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
"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 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
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.
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.
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 brings rapper Young Dylan to this perfect-for-your-tween Nickelodeon show. Check out the full free episodes on the Nickelodeon YouTube channel.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
There’s no way around the fact that your kids have probably spent more time in front of screens for the last several months. The good news is, there are plenty of ways for them to learn and have fun without tech, too. When it comes to fulfilling those daily reading minutes, why not mix it up with a few magazines for kids? Filled with everything from picture hunts to kid-friendly journalism, we’re happy to report that there’s a publication for nearly every age and stage.
The Best Magazines for All Kids
ChopChop
If you are a foodie family, ChopChop should definitely be arriving in your mailbox. Aimed at kids ages 2-12, each issue is filled with recipes that range from healthy snacks to meals like soups, how-to tutorials (think how to cook and drain pasta), educational features, puzzles, and even games.
You know the magazine you used to read at the doctor’s office or that your grandma subscribed to in your honor, year after year. There’s a reason why Highlights is one of the best magazine subscriptions and has been for 75 years. Filled with fun articles, games, crafts, and recipes, you can choose from Hello (up to age 1), High Five (2-6), Highlights (6-12), and High Five Bilingüe Magazine, their Spanish and English magazine (2-5).
Another classic publication for kids, Ranger Rick offers three versions: Ranger Rick Cub (0-4), Ranger Rick JR. (4-7) and Ranger Rick (7-12). Focusing on nature, it’s the perfect way for kids to learn about the outdoors.
It’s everything you love about National Geographic, curated for your kiddo. Choose from the Little Kid version (3-6) or the Kid version (6 & up). Filled with incredible photography and information about animals and the world we live in, it’s the perfect way to travel without leaving the house.
Independently published Kazoo Magazine is for girls ages 5-12. It celebrates their specialness: strength, smarts, confidence, and being true to themselves. It’s a quarterly publication filled with stories about art, nature, citizenship, critical thinking, and more. There’s also plenty of fun stuff like mazes, secret codes, and dot-to-dots for the youngest subscribers.
From Cricket Media, this award-winning publication is geared toward curious kids ages 9-14. Focusing on science, technology, and the arts, Muse is filled with engaging articles on things like the Mariana Trench, current events, Q&As from kids, puzzles using shapes, and much more. Plus, each issue is completely free of advertisements!
Curated especially for 8-14-year-old curious kids, the goal behind this weekly publication is to help kids make sense of the world, provide them with tools to help them think for themselves and instill a love of reading. Content includes global news, science, sports, books, entertainment, and more. Subscribe now, and get six weeks for free!
If you’ve got a sports-obsessed kid at home, Sports Illustrated Kids is the perfect fit. Each issue is filled with photography, educational sports news, and of course, there's the annual SportsKid issue. There are also tips and information from top trainers, athletes, and coaches.
Smore Magazine is a great publication that will introduce your kid to different careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. They'll also have a blast with all of the puzzles, games, and crafts!
Whether you prefer a perfect french press or regular ol’ drip, when it comes to the morning time, it’s really about getting some form of caffeine into your bloodstream ASAP. To make your early a.m. routine the best it can be, we’ve rounded up 14 of the best subscriptions that do practically everything except brew the coffee. From single-origin offerings to blind tastings, read on to find your new cuppa joe.
The Best of Coffee Tasting
Bean Box partners with small-batch, award-winning roasters throughout the U.S. Choose between the Coffee Tasting Subscription, which features four specialty roasts (1.8 oz. each) delivered once each month, or the Coffee Bag Subscription (12 oz.), delivered weekly, biweekly or monthly. The coffee is guaranteed fresh and comes with tasting notes, roaster profiles, roasting tips, and a treat. Bean Box also offers unique coffee gifts, including a World Coffee Tour Box and a Coffee and Chocolate Tasting Gift Box, as well as add-on purchases such as cold brew and gourmet chocolates.
Why You’ll Love It: Bean Box survives and thrives in the land of Seattle, so you know these folks are the real deal.
Cost: $16.50/mo for the Coffee Tasting Subscription, $24/mo for the Coffee Bag Subscription
Subscribe at BeanBox.com (Sign up now and start tasting for only $5!).
