The YouTube Kids app, the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind, is available for free on Google Play and in the App Store App Store in the U.S., starting today, February 23, 2015.
Families worldwide are already watching millions of videos on YouTube. The app makes it safer and easier for children to discover and explore videos on topics they are curious about with family-friendly features, including:
Playful, Fun Design: The YouTube Kids app is delightfully simple and packed with age-appropriate videos, channels and playlists with a focus on content for early literacy. With larger images, bold icons and more, it’s fast and simple for little thumbs to navigate. And there’s a voice search option so even if your children can’t spell or type, they can still find videos that pique their curiosity.
Parental Controls: The YouTube Kids App offers several options that help you control the experience for your kids.
Timer: Let the app be the bad guy with a built-in timer that limits kids’ screen time. The app alerts them when the session is over so you don’t have to.
Sound Settings: Parents have an option to turn off background music and sound effects, so your kids can keep watching quietly while you catch up on chores or simply take a break in peace.
Search Settings: If you’d rather limit your children to just the pre-selected videos available on the home screen, you can turn off the search feature.
Product feedback: The goal is to continuously improve YouTube Kids App, so there’s also a space for you to give YouTube your feedback.
Family-Focused Content: Rest easy! Videos in the YouTube Kids app only focus on kid-appropriate content. You can browse channels and playlists in four categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore. Search videos of particular interest to your family, like model volcanoes, math tutorials, the amazing (and endless) world of trains—and everything in between. Enjoy favorites including Jim Henson TV, Mother Goose Club, Talking Tom and Friends, National Geographic Kids, Reading Rainbow and Thomas the Tank Engine, and discover new videos coming soon from beloved YouTubers like the Vlogbrothers and Stampylonghead.
Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization providing education and advocacy to families to promote safe technology and media for children, said that the YouTube Kids app is:
“An exceptionally fun way for kids to browse online videos and for adults to guide their viewing.”
“A serious contender as a family’s go-to way for kids to watch videos online.”
“There’s something for everyone on YouTube Kids. Toddlers to big kids will be able to find a show, some music, or some educational content that fits their interests.”
Check out a video about the new YouTube Kids app here!
Kids are going to fall, crash, slip, explore. It’s part of being a kid. But we can protect them from serious injuries. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of kids in the U.S. and each year a million families around the world lose a child to these injuries.
1. Tug on your kid’s car seat where the seat belt goes.
2. Secure furniture and TVs.
3. Check smoke and CO alarms monthly.
4. Scan your home for places kids can get into medicine.
5. Check around your house for coin-sized button batteries.
6. Ask your kid’s coaches if they have had concussion or sports safety training.
7. Call to action: Take the Challenge and Take Action Against Distraction.
One thing I remember the most about watching Marc grow up was how many times I was told to deal with the wires of my computer. Since we dont a home office my computer is in the living room which made it an easy target for our toddler. I used lots of make shift tools/methods to protect my computer (I mean toddler 😛 ). Of course my thought was to cover the open outlets in the power strip, I also put a piece of cardboard in front of the wires but behind the tables legs which worked wonders till he was old enough to actually move the cardboard enough to expose the wires… I totally admit that I sucked and I finally caved and did a ton of wire management, my wife simply opted for the purchase of a new iMac because there is only 1 card from wall to computer (she’s the smart one). This is one of those dont do as I do but do as I say… or in this case as Kimberlee says…
Q: How do I childproof the electrical wires in my home office?
A: Today’s home is full of electrical hazards. We have cell phones, PDA, iPhones, iPods, laptops, ear pieces, you name it! They all require an electrical charge which means they all have danger wires which can be strangulation hazards and electrical hazards. It’s important for parents to keep these devices up high and away from our little ones who will spot a cord from their low vantage point and pull down on it out of curiosity. Make sure your charging station if high up enough so baby can’t reach it.
I recommend that parents deem the home office an “off limits” room because there are so many hazards in there. Many city folks don’t have that luxury of space and have to set up their home office in the main living quarters where the baby will have access. One of my favorite childproofing products for childproofing the office area is the Safety 1st Power Strip Cover. We’ve been using this for years as it’s the biggest one and can fit all the big bulky plugs inside and then closes up tight so your little ones can’t get in. Next, replace your existing outlet faceplate on the wall with a Safety1st Swivel Outlet Cover and plug in the power strip.
**SAFETY ADDED TIP: Replace all outlet covers in nursery (don’t forget the one behind the crib) as well as the main play area where you spend time with your child – push plugs work if they have a snug fit however it’s easy to forget to put them back in once removed.
Any exposed wires that cannot be moved and are within your child’s reach should be covered (i.e. under the desk, a lamp, etc.) with the wire covering. Safety 1st Wire Hider
is a great way to “erase” these wires from your baby’s view eliminating the safety hazard that wires can pose. It’s easy to install with the included double sided adhesive tape and you can use as many of the 16” covers you need to hide dangerous wires – we’ve used them along the baseboard or even up a wall to hide wires.
**ADDED SAFETY TIP: Also, great for hiding baby monitor and lamp wires in nursery.
Coming back from summer its time to fall back into better habits, and child safety is always one that we can use a little help remember and brushing up. I’ve wanted to give both moms and dads some great safety tips but who am I? I’m certainly no safety expert – there are people who are just that safety experts so let me introduce you to Kimberlee Mitchell with Safety 1st Pros [Link].
Our first stop is the washing room why because its a room I long to have since I dont in my apartment but really its one of the easiest rooms to overlook in the house, its not as simple as stairs and certainly its one of the quickest room you forget about closing the door if you’re in a rush with your hands full of clothing.
After that I got some questions and answers with Kimberlee that I’ll share with the other videos as well…
Q: What myth about childproofing would you like to prove incorrect?
A: Childproofing is not as simple as some might think. Perhaps parents set out to childproof and then get stuck when they encounter a safety conundrum – aka a safety hazard that is not easily eliminated with a store bought child safety device due to device not fitting and working the way it should. The DIY boom has welcomed many new brands, products, designs, etc. into the marketplace making it fun to remodel but impossible for any one child safety device to meet a common household danger like a knob cover, drawer latch, toilet lock, safety gate, etc.
Then they get stuck and postpone “fixing” the hazard until they can come up with a better solution. Times flies, busy parents forget and injury occurs.
Safety 1st Pros are a team of mobile child injury prevention professionals who conduct house calls to help parents who need a helping hand to childproof the home. We have a unique talent for solving in-home child safety conundrums due to our specialized hands-on and in-class training plus more than 5,000 childproofed homes under our belt. This combined with the in-depth child safety education that we offer our customers undoubtedly sets us apart from regular handymen or layman do-it-yourselfer. We are far more than handymen and women!. We are the Safety 1st Pros
