If your kiddo has run out of things to watch, try out these 17 kids’ TV shows on YouTube that they can watch for free

Have you exhausted the kid-friendly content on your family’s face streaming service? Before you start a round of repeats, check out the free fun with our ultimate list of free kids shows on YouTube. From nostalgic shows from your own childhood to contemporary cartoons, these YouTube shows for kids are imaginative, entertaining, and maybe even educational too! As if that wasn’t enough, there are free movies on YouTube and our ultimate list of YouTube channels for kids is filled with fun and educational entertainment.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is a kids tv show you can find on YouTube
Disney Junior

"Oh, Toodles!" Did you know you can watch Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and the gang on YouTube? Yup, this show has been entertaining tots for years, and you can get full episodes of this kids' show by checking out the Disney Junior channel

Bluey

Bluey is a kids show you can find on YouTube
Bluey TV

Everyone's favorite Blue Heeler pup is on YouTube! Subscribe to the official Bluey channel for full episodes, bonus bits, and fun family segments. 

Peter Rabbit

Peter Rabbit is a free kids show on youtube

Based on Beatrix Potter's beloved character, this animated series on YouTube follows that curious rabbit and his friends (think Benjamin, Mr. Fisher, and other iconic Potter animals) through the woods, into Mr. MacGregor's garden, and much more. 

Blippi

Blippi is a free kids show on YouTube
Blippi via YouTube

Blippi is an original free kids' show on YouTube that's super popular with the little ones. If you haven't heard of him, just wait.

Related: ’90’s TV Shows to Watch with the Kids

PAW Patrol

kids shows on youtube

Everyone's favorite pup heroes can be found on YouTube! Head to their official channel and find hundreds of your kids' favorite episodes and seasons. There are also live streams and compilations. 

Pinkalicious and Peterrific

PBS Kids via YouTube

Catch full-length episodes of this PBS Kids pick on YouTube. If your child is a fan, they can watch the show whenever they want—and for free. 

The New Adventures of He-Man

He Man is a free kids show on YouTube
He Man via YouTube

This classic cartoon brings a definite sense of nostalgia. The free kids show on YouTube  The New Adventures of He-Man, brings the animated awesomeness to a whole new generation. 

Tyler Perry's Young Dylan

Young Dylan is a free kids show on YouTube
Nickelodeon via YouTube

Tyler Perry brings rapper Young Dylan to this perfect-for-your-tween Nickelodeon show. Check out the full free episodes on the Nickelodeon YouTube channel.

Related: 100+ Movies Every Kid Needs to See Before They Grow Up

Read-Along with PBS Kids

kids shows on youtube
PBS Kids via YouTube

You can't get to the local library for an IRL story time. Don't worry, PBS Kids has you covered. Hear stories read by beloved authors, such as Marc Brown and Victoria Kann. 

Arthur

PBS Kids via YouTube

The adventurous aardvark brings full-length episodes to your laptop, tablet, or smartphone screen via the PBS Kids YouTube channel. 

It's Okay to Be Smart

It's Okay to Be Smart is a free kids tv show on YouTube
It's Okay to Be Smart via YouTube

Joe Hanson, Ph.D. explains why we're ticklish, how trees can fight climate change, and other science topics in this PBS Digital Studios show. While the content is probably over your tot's head, it's perfect for older kids and tweens.

Related: 40 YouTube Channels Just for Kids

Sabrina the Animated Series

Sabrina the Animated Series is a free kids tv show on YouTube
Sabrina the Animated Series via YouTube

WildBrain brings your family animated full-length episodes featuring 12-year-old Sabrina Spellman and the rest of the gang. While it's not the same as the Melissa Joan Hart version, your older kiddo will get a kick out of it.

Star Wars Kids

Star Wars Kids via YouTube

Would your young Jedi sit in front of a Star Wars-themed screen for hours? If you're looking for a way to get in some galactic entertainment, minus a day-long binge-fest, the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel features under five-minute looks at fan fave films!

Blaze and the Monster Machines

Blaze and the Monster Machines is a free kids show on YouTube
Blaze and the Monster Machines via YouTube

If your child is a fan of this Nick Jr. show, they can watch full-length Blaze and the Monster Machines episodes on YouTube. Along with the show, kids can also catch monster truck madness sing-alongs and learn through Blaze's latest adventure activities.