The Pro Selection
Courtesy of Lady Falcon Coffee Club
Lady Falcon Coffee Club was founded by master roaster Buffy Maguire. With over 30+ years of experience in a typically male-dominated industry, Maguire put in thousands of hours in her garage to perfect her skills. What started as a single coffee truck in Alamo Square in San Francisco, CA, has become a successful DTC online business with products launching in Nordstrom's this holiday season.
Why You'll Love It: This artisan coffee is unique to Maguire's skill and knowledge. She's traveled all over the world for her beans and has even added a rare cáscara tea (a superfood) to her repertoire.
Cost: The Fan-Club Coffee Subscription comes every 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 weeks, starting at $34.50 & up. You can pick your two bags on your own or let them choose for you.
A Mistobox subscription means you'll get a coffee expert who personalizes your monthly coffee selection of over 605 coffees worldwide and to fit your specific taste buds. When you subscribe, you are supporting local farmers worldwide, with many brands also certified as fair trade.
Why You'll Love It: With cost options that start at $10.95 for 24 cups of coffee, this subscription is an affordable choice for still getting personalized coffee options.
Launched in 2018, Trade Coffee is uniting coffee lovers and top roasters to offer over 400 roasted to order blends. Take the company's coffee quiz to get matched with the best brew for your palette and enjoy tons of picks for both cold and hot brew.
Why You'll Love It: Coffee lovers will jump over the diversity Trade Coffee has to offer. Enjoy tons of unique options, while continuing to update your taste preferences so that you get the perfect roast that's meant for you.
Cost: Starting at $12.50 for two bags per order or one bag for $15-$22 for premium roast coffees. Subscriptions always get 15% off and free shipping!
LA-based and female-owned business, Copper Cow Coffee is officially on our radar. The sustainably sourced and all-natural brand is all about Vietnamese coffee––and they're darn good about it. Copper Cow has designed filters and coffee that are biodegradable, compostable and are just like traditional Vietnamese coffee and the Vietnamese phin. Enjoy your freshly made java at home or on the go, and if you're feeling it, you'll want to check out the company's Thai Iced Tea or Coffee and Tea Trio bundle!
Why You'll Love It: The single portion packets of both coffee and milk make enjoying your morning cup a breeze––a must for parents. Just add water!
Cost: Starting at $30 for 20 classic coffees and $37 for 20 coffees + 20 milks!
Verve Coffee is committed to seeing its product through, from "seed to cup" and when you buy their coffee, you're helping support the Farmlevel Initiative which impacts communities at the local and global level. The company pays farmers premiums for quality coffees using direct trade relationships which exceed Fair Trade minimums, so your morning cup of joe does more than just bring you joy. Originating in Santa Cruz, California, Verve Coffee not only produces and delivers coffee for free, but they also have several cafés!
Why You'll Love It: Coffee subscriptions from Verve allow you to pick out your roast, grind and frequency. They also have canned Nitro flash brew and on-the-go drip kits so you never have to leave your fave coffee at home.
Cost: Starting at $19.75 for one 12 oz bag, you decide the frequency!
This java startup might be based in Austin, Tx, but Atlas Coffee Club's goal is to take customers on a trip around the world—one cup at a time. Each month highlights a new country’s unique culture and coffee. From Tanzania to Burundi to Congo, you won't be disappointed. You’ll receive coffee from the chosen country in a bag design inspired by local textiles and landscapes, a postcard from each country, a card with coffee facts, tasting notes, and the recommended brewing method. For a true coffee connoisseur who thinks they’ve tried it all, you can't go wrong with this one!
Why You'll Love It: In addition to serving up a killer cuppa Joe, this subscription gives customers access to coffee gear giveaways, as well as other perks.
Cost: Select between two or four-week deliveries, and $9 half bags, $14 single bags or $28 double bags
Crema's motto is "life's too short for bad coffee." Each month (or however frequently you want your coffee), you'll get a bag of coffee from around the world—and you rate it. As you continue to try and rate different coffees, Crema will learn your preferred tastes and start sending you recommendations. With a system like that, it's almost impossible to have a bad cup of coffee.
