TELEVISION – Whole Heartily

The Best Educational YouTube Channels for Children (That They’ll Actually Love Watching)!

Screen time can get a bad rap—but when used thoughtfully, it can also be an incredible tool for learning. YouTube is filled with kid-friendly content, but sifting through it can be overwhelming. The key? Finding trusted, engaging channels that teach kids something valuable and keep them coming back for more.

We’ve rounded up some of the best educational YouTube channels for children, covering everything from science and reading to art, music, and social skills. Whether your child is a preschooler or a curious tween, these channels make learning feel like play.

1. Sesame Street

YouTube.com/SesameStreet
Ages: 2–6
Focus: Early literacy, numbers, emotions, kindness

An all-time favorite for a reason. Sesame Street blends silly songs, lovable characters, and real-life lessons about friendship, diversity, and empathy—all while teaching the ABCs and 123s.

Why kids love it: Familiar faces like Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster bring warmth and fun to learning.

2. Cosmic Kids Yoga

YouTube.com/CosmicKidsYoga
Ages: 3–9
Focus: Mindfulness, movement, storytelling

Yoga, movement, and mindfulness meet adventure stories and popular themes (hello, Frozen and Pokémon). Jaime, the cheerful instructor, guides kids through active, imaginative routines.

Why parents love it: It gets kids moving, promotes calm, and requires zero equipment.

3. National Geographic Kids

YouTube.com/NatGeoKids
Ages: 6–12
Focus: Animals, geography, science, culture

This channel brings the wonders of the world right to your living room. Kids can explore wildlife, learn about ancient civilizations, and dive into fascinating facts with short, energetic videos.

Why kids love it: Cool animals + fun facts = instant engagement.

4. SciShow Kids

YouTube.com/SciShowKids
Ages: 5–10
Focus: Science, curiosity, critical thinking

Hosted by the enthusiastic Jessi, SciShow Kids explains science in a way that’s fun, accessible, and experiment-friendly. From why the sky is blue to how volcanoes work, every episode sparks curiosity.

Why parents love it: It’s science class without the pressure—hands-on and easy to follow.

5. Storyline Online

YouTube.com/StorylineOnline
Ages: 4–10
Focus: Reading, storytelling, vocabulary

Beloved children’s books are read aloud by celebrities like Viola Davis and Chris Pine. Each video is beautifully produced and perfect for encouraging a love of reading.

Why it’s a hit: It brings storytime to life, especially helpful for reluctant readers.

6. Art for Kids Hub

YouTube.com/ArtforKidsHub
Ages: 4–12
Focus: Drawing, creativity, art techniques

This family-run channel offers step-by-step drawing tutorials for everything from animals to video game characters. It’s a hit with creative kids and families who want to draw together.

Bonus: No fancy art supplies needed—just paper, a pencil, and imagination.

7. Crash Course Kids

YouTube.com/CrashCourseKids
Ages: 8–12
Focus: Science, engineering, ecosystems

A younger version of the popular Crash Course series, this channel dives deeper into science topics with smart explanations, animations, and a focus on real-world connections.

Why it works: It respects kids’ intelligence while making big ideas digestible.

8. Numberblocks / Alphablocks

YouTube.com/Numberblocks
Ages: 3–6
Focus: Early math and literacy

These bite-sized shows use colorful characters to teach foundational concepts in math (Numberblocks) and phonics (Alphablocks). They’re perfect for preschool and kindergarten learners.

Why kids love it: The characters are like living, breathing numbers and letters.

9. KidTime StoryTime

YouTube.com/KidTimeStoryTime
Ages: 4–9
Focus: Books, imagination, vocabulary

This channel brings picture books to life with enthusiastic storytelling, fun voices, and puppet co-hosts. It’s lively, funny, and wonderful for winding down.

Why parents love it: It’s perfect for quiet time or a bedtime story replacement.

10. TED-Ed

YouTube.com/TEDEd
Ages: 10+
Focus: Big ideas, science, history, philosophy

For older kids, TED-Ed delivers smart, thought-provoking animated lessons on everything from the immune system to ancient myths. Great for kids who ask why? a lot.

