Help me guide my kids' YouTube rabbit hole
January 8, 2022 5:37 AM Subscribe
Turn the spiraling clicking on related videos sessions into a virtuous circle, without me having to sit there and tell them what to search.
So, my pre-teen kids have finally got the inevitable smartphone / tablet computer.
Already they figured out they can zone out in front of YouTube for hours.
Rather than fight the trend more than I'm already doing (I have set hard screen time limits etc.) I want to find channels and topics I can point them to so they get some value beyond just random amusing videos.
Please suggest to me some prolific, kid-friendly YouTubers that I can drop into the flow. Bonus points for educational value without making it too obvious.
Extra bonus points for paid content that's not tooooo expensive, as a follow on from the 7-13 math and English program "Reading Eggs", which is waaaaay too basic for them now. I was thinking Adventure Academy but I'm open to other ideas. They loved Prodigy but even that got boring after a while.
So, my pre-teen kids have finally got the inevitable smartphone / tablet computer.
Already they figured out they can zone out in front of YouTube for hours.
Rather than fight the trend more than I'm already doing (I have set hard screen time limits etc.) I want to find channels and topics I can point them to so they get some value beyond just random amusing videos.
Please suggest to me some prolific, kid-friendly YouTubers that I can drop into the flow. Bonus points for educational value without making it too obvious.
Extra bonus points for paid content that's not tooooo expensive, as a follow on from the 7-13 math and English program "Reading Eggs", which is waaaaay too basic for them now. I was thinking Adventure Academy but I'm open to other ideas. They loved Prodigy but even that got boring after a while.
My tween enjoys videos from TedEd, Crash Course (both the regular & kids versions), Kurzgesagt (I find some of their videos thought-provoking but a little depressing), and It's OK to be Smart.
posted by belladonna at 8:35 AM on January 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by belladonna at 8:35 AM on January 8, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: The Kid Should See This is “ a Webby award-winning collection of over 5,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone”. They do have what looks like an old old YouTube account but it looks like it hasn’t been updated in a while and a bit boring compared with what’s on the site.
posted by AnnaRat at 3:11 PM on January 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by AnnaRat at 3:11 PM on January 8, 2022 [1 favorite]
We've had a lot of success with the kids watching Today I Found Out and The SlowMo Guys. YMMV, of course. The former obviously does not hide "what it is", so if your kids are anti-informational, then that won't work out, but slowmo guys is super fun.
Some friends kids also like Brew (as do I personally), which has the advantage of being animated, but our kids don't, so again, YMMV - i think it's a little too educational....
In terms of non-youtube, checking out the free trial of the nebula/curiositystream bundle could be interesting. We've found a lot of good stuff over there.
posted by jaymzjulian at 3:53 PM on January 9, 2022
Some friends kids also like Brew (as do I personally), which has the advantage of being animated, but our kids don't, so again, YMMV - i think it's a little too educational....
In terms of non-youtube, checking out the free trial of the nebula/curiositystream bundle could be interesting. We've found a lot of good stuff over there.
posted by jaymzjulian at 3:53 PM on January 9, 2022
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posted by Winnie the Proust at 7:55 AM on January 8, 2022 [1 favorite]