Why You'll Love It: Not only does Crema give customers the option to give their coffee as a gift (via emailed gift card), but they also have a subscription service for offices. See you later K-cups!
Unlike most services that ship within 48 hours, Moustache roasts their beans and ships their coffee the same day. Each bag even comes with a "Start Drinking On" date on it to ensure you don't brew your coffee too soon after the roast. Moustache was started over the frustration of having to pay a premium for "two-week-old" coffee. Also, they will rarely send you the same coffee twice, which means you're guaranteed new and interesting coffee in every shipment.
Why You'll Love It: To support small businesses, Moustache Coffee Club will let you redeem your Starbucks gift cards on their website. They also offer a "try it for free" option; they'll send you one 2 oz. bag at no cost.
If you want to give your palate superpower-like abilities when it comes to telling where your coffee comes from, a subscription to Angel’s Cup is the answer. Each week, four new samples arrive at your doorstep; you can conduct blind coffee tastings and use the accompanying app (available on iTunes and Android) to make tasting notes and compare findings with the pros. If there’s a sample you don’t like, the 100% refund guarantee and no-cost return policy mean you’ll get your hard-earned cash back without any stress.
Why You’ll Love It: The same sample is never shipped twice, which means you’ll be able to taste upwards of 208 different roasts.
Cost: There are three subscription options: The Cupping Flight includes four 1 oz. samples for $10.99, The Black Box includes four 2.75oz samples for $22.99 and the All-Stars for $19.99 for one large bag.
Blue Bottle Coffee roasts your coffee to order and ships it to your home within 48 hours, so you know your morning cup will always be fresh. But that's not the best part. Blue Bottle lets customers try their coffee for free for the first time—all you need to cover is the cost of shipping. Choose from their famous coffee blends or espressos; it's completely on them. Now that's a win-win.
Why You'll Love It: In addition to their coffee and espresso selections, Blue Bottle also sells some pretty sweet products on their site, including a carafe for making cold brew at home. They also periodically offer events, classes, and seminars. Check their website to see what's brewing in your area.
Cost: A changing selection of their blends starts at $8 for whole beans; single-origin selections start at $9.50.
Not everyone wants their coffee delivered to their house ground—or even as a freshly roasted whole bean. Some coffee fanatics like to do the roasting themselves. Enter Roast Coffee Company, which delivers green, unroasted coffee beans in bags ranging from one to five pounds. You need a coffee roaster if you're going to go this route, but hey, if anything is going to take your coffee game to the next level, it's this.
Why You'll Love It: Not only is it pretty dang cool to roast and grind your coffee, you'll save tons of money cutting out the middleman (Also, Roast Coffee has great deals on roasted coffee, as well.).
Cost: $4.99 for a one-pound bag of unroasted coffee; $9.99 for a one-pound bag of roasted coffee.
If you want to try a new and exciting coffee but don’t know where to start, let Craft Coffee do the work. Get started on the website by choosing your normal store-bought beans from a list, and they’ll suggest one of their roasters as a comparable choice. Do you like Major Dickason’s from Peet’s? Try the Streetlight Blend! There’s an option to choose their famous three-coffee sampler (each month, the expert tasting panel evaluates over 50 coffees and each month, only three make their way to your door), which will give you 4 oz. of three similar roasts. There’s no commitment, you can choose your plan, and shipping is always free. Craft Coffee is also fierce about freshness. They roast their beans in Brooklyn and ship them off to you within 24-72 hours.
Why You’ll Love It: Craft Coffee has a price match guarantee, which means they’ll match the price of your grocery store beans to the penny.
Cost: 12 oz. bags start at $6.99, the three-coffee (4 oz. bags) sampler is $24.99.
Started by three guys who love java, Grady's recipe is a New Orleans-style cold brew made with coffee, chicory and spices. There are several ways to get your Grady’s. You can choose from a pour-and-store pouch, a bean bag can (DIY brew kit) or a bean bag single—whether you drink it straight, water it down or add milk is up to you.