Why it stands out: It’s like a mini-lesson from a passionate teacher—ideal for curious tweens and teens.

Final Thoughts

Educational YouTube content can be so much more than background noise—it can spark questions, fuel passions, and even inspire a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. Whether you want to boost reading, explore science, or take a virtual field trip, these channels are safe, smart, and seriously fun.

So the next time you’re looking for quality screen time, skip the scroll and try one of these instead. Your kids might just learn something new—and you might, too!

How to Create a Family Media Plan That Works!

Let’s face it—technology is everywhere, and managing screen time has become one of the most common (and exhausting) conversations in modern parenting. But here’s the good news: creating a family media plan doesn’t have to feel like a battle. With a little structure and open communication, you can build a plan that supports healthy habits and keeps everyone in your home on the same page.

Here’s how to create a family media plan that actually works for your unique household.

What Is a Family Media Plan?

A family media plan is a shared set of guidelines that helps families manage how, when, and why media is used at home. It covers screen time, device use, content choices, and how tech fits into your family’s values.

Think of it as your household’s “tech mission statement” – designed to promote balance, protect mental health, and build trust between parents and kids.

Step 1: Involve the Whole Family

Before setting rules, include your kids in the conversation. Ask questions like:

What do you love doing online?
What shows or games make you feel good—or not so good?
How does screen time affect your sleep, school, or mood?

This opens the door to honest conversations and gives kids ownership in the plan, making them more likely to respect it.

Step 2: Set Clear (and Age-Appropriate) Limits

Every family is different, but here are some starting points to consider:

Preschoolers (ages 2–5): 1 hour per day of high-quality content.
Kids 6–12: Prioritize balance with homework, sleep, and play.
Teens: Encourage screen self-awareness and time boundaries.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t just say “1 hour of screen time.” Be specific:
“30 minutes of games after homework, 30 minutes of YouTube before dinner.”

Step 3: Define Screen-Free Zones and Times

Boundaries work best when they’re simple and consistent. Try these:

📵 No phones at the dinner table.
😴 No screens 1 hour before bed.
🚗 No personal devices in the car (unless it’s a road trip).
🛋️ Family movie nights = no second screens.

Create tech-free zones in bedrooms, bathrooms, and family meals to encourage connection and reduce overuse.

Step 4: Focus on Quality, Not Just Quantity

Not all media is created equal. Help your kids:

Choose educational and enriching content.
Watch shows or play games that align with your family’s values.
Avoid content with heavy advertising, violence, or negative messaging.

Use resources like Common Sense Media to check ratings and reviews before watching something new.

Step 5: Keep the Conversation Going

A media plan isn’t “set it and forget it.” As your kids grow, their interests—and responsibilities—change too. Set aside time every few months to revisit the plan and adjust together.

Ask:

Is this plan still working for us?
What’s changed in your school, friendships, or schedule?
Are there new apps, games, or shows we should talk about?

Free Tools to Help You Get Started

American Academy of Pediatrics Media Plan Tool
Printable Media Contract for Kids & Teens
App/Screen Time Trackers like Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link

Sample Family Media Plan Rules

Here’s an example you can edit:

Rule	Who It Applies To	Notes
No devices during meals	Everyone	Encourages family conversation
Screen time ends at 8 PM	Kids under 12	To protect sleep hygiene
1 hour of screen time on school days	All kids	Homework must be done first
Movies must be approved	Kids	Use reviews or previews first
Unlimited educational games	All	Must still include outdoor time

Final Thoughts

The goal of a family media plan isn’t to be overly strict—it’s to create a healthy, thoughtful relationship with technology. By setting expectations and checking in regularly, you can help your kids grow into mindful digital citizens and keep your household running a little smoother.

What Works for You?

Have you tried a media plan in your home? What rules or ideas helped your family the most? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your tips!

Our New Christmas Family Tradition

Have you ever intentionally created a family tradition? I haven’t, until now!

My family and I grew up watching the Charlie Brown/Peanuts holiday specials around this time every year with our parents; they all have a special place in my heart, but none more than It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas!