Related: 12 YouTube Workouts for New Moms (They’re Free & Fun!)

Sesame Street

Sesame Street via YouTube

For more than 50 years, Sesame Street has entertained and educated children across the globe. Catch full episodes featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster, and all your little one's favorite friends when you subscribe to the childhood classic on YouTube.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

You can find full episodes of this popular preschool show inspired by the original Mr. Roger's Neighborhood on PBS's YouTube channel

Sid the Science Kid

Sid the Science Kid via Youtube

Enjoy videos about Sid the Science Kid from the Jim Henson Company. Kids can enjoy episodes that teach about washing their hands and growing up. 

 

 

Forget YouTube. For kids who need all the answers (and need them now), try a podcast! Whatever piques their curiosity, you’ll be able to find a program that will not only educate but will also entertain your precocious humans. From NPR’s popular podcast to story-telling programs, here are our top picks for podcasts that are perfect for curious kids.

Wow in the World

Wow in the World is a popular podcast for kids

NPR’s popular show, hosted by Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, will have you following along on adventures throughout the world and tackling topics like animals, science and technology. Throw in hilarious voices and silly humor, and you’ll be begging for the next episode as much as your littles. 

Ages 5+ 

Cost: Free

Get more info here and listen on multiple streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

But Why, A Podcast for Curious Kids

It might just be the most dreaded question a kid can ask a parent, and this bi-weekly show could be your saving grace. The hosts take questions that have complex answers (think “Why is the sky blue?”) and break them down in a kid-friendly way. There are also kid-submitted questions, and experts explain with interesting, uncomplicated answers. 

Ages: All ages

Cost: Free

Get more info here and listen on multiple streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Brains On

Brains On is a good podcast for kids who are curious.

This is a similar show to But Why, but this one tends to skew a bit older and has a different kid co-host every week. The experts still answer the kid-submitted science questions, but there’s a nice combo of silliness and insight, too.

Ages: 8 & up.

Cost: Free

Get more info here and listen on multiple streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Greeking Out

Greeking Out is a podcast for kids

Is your kiddo interesting in Greek mythology? National Geographic's podcast for kids "Greeking Out" tells some of the greatest tales of heroes, Gods, and humans in this engaging series of stories adapted for little ears. Think Prometheus, Heracles, the Muses, and many more. 

Ages: 6 & up

Cost: Free

Find out more here, and subscribe here

Newsy Pooloozi

Newsy Paloozi is a fun podcast for kids

This podcast covers everything from tech and culture to arts, current events and science. And the correspondents are kids from all over the world, so listeners get information that's created just for them, presented by kids just like them. 

Ages: 7 & up

Cost: Free 

Learn more here and subscribe on your favorite platform including Apple, Spotify, Pandora and more. 

The Past & the Curious

It’ll remind you of Drunk History (minus the alcohol), as this podcast tells little-known stories from history with an emphasis on fun and humor. We love the fact that there’s also a quiz, so your curious kids will learn something new, too. 

Ages: 7 & up

Cost: Free

Get more info here and listen on multiple streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Purple Rocket Audio Adventures

This show tells a new story every episode, and there are nuggets of knowledge sprinkled throughout each one. Discover exactly how tricky it is to hatch a dinosaur egg, find out how far you can get into the universe on a Space Train and what happens when your grandpa's magic globe can transport you to other countries all over the world.

Ages: 5 & up

Cost: Free

Find out more here and subscribe via Apple Podcasts.

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I was talking to a mom the other day—let’s call her Beth—who shared with me a daycare horror story. Beth put her daughter in a daycare near her home that looked quaint. As a new mom, she didn’t know any other parents who had sent their children there but she was in a crunch to find childcare before she returned to work and this place was affordable, convenient, and had an opening. Within a few weeks of her daughter starting at the daycare she saw some red flags—one day she picked her child up with a dirty diaper, other days her child seemed excessively hungry, and sometimes the childcare provider was not forthcoming with details about her daughter’s day.

Ultimately she decided to take a costly leave of absence from work and figure out a better childcare situation. She later found out that there had been complaints filed against the daycare and their license was in the process of being suspended. She felt fortunate she intervened when she did and had the means to take a leave from work. She asked me how parents prevent these situations from happening in the first place.

