For grown-ups
Your child browses the newest videos from calm learning channels we chose (Sesame Street, Numberblocks, Alphablocks, Super Simple Songs, Daniel Tiger, Storyline Online, Cosmic Kids Yoga and others). There is no search, nothing plays by itself, and when a video ends it stops here.
Child lock: tap the lock at the top right. Our ways out hide and the back button stays here. To unlock, hold the lock for 3 seconds and answer a sum.
The video player is YouTube's own (privacy mode). YouTube doesn't let apps hide its logo, and tapping it can open YouTube. For a lock that holds for sure, use the phone's own: Guided Access on iPhone, App pinning on Android (the lock shows how the first time).
YouTube Kids: it can't be shown inside another app, so this list is the closest we can do with the lock on. To use the YouTube Kids app itself (it has its own grown-up lock and timer), open it here. Our lock can't follow you there.
Why it's good for your child, what they learn, and how we designed it
Why it's good for your child
Children learn most from a screen when a grown-up watches along and talks about it (AAP, Zero to Three). Watch offers a short list of calm learning shows, plays one video at a time, and stops at the end with a question for you to ask, so a video turns into a conversation instead of an endless feed.
What they learn
Letters and letter sounds (Alphablocks, Super Simple ABCs), numbers and counting (Numberblocks), songs, and naming feelings and getting along (Sesame Street, Daniel Tiger). The learning comes from the shows themselves and from talking about them afterward; no school standard maps to a video list, so we don't claim one.
How we designed it for ages 3 to 8
Only calm, slower-paced channels are on the list: fast cartoons lowered 4-year-olds' attention and self-control right after watching (Lillard & Peterson 2011). There is no search box, nothing plays next by itself, and after 3 videos in a row it suggests a stretch, a game or a chat; the AAP suggests at most 1 hour a day for ages 2 to 5, with a grown-up. Nothing to collect and no "one more" prompts (Radesky 2022). The Child lock hides our ways out, and since YouTube's logo can still open YouTube, the lock shows how to turn on Guided Access or App pinning for a full lock.
Calm learning videos for kids
Watch is a short list of calm learning videos for children 3 to 8. We picked the channels by hand for slow pacing and real learning: Alphablocks and Super Simple ABCs for letters, Numberblocks for numbers, Super Simple Songs, Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger for feelings, Storyline Online for read-alouds, Cosmic Kids Yoga for moving, and SciShow Kids and Nat Geo Kids to explore. Fast, loud shows are left out on purpose.
How it works
Your child taps a topic, then a video. It plays in YouTube's own player. When the video ends, it stops: an "All done" screen replaces the player with a question for you to ask about what you watched. Nothing plays next by itself. After 3 videos in a row, Watch suggests a stretch, a game or a chat.
There is no search box, so your child only sees the list. YouTube's logo in the player can still open YouTube, so for a full lock use your phone's own: Guided Access on iPhone or App pinning on Android. For a game instead, try Spell the Picture. More for grown-ups: how we build calm games, games for 3 year olds, questions and answers.
Questions parents ask
Is Watch free?
Yes, with no sign-in. The videos play in YouTube's own player, in its privacy mode.
Can my child search for other videos?
No. There is no search box. Your child picks from videos by channels we chose, sorted by topic: letters, numbers, songs, feelings and explore.
What happens when a video ends?
It stops. An All done screen replaces the player with a question for you to ask about the video. After 3 videos in a row, it suggests a stretch, a game or a chat instead.
Why not YouTube Kids?
YouTube Kids can't be shown inside another website. Watch is the closest we can offer with our Child lock on. The grown-ups section has a link to open the YouTube Kids app itself.
All done!
Grown-up: