Screen time is a hot topic. I’m not going to debate the benefits and drawbacks of screen time today, though. I’d rather focus on giving you a solid list of educational YouTube shows for toddlers and preschoolers. Because screen time is inevitable whether you are for it or against it.
My oldest is just 7 months away from beginning kindergarten.
I’m T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D. Not for her, though. For me!
How can she already be getting ready for kindergarten??!
For preschool, she’s been doing an online program called UPSTART. She is required to spend 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week with the program, but she often spends 25-30 minutes each day on it. The first part of the program is reading and the second half is math and science. She loves all of it!
© katerina_dav – stock.adobe.com
The Top Educational YouTube Channels for Young Kids
In addition to UPSTART, Sofia has been playing games (like Memory and Go Fish), doing imaginative play, reading, coloring, learning how to use scissors, and watching educational shows. Educational shows are everywhere, especially on YouTube, but I’ve found that many of them are sub par. I like to let my girls watch shows that both enlighten and entertain. I want to be able to watch them, too, without gouging my eyes out! Since I’ve been searching on YouTube for some fun learning channels, I thought I’d share them with you! Please comment below if you know of any others.
The Singing Walrus
Of all these YouTube channels, The Singing Walrus is my absolute favorite. Yes, my favorite! The songs are so catchy and fun, and they are teaching my kids their numbers, colors, alphabet, and more. It’s a very unique channel that deserves way more subscribers than its current 33,000!
My personal favorite: Action Songs for Kids
Super Simple TV
My kids love all the “Super Simple” shows on YouTube, but I especially love Super Simple TV because it is fairly educational. The shows teach my kids how to draw, how to build vehicles (like helicopters, race cars, buses, etc.), nursery rhymes, and more.
Bella loves watching anything from Finley’s Factory
 StoryBots
We had a free trial for Netflix a while ago, and my kids really loved watching StoryBots there. Since we decided not to keep Netflix, though, we have to settle for what is available on YouTube. Most of the shows are less than 2 minutes, but there are a few that are 10 minutes or more. StoryBots are great for inquisitive kids. You can learn about dinosaurs, space, body parts, professions, colors, and more. It’s just perfect for budding little scientists.
Sofia’s favorite StoryBots show: Outer Space
Pocoyo
Depending on your definition of educational, you may or may not think that Pocoyo fits the bill. Pocoyo teaches a lot about how to behave and treat others, which is a skill that all little kids are learning. My girls have been watching Pocoyo for many years now, especially Sofia, but they are always interested in watching it again. Pocoyo is a toddler, so it’s so easy for them to identify with him! You can find Pocoyo in British English, South American Spanish, Spain Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, and more!
We’ve probably watched this one 100 times: Invisible Pocoyo
Peep and the Big Wide World
Again, Peep and the Big Wide World doesn’t necessarily teach numbers, letters, and shapes, but it teaches about nature and relationships. I’d say Peep is a big favorite around here. Each episode is just under 9 minutes long, and they are really easy to get into. I think they are pretty funny, too.
Peep and the Big Wide World Channel
Octonauts
My girls got into Octonauts when we had Netflix. At first I wasn’t feeling it, but it’s grown on me. The Octonauts channel on Youtube definitely doesn’t offer as many shows as Netflix, but you can still learn lots about ocean animals from the shows they do have.
Here’s one of the full episodes available: Smallest Sea Creatures
Other Channesl on YouTube that you can look into:
- The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That
- Sesame Street
- Timmy Time
- All Things Animal TV
- Alphablocks
- Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
- Speakaboos
- Wild Kratts
Do you let your toddler or preschooler watch any educational shows on YouTube?
I’m excited to try some of these! Story Bots and Octonauts are already favorites. Have you seen Dave and Ava? Oh my goodness, they have made a HUGE impact on my 2-year-old’s vocabulary. They are so much fun and I love hearing the nursery rhymes I grew up with! 🙂
Thank you for the list!
We’ll have to check Dave and Ava out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Try “Blippi”!! My son loves him!!!!!
Signing Time and Rachel and the Treeschoolers are favorites in our house 🙂
We should check those out. My youngest likes Baby Signing Time right now!
Thanks so much for mentioning Speakaboos, part of the Homer suite of learn to read products. We appreciate your review.
No problem!
Would like to add on more. Peek-a-tube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIsn8Cmxd9HqJ8l080uR-pA Bit easier to digest for parents.