Finding high-quality childcare is top of mind for working parents and it’s not easy to figure out how to navigate the process, especially as a new parent. But you don’t have to leave the situation up to chance and prayer.

Here are five things you can do as a parent to empower yourself and ensure you’re placing your child in a safe and loving environment.

Get parental approval

If you don’t know parents first-hand that have sent their children to a daycare provider, then ask the provider for references and call them. The more information on a facility or individual, the more comfortable you will feel leaving your children in their care. My company, Winnie, recently compiled a free database of every daycare and preschool, starting with San Francisco where you can get information about the provider, reviews from parents and other critical safety info like the adult to child ratio. We did this because we want to equip parents with the information they need to ensure their child’s well-being and make life easier for working moms & dads.

Check the licensing database

Did you know that there’s a licensing database when you can find information about all licensed daycares and preschools in the United States? If it’s a daycare, even an in-home provider, look at the licensing database. All licensed daycares and preschools are inspected regularly and these inspections are public information. You can also see if any complaints have been filed against the school and even subscribe to updates in case their licensing status changes.

Visit and ask questions

Ask to visit the provider, ideally while children are present. This will give you a feel for their st‌yle and if it jibes with yours. Ask questions to understand how the provider communicates with parents, what the physical environment is like (e.g. is it childproofed? Is it clean?) and what children do as a day-to-day routine.

Check their safety procedures

One thing that’s very predictable about children is that they are unpredictable. Accidents and emergencies happen so you want to ensure your provider is trained and prepared for the worst. Check the basics like training in first aid and CPR but also understand their policies around illness, evacuation procedures, and vaccines. Finally, you’ll want to really understand their philosophy around discipline. The most important thing for a childcare provider is that they have lots of patience and never resort to harsh language or violence with your child.

Trust your gut

Even if everything looks great on paper and checks out, you have to trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right to you, you need to act like Beth did and pull your child out of the daycare until you sort the situation out. Beth didn’t have a lot of information to go on at the time, but she acted swiftly and prevented the situation from getting worse.

Short mom to tall kids. CEO and co-founder of Winnie, a leading marketplace for daycare and preschool helping millions of parents across the United States. Still getting the gist of this whole parenting thing.

Lovevery is on nearly every mom-to-be’s baby registry. The stage-based play essential subscription box offers timeless toys perfect for every age (and let’s face it, is adorable).

Now, you don’t have to subscribe to grab the brand’s signature products: just head to Target! Starting today, Lovevery is dropping a new lineup of Playthings exclusively for Target and it’s just as fabulous as shopping from the OG site.


The new collection of Lovevery Playthings is already available in the baby aisle and includes classics like The Play Gym and The Block Set, in addition to Target-only items for children zero to 18 months. The collaboration makes access to the company’s developmental products easier than ever.

Each new product is available for under $25 and comes with access to a Digital Play Guide, expert tutorials, play ideas, activities, developmental tips and stage-based emails. You can shop all the products at participating Target stores and at Target.com. Certain products will only be available in-store, so don’t miss the baby aisle on your next Target run.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Target

 

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It’s the country’s most trusted test kitchen and a cooking show mainstay on public television. The YouTube channel has over a million subscribers and thousands of videos that show how to make virtually anything. And now America’s Test Kitchen is launching a new YouTube channel just for kids, with two distinct series to inspire young chefs everywhere.

“Wicked Good” is out now with seven episodes that follow a formerly evil scientist as he learns to cook and use his powers for good. He’s enlisted the help of 13-year-old granddaughter and recipe tester Zoe Bates, but it won’t be easy. Can Zoe help him drop his evil scientist instincts and whip up foolproof creations? One thing’s for sure, zany mistakes are sure to happen along the way!

“Test Kitchen Kids Takeover” will spotlight the young chefs of America’s Test Kitchen Kids and launch on June 9. Each week, kids will share cooking tips, recipes and demonstrate the real-life mishaps that are part of the cooking process. Don’t forget the dance parties!

“By launching our first YouTube channel for kids, we’re hoping to continue to foster a community in which children feel empowered and excited to take the lead in the kitchen,” explained Editor in Chief Molly Birnbaum, America’s Test Kitchen Kids. “The channel is funny and warm, showing kids that cooking isn’t just attainable but also FUN—a great way to express their personalities and see other kids just like them. It’s the perfect expansion on our successful cookbook line, free website full of recipes, and podcast.”  

