Top Youtube Channels To Boost Kids Reading Skills This Summer Msn

Leo Migdal

-Dec 12, 2025, 10:36 AM

top youtube channels to boost kids reading skills this summer msn

It's not surprising if your child is obsessed with YouTube. We're living in the digital age, and kids are consuming more media than ever. In fact, the Pew Research Center reported that 80% of all parents with a child age 11 or younger said their child watches videos on YouTube. However, the internet can be a scary place, so you may be looking to guide your child toward channels that are entertaining and also age-appropriate and educational. We chatted with experts and parents to round up the best educational YouTube channels for kids. Read on for channels you can feel good about queuing up for your kids.

StorylineOnline started as a children's literacy website, but lucky for us, they also have their own YouTube channel. Mostly aimed towards elementary-school children, the videos feature actors like Viola Davis and Allison Janney reading children's books alongside illustrations. "Who wouldn't want Betty White to read the all-time favorite, Harry the Dirty Dog, with her signature 'Rose' voice?" says Titania Jordan, chief marketing officer of parental-control app Bark and co-author of Parenting in... Meredith Bodgas, a mom of two from Bellmore, New York, says her sons love Mr. DeMaio. "He's a real teacher whose YouTube channel teaches elementary school-aged kids about history, social studies, and science," says Bodgas.

In 2025, YouTube is the world’s largest free classroom. This guide is your map to the best and most trustworthy educational content on the platform. Whether you’re looking for the best educational channels for toddlers, a university-level dive into physics, or engaging history lessons, this comprehensive list covers the top-tier channels to start your learning journey. Visual learning is incredibly effective. Studies from the Visual Teaching Alliance show that visuals transmit information faster than text and improve learning by up to 400%. YouTube’s format helps with information retention, making it easier to grasp concepts faster.

The key advantages are clear: it’s free, accessible, self-paced, and covers a massive range of subjects. This “infotainment” style can help you absorb complex topics and even reduce study time. Cocomelon: Cocomelon is the go-to channel for babies and toddlers who love music and bright visuals. Their simple nursery rhymes and gentle animations help little ones learn basic words, numbers, and social skills. Parents appreciate the safe, repetitive format that keeps young children engaged. Blippi: Blippi brings the world to toddlers with energetic field trips and hands-on exploration.

The host’s curiosity and playful style make everyday places like farms, construction sites, and museums exciting and educational. Kids learn about colors, shapes, and how things work in real life. Ms. Rachel - Songs for Littles: Ms. Rachel specializes in speech and language development for toddlers. Her videos use music, repetition, and clear speech to help children build vocabulary and communication skills.

Many parents of children with speech delays find her channel especially helpful. You’ll love this long list of YouTube channels for kids that are excellent for teachers to use in the classroom or for homeschooled families! These channels cover various topics to keep you abreast of what’s trending in various age groups and across topics. For your convenience, the channels are grouped into age-appropriate and topic-centric categories. 1. Storyline Online is the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emmy® Award-winning children’s literacy program that streams imaginatively produced videos featuring actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations to inspire children to love reading.

2. Nat Geo Kids shares new videos weekly with facts about science, animals, and more! 3. PBS Kids helps children ages 2-8 learn lessons through videos that encourage children to see themselves uniquely reflected and celebrated in lovable, diverse characters who serve as positive role models as they explore their... 4. Sesame Street is a fun, colorful community of monsters, birds, grouches, and humans where everyone counts.

Children can learn along with their favorite characters with new videos shared weekly. As a parent, I’m always on the lookout for ways to support my child’s learning without turning it into a chore. Early reading skills are so important—but let’s be honest, keeping a preschooler or kindergartner engaged with phonics and letter sounds can be tough. That’s why I’m a huge fan of using YouTube as a tool for early literacy. There’s a lot of content out there, and not all of it is worth your child’s screen time. So I’ve rounded up five YouTube channels that I’ve personally used (and loved) with my own kid.

These channels are fun, educational, and most importantly, they actually help early readers build foundational skills. This channel has been a total game-changer in our house. Each letter is a fun little character with its own personality, and they “hold hands” to form words. It’s a fantastic introduction to phonics and word-building, all through adorable animation. 💡 Why I love it: It’s super visual and really helps my child understand how letters blend to make words. Plus, the songs are catchy enough that I find myself humming them later (in a good way!).

The StoryBots are curious little characters who answer big questions—like how the alphabet works or what certain words mean. While full episodes are on Netflix, the Netflix Jr. YouTube channel has tons of short clips and songs that focus on literacy and vocabulary. Reading comprehension is the cornerstone of academic success in early education. For children in Grades 1 and 2 (ages 6–8), being able to understand and interpret what they read is just as important as reading the words themselves. At this age, kids transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn,” and this crucial shift must be nurtured with the right tools.

YouTube offers a variety of educational channels that specifically target comprehension skills using age-appropriate stories, interactive questions, and reading strategies. These resources help children practice active listening, improve vocabulary, and become thoughtful, confident readers. Age Group: 5–7 yearsYouTube Link: Teaching MamaKnown for its phonics, sight word lessons, and read-along stories. This channel helps kids decode words and comprehend story details effectively. Age Group: 6–8 yearsYouTube Link: Teaching HydeeTeaching Hydee focuses on reading passages, comprehension questions, and vocabulary expansion. A good channel for Grade 2 learners.

Age Group: 5–8 yearsYouTube Link: Teacher JakeThis channel provides short reading videos with animated visuals. It helps in making comprehension easier by presenting texts visually alongside voice narration. That’s So Montessori is reader-supported, contains affiliate links, and is a member of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you buy through links on our site, you may be purchasing our products or we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Your support is much appreciated. Thank you!

That’s So Montessori is reader-supported, contains affiliate links, and is a member of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. When you buy through links on our site, you may be purchasing our products or we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Your support is much appreciated. Thank you! As an elementary teacher and a stepmom, I know how important it is to prevent summer learning loss, especially after kids have worked so hard all year. That’s why it’s important to keep a list of simple, engaging ways to keep their minds active during the break.

One easy way to keep learning going? Educational YouTube channels. Ok, so YouTube might not be the first thing you think of for learning, but it’s a goldmine for curious kids. With just a few clicks, they can explore the world, build new skills, and stay school-ready, all while having fun. If you’ve ever tried to make a playlist of your child’s favorite read-aloud videos, you’ve probably noticed YouTube disables that option for videos marked “Made for Kids.” My workaround?

I save all of our favorite read-alouds right here on the blog so I can come back to them (and you can too!). You could also copy the links into a notes app or create a Google Doc of your own library. Alright—let’s get into our favorite YouTube read-aloud channels! We play these during snack time, car rides, and even while I’m prepping dinner. Total win. This one always brings out the giggles—and sometimes gets replayed on repeat.

Top Youtube Channels To Boost Kids Reading Skills This Summer Msn

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