lose their mind over Dogcraft. Stacy’s obsession with animals is her brand.
- Low Stress: Not every kid wants the high-stress, high-volume energy of MrBeast or Fortnite streamers. Stacy’s videos are "cozy." They are the digital equivalent of a warm blanket.
- The Lore: Stacy doesn't just play; she creates "lore." Her series have recurring characters, plotlines, and emotional stakes (like rescuing a lost wolf) that keep kids coming back for hundreds of episodes.
If you’re going to let your kid dive in, here are the heavy hitters you’ll hear about:
This is the flagship. It’s a massive, long-running Minecraft series where Stacy’s goal is to rescue and house every single breed of dog possible. It features her real-life dogs, Page and Molly, as characters. It’s educational in a "did you know this about wolves?" kind of way and focuses heavily on the ethics of rescue and care.
This is a parent’s dream. In this series, Stacy recreates famous literary worlds within Minecraft. She has done everything from The Secret Garden to Hatchet. It’s a brilliant bridge between gaming and reading, often inspiring kids to actually pick up the physical books she’s "playing" through.
Stacy leveraged her YouTube success to become a New York Times bestselling author. The Wild Rescuers series follows a girl raised by wolves. If your kid is a fan of Warrior Cats or Wings of Fire, they will likely love these. It’s a great way to transition "screen time" into "page time."
A modded Minecraft series where Stacy explores a world filled with mythical creatures and unique animals. It’s heavy on imagination and light on conflict.
Recommended Ages: 5 to 12
For the under-12 crowd, StacyPlays is practically perfect. She is one of the few creators where you can truly "set it and forget it" without worrying about a sudden mid-video rant about something inappropriate.
However, as kids hit 13 or 14, they might start to find her content "too babyish." That’s okay. It’s a natural progression. But for those elementary years where you’re trying to protect them from the more toxic corners of YouTube, Stacy is a gold mine.
Check out our guide on finding safe YouTube creators for elementary kids
While Stacy herself is safe, YouTube is still YouTube. Here are the two things to watch out for:
- The Sidebar of Doom: Even if a StacyPlays video is wholesome, the recommended videos in the sidebar might not be. YouTube algorithms can sometimes serve up "lookalike" content that is much edgier or weirder.
- Comments: Stacy does a great job of moderating her community, but no one can catch everything. It’s always worth a quick talk with your kid about not scrolling down into the comments section.
Let’s be real: As an adult, listening to someone talk to digital dogs in a high-pitched voice for 20 minutes can be... a lot. If you’re looking for a show to watch with your kid, this might not be your first choice (unless you also really love Minecraft).
But in terms of quality? It’s top-tier. Stacy is a professional. She isn't trying to sell your kid gambling skins or expensive mystery boxes. She’s selling books and plushies of her dogs. Compared to the predatory marketing found in Roblox or other YouTube giants, Stacy is refreshingly old-school.
She also teaches a lot of "soft skills." Her videos often deal with:
- Empathy: Caring for animals and understanding their needs.
- Organization: Managing a massive "zoo" in a game requires a lot of planning.
- Creativity: Showing kids that games can be used to tell stories, not just score points.
Ask our chatbot about the difference between StacyPlays and other Minecraft YouTubers
If your kid is obsessed with Stacy, use it as a jumping-off point for real-world conversations:
- "Which dog in Dogcraft is your favorite? Why do you think Stacy decided to rescue that one?" (Encourages empathy and narrative recall).
- "I saw Stacy did a video on a book today. Do you want to go to the library and see if they have it?" (Leverages screen time for literacy).
- "How does Stacy handle it when something goes wrong in her game? She doesn't seem to get too angry, does she?" (Great for discussing emotional regulation during gaming).
StacyPlays is a rare "green light" in the digital world. She has built a career on being the nice girl who loves dogs, and she hasn't wavered from that even as the rest of the internet got louder and weirder.
If your kid is asking for Minecraft videos and you’re worried about what they’ll find, point them toward Stacy. It’s wholesome, it’s creative, and it’s one of the few things on YouTube that won't make you want to throw the iPad out the window.
- Watch one episode of Dogcraft with your kid to get a feel for the vibe.
- Check out the Wild Rescuers books if you want to encourage more reading time.
- Explore other "cozy" creators if your kid likes Stacy, such as LDShadowLady or Aphmau (though Aphmau is a bit higher energy/louder).
Check out our guide to the best Minecraft YouTubers for parents