We all know kids love YouTube. But as parents, the last thing we want is for our little ones to stumble upon a video that’s way outside their age group.
That’s where YouTube Kids comes in. It’s a curated experience designed to give children access to age-appropriate content while keeping the more… colorful corners of the platform far away. But setting it up properly is key.
This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to set up YouTube Kids and how to configure parental controls so your child sees age-appropriate content.
(Plus, we'll introduce you to a secret tool that goes beyond YouTube Kids, letting you add parental control measures over their entire internet experience!)
What Is YouTube Kids and How Does It Work?
YouTube Kids is a separate app from the main YouTube platform, built specifically for children aged 12 and under. It offers:
Key Features:
- Curated content tailored to kids
- No comment sections (unlike main YouTube)
- Parental controls to manage screen time and content
- Screen time limits
- Content blocking and approval options
- Age-based profiles
- Safer ads (or none, if using YouTube Premium)
It’s available on mobile devices, tablets, smart TVs, and web browsers, but it’s not 100% perfect.
There are instances where inappropriate content has been known to slip through, but when properly configured, it’s a far better option than letting kids loose on regular YouTube.
That’s why proper setup and supervision are important when using YouTube Kids.
Step-by-Step: How to Safely Set Up YouTube Kids
✅ Step 1: Download the YouTube Kids App
YouTube Kids is available on:
- iOS (App Store)
- Android (Google Play)
- Smart TVs (via app store or pre-installed)
- Web browsers at www.youtubekids.com
Pro tip: Install it only on devices your child will use. Avoid giving access to the full YouTube app unless you’ve set up strict supervised access (more on that later).
✅ Step 2: Sign in With a Parent’s Google Account
When setting up the app for the first time, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Google account, not your child’s.
This is because YouTube Kids is managed through Google’s Family Link, which gives parents full control over their child’s digital environment.
✅ Step 3: Create a Profile for Each Child & Customize Content Settings
You can create individual profiles for each child in your household, which is helpful if they’re different ages.
Each profile tailors the content accordingly. You can manage these profiles through the YouTube Kids app or via the Google Family Link app.
Option A: Let YouTube Curate Content (Default)
Great for general browsing, but some odd videos can slip through. YouTube Kids offers three main age-based content tiers:
- Preschool (Ages 4 & under): Simple songs, cartoons, ABCs
- Younger (Ages 5–8): Educational content, crafts, nature shows
- Older (Ages 9–12): Gaming, music videos, science, family-friendly vlogs
Option B: Approve Content Yourself
Enable “Approved content only” mode:
- You select every video, channel, or collection your child can watch
- No recommendations outside your approved list will show up
This is the most restrictive – but safest – option for younger kids.
Pro tip: Start with manual approval for younger kids. As they grow and prove responsible, you can loosen the settings.
✅ Step 4: Enable or Disable the Search Function
You can decide whether your child can search for videos or just view what’s available on their home screen.
- Search OFF: Only curated, algorithmically approved content appears
- Search ON: Child can look up topics, but results are still filtered for age-appropriateness
Turning off search is a good idea for very young children, or if you’ve chosen the manual approval setting.
You’ll find this in the child’s profile settings.
✅ Step 5: Set a Passcode and Time Limits
Set a passcode to prevent kids from making changes. You can do this under Settings > Parental Controls.
YouTube Kids also allows you to set a timer that automatically locks the app after a specified amount of time. This is helpful to:
- Prevent screen time battles
- Encourage balance with outdoor play, reading, etc.
- Build healthy digital habits early
You can also control app access times through Google Family Link, which offers granular scheduling per day.
✅ Step 6: Monitor and Block or Report Inappropriate Videos
Even on YouTube Kids, the occasional weird or questionable video might sneak through.
Use the “Watch It Again” tab to see exactly what your child has been viewing. If something inappropriate got through, you can block it directly from their history or search for the video and block it for good.
You can also:
- Block entire channels
- Report content for further review by YouTube
Watching a few videos together also helps you stay involved and discuss what’s appropriate or interesting.
The important thing is to be proactive. The more you interact with the content, the better the algorithm will learn your preferences.
How to Use YouTube Supervised Accounts (For Older Kids)
If your child is ready to graduate beyond YouTube Kids, but you’re not ready to give them full YouTube access, Google offers Supervised Accounts.
Here’s how:
- Create a Google Account for your child via Family Link.
- Sign in to your own Google Account and provide Parental Consent for your child’s account.