You can start watching (and cooking) along now! The YouTube channel drops following America’s Test Kitchen Kids’ New York Times bestselling cookbook, The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs. For even more fun in the kitchen, you can subscribe to The Young Chef’s Club, a monthly kit that combines cooking and science, or listen to the Mystery Recipe podcast that breaks down the wild sides of food. Bon appetit!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Pexels

 

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Whether you’re fully vegan, looking to go vegan or you simply want to bring more plant-based foods into your household, finding creative ways to incorporate a few more plant-based options into your home is never a bad idea. From saving money to helping the environment, and of course, helping your family get even healthier than you already are, plant-based foods are often crucial to your diet and wellness—even if you don’t realize it at first. So many healthy foods are already plant-based, and even more, can be easily vegan-ized to your liking.

Even so, it can be difficult to get people on board sometimes—both kids and adults alike. People can be stuck in their ways and unwilling to try new things, but that doesn’t mean vegan-izing things is a completely lost cause. In fact, providing vegan options and feeding your family a few more plant-based meals can actually be easier than you realize. All you need to do is find what works for you and your family and take things one step at a time.

1. Stick to the Basics
One thing many people don’t realize is that there are so many foods that are already vegan or “accidentally” vegan. From pasta recipes to salads, there are so many foods that are already vegan, and leaning into those options can give you a bit of an easier time, both for yourself and the rest of your family.

2. Vegan-ize Old Favorites
If your family has a few non-vegan staples, another option you can try is making plant-based versions of them and seeing how they do. If there’s one thing that many people have learned in recent years, it’s that anything can be vegan-ized. Whether it’s chicken nuggets, decadent mac and cheese or chocolate chip cookies. You may not even want to mention that it’s vegan until after the family has tried it. That way, they can get used to it and see if they like it without any judgment.

3. Make a Vegan Base
Another great way to ease in more plant-based foods is to start with a base dish that you can add different proteins, toppings, and condiments to based on everyone’s taste. You can start by making a list of plant foods that everyone enjoys, so you know you’re starting off with a crowd-pleaser.

4. Promote General Health
Another way to get older kids and partners in particular on board is to simply discuss the health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle openly and honestly. Talk about how healthy plant foods are and how it’s important to eat fruits and vegetables regularly. While it might not feel like the first way you’d get your family on board, you might surprise yourself, especially if they tend to notice feeling better after eating plant-based. Even if it isn’t all gung-ho at first, it might just get people part of the way there.

5. “I Do the Cooking”
This one might be a bit controversial. While many parents subscribe to the idea that you should ask your kids what they want for dinner and that what you make is a family discussion, there is a time and a place to lay down the law. Simply put, stating that when you do the cooking, they can eat what you make or find somewhere else to get their food might be what it takes to start everyone off on the plant-based bandwagon.

6. Don’t Forget Snacks
While meals are the main event, snacks also play an important role in the way we eat. When you bring plant-based snacks into your home like fruits, trail mixes, hummus, and much more, your family may naturally discover vegan foods that they like, making meals easier to prep for. Try to go for a wide variety of snack foods, perhaps changing things up every few weeks to introduce new flavors and foods.

7. Try Out New Recipes
Going to the opposite end of the spectrum from some of the earlier tips, if your family tends to be the kind of people who love to experiment with different kinds of foods and dishes from all around the world, bringing a bit of plant-based adventure into your house could capture some interest. Experiment with different recipes—bring in some Thai, Mexican, Indian or Italian food and see what your family falls in love with. You might just encounter a new staple that your family will associate with plant-based food.

Feeding Your Family More Plant-Based Meals
Getting your family to eat more plant-based foods might seem difficult, but it’s absolutely possible and worth it. All it takes is a bit of creativity and resourcefulness. Whether you vegan-ize old family favorites or you try out brand new cuisines together, there is so much that plant-based foods have to offer. What’s your favorite plant-based dish?

Kara Reynolds is the Editor-in-Chief and founder of Momish Magazine.  A mom of four and matriarch to her big blended family, Kara wants nothing more than to normalize differences in family structures.  She enjoys peeing alone, pancakes, and pinot noir - but not at the same time.