“Screen time” feels like a modern issue, but if you think about it, parents and kids have bargained over it since the days of Lassie. There are just so many more screens for today’s kids to sit in front of (or, more accurately, carry around with them). It’s estimated that kids get as many as six hours of screen time each day, with about 100 minutes of that spent just on YouTube.

Kids want screen time to be fun; parents want it to be fulfilling. We say it can be both. Read on for a list of educational YouTube channels for kids they’ll actually want to watch. 

For reading: Storyline Online

Founded by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, this Emmy–winning series features celebrities reading acclaimed books for kids. Watch Angela Bassett read Trombone Shorty, Betty White read Harry the Dirty Dog, Chris Pine read Clark the Shark, and more.

For exercise: Cosmic Kids Yoga

Jamie Amor, a yogi certified in adult and child instruction, gets kids moving with all-ages yoga that also teaches relaxation and mindfulness.

For cooking: Messy Hands - Kids Cooking

Kids can learn to cook their favorite recipes for any meal of the day, from easy-peasy pizzas to hide-and-seek cheesecake.  

For drawing: Draw So Cute

Whether your kid is into Harry Potter or horses or Hello Kitty, they’ll find something to draw from the countless videos available here. 

For science: Crash Course Kids

Hosted by popular Canadian YouTuber Sabrina Cruz, this channel covers everything from animals to engineering. New videos are posted twice weekly.

For their favorite shows: PBS Kids

In addition to full episodes of classic PBS shows such as Arthur and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, you’ll also find activity challenges and other video shorts.

For older kids: TED-Ed

This offshoot of the wildly popular TED Talks organization covers more complex issues like gravitational waves, poetry, and, yes, coding. 

When it’s time to switch from streaming to more interactive screen time, visit Codeverse for 1-on-1 digital coding classes.