- Open the YouTube app and log in to your own Google Account
- Navigate to Settings > Parent Settings and select your child’s account
- Choose an app for your child; in this case, select YouTube (parent supervised)
- Choose the content setting:
- Explore (9+): Vlogs, tutorials, educational videos
- Explore More (13+): Gaming streams, music videos
- Most of YouTube: Nearly all content, minus age-restricted stuff
You still get visibility and control via the Family Link app.
Parental Controls Recap
| Feature | YouTube Kids | Supervised Accounts |
|---|---|---|
| Age Filters | ✅ | ✅ |
| Approved Content Mode | ✅ | ❌ |
| Time Limits | ✅ | ✅ (via Family Link) |
| Watch History | ✅ | ✅ |
| Search Control | ✅ | ❌ |
| Ad Filtering | ✅ (limited) | ❌ (ads like regular YouTube) |
Why You Still Need DNS Filtering with YouTube Kids
Even with YouTube Kids set up correctly, there are limitations:
- Kids can open YouTube in a browser instead of the app
- Other devices on the same network (e.g., laptops, smart TVs) may have access to inappropriate content
- No control over non-YouTube platforms (e.g., TikTok, Twitch, Discord, web games, etc.)
That’s where DNS filtering steps in.
What is DNS Filtering?
DNS filtering lets you control what websites and apps your devices can access at the network level. Think of it like parental controls for everything on the internet, not just YouTube.
How Control D Protects Your Kids on the Internet
Control D gives parents powerful tools to manage what their kids access online, without installing software on every device. It works at the DNS level, meaning:
- No apps to install
- No sneaky browser workarounds
- One rule applies across all phones, tablets, TVs, and consoles
Block Access to Regular YouTube
You can completely block access to YouTube.com, forcing kids to use only the YouTube Kids app. This removes:
- Access to mature videos
- Comment sections
- Unfiltered search results
- Inappropriate recommended videos
You can apply this across the whole home network or just on your children's devices.
Filter the Whole Internet, Not Just One App
YouTube Kids is great for videos, but it only covers… well, YouTube. Kids are online in lots of places – games, social media, chat sites, and more.
Control D lets you take charge of all of it. You can block entire categories like adult content, social media, dating sites, gaming platforms – whatever doesn’t align with your family’s values or your child’s age.
It’s not just about blocking – it’s about creating a safe, age-appropriate internet experience across the entire web.
Built-in Protection from Online Threats
It’s not just about keeping kids away from inappropriate content. It’s also about keeping them safe from the darker corners of the internet.
Control D acts like a digital bodyguard, protecting your child’s devices (and your whole home network) from dangerous malware, phishing scams, and viruses that can hide behind innocent-looking websites.
Independent tests show Control D blocks 99.97% of online threats, so you can worry less about what they’re clicking on and focus more on guiding their digital journey.
Works Everywhere – Even Where Parental Controls Don’t
Most parental control apps only work on certain devices or apps (like YouTube Kids). But kids use more than just phones and tablets. There are laptops, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more.
That’s where Control D shines. It works at the network level, so the rules you set apply to every internet-connected device in your home, even the ones that don’t support parental control apps.
Custom Profiles
Got a teenager and a toddler? No problem. Control D lets you create custom Profiles per child, each with age-appropriate filters and rules.
It’s flexible enough to grow with your kids and your parenting style.
Set Schedules and Downtime Rules
With Control D, you can create schedules for when the internet is accessible. That means you can:
- Block access after bedtime
- Schedule homework-only browsing hours
- Limit social media or gaming to certain times
It’s like setting digital house rules and having them enforced automatically.
Monitor DNS Activity
Control D provides a record of all attempted domain lookups, letting you see what domains and apps they’ve tried to access. You’ll get information on:
- Time
- Device
- Category (e.g., adult content, games, gambling)
- Result (allowed or blocked)
This gives you full visibility, without violating your child’s privacy, and helps you stay one step ahead of accidental exposure or intentional boundary-pushing.
No Software, No Fuss
You don’t need to install software on every phone, tablet, or console. Control D works at the network level or per device via DNS settings. That means:
- Set it once, and it works across all devices
- View activity and make changes from a single dashboard
- No sneaky workarounds or forgotten installs
It’s powerful internet control without the micromanagement.
Final Thoughts
YouTube can be an amazing educational and entertainment resource for kids, but only when used with intention and control. The YouTube Kids app gives parents a solid foundation, but it’s not bulletproof.
Control D lets you protect your kids from the internet as a whole, not just YouTube. It blocks inappropriate content, enforces screen times, and secures every device and network in your home.
