Lots of parents are asking the same question: how do I let my child explore the internet or watch videos — without accidentally exposing them to harmful or inappropriate content?
Most standard browsers and YouTube’s main site aren’t designed with small children in mind. Even YouTube Kids, while better, still raises concerns for some families.
🌐 Safer Browsers for Kids
- KidRex – A child-friendly search engine powered by Google with filtered results
- Kiddle – Colourful, safe visual search tool with content filtered for young users
- Qustodio Family Browser – A filtered browser built into Qustodio’s parental control tools
🎥 YouTube Alternatives for Young Children
- YouTube Kids – A curated, child-friendly version of YouTube (still needs supervision)
- PBS Kids – Free, high-quality educational videos and games from a trusted source
- Sesame Street – Educational content for younger viewers with strong parental trust
- Kidoodle.TV – A family-safe streaming service that’s 100% kid-focused and parent-controlled
- Safe Vision – Lets parents create a safe YouTube experience by curating and limiting content
💡 Tips for Parents
- Try apps before your child uses them — check if ads are present, how content is recommended, and what filtering options are available
- Set time limits and discuss what’s OK to watch and why
- Use these tools alongside a safe home network and open communication
💬 Have you found a browser or video app that really works for your family? What are the pros and cons? Share your experience and help other parents make safer choices.
I’ve been using YouTube Kids for a while now with my two children (aged 5 and 8), and while it’s definitely safer than regular YouTube, I’ve still had to put in a bit of extra effort to really make it work the way I want.
Here’s what’s worked for me so far:
First thing I did was disable the search function. I found that when search is on, even though it’s filtered, the algorithm still serves up some weird or low-quality stuff. Turning search off makes it more curated and less chaotic.
I use “Approved Content Only” mode now, which means my kids can only watch videos or channels that I’ve manually allowed. It’s a bit of a pain to set up at first, but it’s worth it. No more weird videos sneaking through.
I also set a time limit using the app’s built-in timer. Once it hits 30 minutes, the app locks itself. It’s not perfect — they sometimes complain! — but it helps set boundaries.
One big downside is that you can’t see a proper watch history in the app, which I think is a big miss. I try to sit with them when I can and keep an eye on what’s popping up on their home screen.
If I see anything dodgy or annoying, I just report or block it straight away. It’s not foolproof, but it helps train the algorithm a bit.
Honestly, it’s not a perfect system — and I’d never trust it 100% — but if you tweak the settings and stay involved, it does a decent job. Happy to share more if anyone’s setting it up for the first time.
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