Continuing on with these good feelings and memories, embellishing it to make it our own, here is our new Christmas tradition:

The Friday before Christmas we will make our own marshmallows and hot chocolate, then sip it while we watch A Charlie Brown Christmas!

It’s simple, yet fun and heartfelt like any family tradition should be! Create happy feelings and the happy memories will follow! Feel free to use this idea for your own family tradition, or take it and change it to make it your own!

Family Friendly Christmas Movies and Specials – PG Rated

Welcome to the cozy and magical month of December my friends!

My family and I have created a list of family friendly Christmas movies and specials for you and yours! Christmas may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Christmas spirit!

This year we’ve decided to focus on movies and specials that are rated PG for parental guidance suggested; some material may not be suitable for children. If you are looking for movies and specials that are rated G for general audience and good for all ages, please visit last year’s list – Family Friendly Christmas Movies and Specials Rated G.

Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly (PG-rated) Christmas favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!

Organized alphabetically by title:

Our New Thanksgiving Family Tradition

Have you ever intentionally created a family tradition? I haven’t, until now!

Continuing on with these good feelings and memories, embellishing it to make it our own, here is our new Thanksgiving tradition:

The Friday before Thanksgiving we will gather and/or create buttered toast, popcorn, pretzels and jelly beans, all the food the kid’s feast on in Thanksgiving Charlie Brown. We will snack on these treats while we watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving!

Our New Halloween Family Tradition

Have you ever intentionally created a family tradition? I haven’t, until now!

Continuing on with these good feelings and memories, embellishing it to make it our own, here is our new Halloween tradition:

The night before Halloween (or a few nights before), we will carve our pumpkins and light them for the first time. After, we’ll sip on cold or warm apple cider (depending on the weather) and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!

Family Friendly Halloween Movies – PG Rated

Welcome to the spooky month of October my friends!

My family and I have created a list of family friendly Halloween movies and specials for you and yours! Halloween may be celebrated a little differently this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t kindle a little Halloween spirit!

Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly (PG-rated) halloween favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!

Organized alphabetically by title:

Family Friendly Halloween Movies and Specials – G Rated

Welcome to the spooky month of October my friends!

This year we’ve decided to focus on movies and specials that are rated G for general audiences, or good for all ages. Some of the older content has never been rated, but they were created under the Motion Picture Production Code, which was a set of moral guidelines used by motion picture studios from 1934 to 1968, and are thus pretty tame.

Please let us know if we missed or left out any of your family friendly (G-rated) halloween favorites you feel should be included! We’d love to hear from you!

Family Friendly Halloween Movies and Specials (G-rated)

Peanuts Movies & TV Specials

Feature Films

Television Specials

The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show

“Snoopy’s Cat Fight”
“Snoopy: Team Manager”
“Linus and Lucy”
“Lucy vs. the World”
“Linus’ Security Blanket”
“Snoopy: Man’s Best Friend”
“Snoopy the Psychiatrist”
“You Can’t Win Charlie Brown”
“The Lost Ballpark”
“Snoopy’s Football Career”
“Chaos in the Classroom”
“It’s that Team Spirit, Charlie Brown”
“Lucy Loves Schroeder”
“Snoopy and the Giant”
“Snoopy’s Brother Spike”
“Snoopy’s Robot”
“Peppermint Patty’s School Days”
“Sally’s Sweet Babboo”
This Is America, Charlie Brown
“The Mayflower Voyagers”
“The Birth of the Constitution”
“The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk”
“The NASA Space Station”
“The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad”
“The Great Inventors”
“The Smithsonian and the Presidency”
“The Music and Heroes of America”

Peanuts Motion Comics

Linus for President
The Election
The Sore Arm
Independence Day
Eraserophagia
The Great Pumpkin
A Fall Rain
Some Advice
Ready to Pitch
Back on the Mound
Dear Santa
I’m New at it
Science Project
April Fool
Crabby Little Girl
Mother’s Day
All Your Faults
Services Rendered
The Good Brother
Valentine’s Day