In this age of insane technological advancements, by the age of two, almost every child has access to a smartphone or tablet—and for nearly half of them, YouTube is their go to app for entertainment and educational needs, often under the direction of parents or guardians.
However, while this is true, many parents still struggle to identify the best YouTube channels for their children; channels that are both engaging and educational. The challenge lies in choosing content that promotes values, cultural relevance, and developmental growth, especially when so many online platforms showcase adult themes or inappropriate humour.
Save the Children International, a global organisation dedicated to improving children’s lives, recommends that kids’ content should focus on skills such as language development, critical thinking, cultural pride, and social-emotional growth. It should also remain age-appropriate, relatable, and easy for young viewers to follow. Based on these measures and acceptable parameters, to make it easy for the parents and guardians, here are six excellent YouTube channels for children in Africa and Kenya, ranked for their values and developmental benefits:
1. Akili and Me
Created in Tanzania, Akili and Me reflects African values and settings, making it highly relatable. It promotes pride in African heritage and addresses local educational gaps, such as access to early childhood learning—an especially pressing need in Kenya, where many children in rural areas miss out on pre-school education.
The channel supports early literacy, numeracy, and social skills for preschoolers and young children. With over 785,253,200 views to date, it teaches letters, numbers, and emotional intelligence in both English and Swahili, fostering bilingualism and cultural connection.
Its most popular video, Time to Count, which teaches children to count from one to three and beyond, has achieved a record-breaking 52 million views as of August 2025.
2. Babusa TV
Known for its vibrant 3D animated nursery rhymes and original children’s songs, Babusa TV is a top choice for young viewers of all ages. It teaches basic skills such as counting, shapes, and language development through catchy, repetitive songs and visually engaging animations.
By focusing on African narratives—particularly through the use of Swahili—it helps children connect with their roots while learning about the world. This makes it especially appealing for Kenyan children, who benefit from seeing African characters in educational stories that reinforce identity and cultural pride.
For example, one of its popular videos, Wimbo wa Kujitambulisha, instils in children the importance of introducing themselves properly to adults and peers. It teaches them how to speak clearly, maintain eye contact, and use polite language, laying the foundation for public speaking and effective communication later in life.
3. Superbook
A timeless favourite since 1981, Superbook delivers animated Bible stories that captivate children aged 1–12. Produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network, it follows characters like Chris, Joy, and Gizmo on adventures that weave biblical lessons, such as David and Goliath, fostering faith and moral understanding.
Its animated series enhances visual learning, comprehension, and spiritual curiosity, making it ideal for sparking faith-based discussions between children and their parents or guardians. This strengthens social skills, spiritual growth, and family bonding through shared viewing.
4. Muslim Kids TV
With over two decades of experience, Muslim Kids TV offers high-quality animated videos teaching stories of the Prophets, Sahaba, and Arabic language basics. Its interactive content, including duas and moral lessons, makes it a rich resource for Islamic education.
Supporting cognitive development through engaging narratives, the channel nurtures a love for Allah, obedience, and ethical behaviour, complementing family values of respect and community. As the first Islamic cartoon and educational channel for kids on the internet, it boasts over 130,000 YouTube followers.
5. Cocomelon
Cocomelon is one of the largest children’s YouTube channels worldwide, now also streaming on Netflix and other platforms.
It produces vibrantly animated videos featuring nursery rhymes, original songs, and short stories. The main characters—JJ, his family, and friends—go through everyday experiences such as going to school, brushing teeth, eating, playing, and celebrating holidays.
The channel reflects relatable life situations, including potty training, sibling love, and visiting the doctor. Its repetitive tunes and calm voices often soothe fussy toddlers, and many parents even use it as a bedtime aid.
As of August 2025, Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes has approximately 196 million subscribers and 206.1 billion views on YouTube.
6. TED-Ed
Perfect for older children, from kindergarten through to Year 12, TED-Ed features short, high-quality animated videos on subjects such as science, history, literature, and philosophy.
Designed by educators and animators, its content breaks down complex ideas into simple, engaging lessons that spark curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and inspire classroom discussions.
With a global perspective and wide range of topics, it is ideal for children who enjoy exploring diverse ideas beyond traditional schoolwork.
Currently, TED-Ed has 21.8 million subscribers on YouTube, with 2,200 videos published.
Wrapping it up:
These six YouTube channels strike the right balance between fun and learning, making them safe and parent-approved options for children in 2025. Still, it’s important to monitor your child’s screen time and use parental controls to ensure a safe and enriching viewing experience.
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