Why You’ll Love It: You can do so much with a cold brew. Be sure to check out the online section with recipes for tasty eats like coffee cake, coffee popsicles, chocolate shakes and more. Yum!
Cost: Start with 12 ready-to-drink black coffees for $40, or save by ordering a 3, 6 or 12 month supply. Bonus: New York City residents can also order single servings or concentrate brew to be delivered for free.
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.
A basic knowledge of programming is essential for everyone in this day and age. There are many free or low-cost coding programs available to teach kids this skill. Learning how to build simple websites and games helps children develop their problem-solving abilities and express their creativity in a new way.
Code Galaxy
Code Galaxy
Code Galaxy offers virtual coding classes, summer camps and private tutoring for kids. There are comprehensive courses on game development, design, web development, Python programming, and other STEM-related programs. Kids will get the opportunity to build real projects they can show off to their parents, teachers and friends.
Khan Academy offers kids basic programming tutorials that teach them how to build graphics and animations. Their newest partnership with Pixar, Imagineering in a Box combines 32 videos of actual Imagineers, real-world case studies, and lots of interactive activities to give you the opportunity to dream and design your very own theme park experience.
Code.org
Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Code.org is offering a set of resources to help students learn computer science at home. They are also working on resources to help teachers mid-course continue teaching remotely. For families without a home computer, Code.org offers smartphone options as well.
Codecademy
Drew Rae from Pexels
Codecademy teaches kids basic code through fun, simple exercises. To go beyond the basics you need to subscribe to Codecademy Pro.
Due to school closures due to COVID-19, Codecademy is offering 10,000 scholarships to Codecademy Pro for free to high school and college students around the world for the rest of the school year.
Tynker
Tynker
Tynker is offering free access to premium coding courses during school closures. Parents can sign up until Apr. 30. Educators and students will have access to the complete Tynker School PreK-12 curriculum, including Tynker Junior for early learners, introductory and intermediate programming courses, and interest-based courses, such as micro:bit, LEGO WeDo, and drone programming.
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!
Helping kids explore their ever-evolving interests and creating opportunities for them to flex their creativity muscles can sometimes feel like a full-time job. It can feel especially challenging when you’re trying to balance all this uber-enriching parenting work with responding to emails, getting dinner on the table and making sure everyone has clean laundry for the morning.
Thanks to Bennett Live, inspired by the educational style of Bennett Day School, you can now give your kids access to a vast library of engaging media, programming, and educational resources that will help them explore, learn and create independently—all from their favorite device!
Bennett Live offers a unique way to help kids stay busy and keep on growing and thriving at home. Unlike other apps that rely on fully-screen-based games to teach new skills, Bennett Live invites kids, ages 3-18, to immerse themselves in engaging pre-recorded media content. Every episode includes a project or activity to create, a unique learning guide and all the extra resources your kiddo will need to dig deep (and stay busy.)
After months of a little (okay, a lot) more screen time than usual, we all know that not all screen time is created equally. Kids’ brains respond differently when they have access to apps they can use independently and that offer them real opportunities to develop their growth mindset, creativity, problem-solving and social-emotional skills, physical growth and literacy skills.
With partners like the Adler Planetarium, the Lincoln Park Zoo, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and game companies like SpinMaster, USOPOLY, and Wonderful Idea Co., you won’t ever have to spend a frantic evening trying to schedule expensive one-off classes to fill tomorrow morning again. The experts are all on Bennett Live and, while we're pretty sure your kid won’t burn through the 110,000 hours of viewable content that’s already on the app, new content is being added consistently!
All kids deserve access to high-quality, creative and hands-on learning experiences, and Bennett Live is already helping to make this sort of learning possible for so many families (ummm, over A MILLION people so far) who are working and learning remotely.
If Bennett Live sounds like something you’ve been dreaming of (whenever you get to sleep these days anyway), you’re in luck because it’s easy to sign up for a free 7-day trial. Once you and your kiddo see all it has to offer, we know you’ll be ready for more!
Bennett Live is now available from Google Play (for Android) and the App Store (for iOS). After a 7-day free trial, families can subscribe for $9.99/month or $79.99 a year.
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.