Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Which streaming platforms are the most family-friendly — and why?

By

Streaming platforms are everywhere. What used to be something that cable cutters fantasized about is now one of the hottest tech trends. Almost every known network has jumped into the streaming game, and we’ve recently seen platforms offered from the Discovery Channel to Disney+. And since Netflix is now so familiar that it’s a household name, it can be hard to track what your family is watching.

Most popular networks are aware of the dangers of restriction-free streaming for children, so many offer various types of parental controls. But how do you keep up when there is a new streaming subscription every day to keep an eye on? We’ve found the family-friendly Netflix content and best kids streaming shows and compiled them here for you, just like you’ve wished someone would do.

Recommended Videos

Netflix

Netflix is loved by subscribers of all ages due to its extensive collection of movies and TV shows, both original and adopted from other networks. Some Netflix originals are both family-friendly and wildly popular, like Stranger Things and Riverdale. Netflix subscriptions start at $9 a month and go up to $18 a month. Kids love Netflix because it has tons of popular kid-friendly titles that educate and entertain.

Netflix offers customizable parental controls and profiles for everyone in your family. Each individual profile is customizable with different parental control settings, too. Unfortunately, Netflix’s Disney catalog is minimal, and in general, there are no warning cards or advisory details at the beginning of shows on Netflix.

Netflix

Disney+

Disney+ entered the streaming game intending to take over the family-friendly demographic. This network has TV shows and movies produced by every company associated with Disney, from Marvel to Pixar, and includes titles from the Star Wars franchise, including The Mandalorian. Disney+ costs $7 a month, or you can bundle it with Hulu and ESPN+ for $13 a month.

Many parents love Disney+ because it has content that is nostalgic for them, such as Boy Meets World, plus fresh new content geared toward parents. Parents also love the endless amounts of kid-friendly content, especially considering nothing on the platform rates higher than PG-13.

Though Disney+ offers parental controls, there is no password that protects the settings, so kids can figure it out and work around it pretty easily. Parents with kids of different age groups may also find the parental controls too rudimentary for multiple levels of restrictions.

Disney+

Sling

Sling is one of the only streaming services that have Nickelodeon and Disney channels live. The platform also has excellent parental controls that utilize a PIN system much like Netflix’s. As the PIN holder, you can lock or unlock specific ratings, and only users with the PIN can access the locked content. The amount of children’s content available on Sling is impressive, but all of the offerings may not be available in your specific area, so be sure to check that out before signing up.

Sling

Hulu

Hulu and Hulu Plus are favorite platform choices for large families or families with children in several different age groups. Since Hulu offers such a wide variety of content, there really is something for everyone in your house. You can create a kid’s profile, which is handy for keeping little kids out of older kid’s content and channels. Hulu also offers an on-demand service that features movies like Madagascar 2, classic cartoons such as Rugrats, and educational content like Sesame Street. 

Hulu and Hulu Live offer a wide range of channels for kids of all ages and allow you to create a kid’s profile. You can watch live TV, on-demand content, and tons of movies, depending on the plan you choose. 

Both Hulu and Hulu Live are on the pricey side when it comes to streaming services. Besides the already costly plan choices, you have to pay an extra $10 a month if you want 200 hours of DVR storage rather than the 50 hours the plans come with.

Hulu

As you can see, there are a bunch of options when it comes to family-friendly streaming platforms. If you’re looking for some new content, one of these platforms will surely keep you and your kids entertained no matter what age groups you are dealing with. If you’re trying to decide on just one, the decision ultimately comes down to what content your family wants and how many supervision options you want.

Editors’ Recommendations

Kelly Kaliszewski
Kelly Kaliszewski
Contributor
Kelly's work has appeared in blogs and on websites. When she's not writing, she is playing with her two dogs, cooking, or…
5 kid-friendly movies to watch as a family on the 4th of July
Couple watching a movie on the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is synonymous with fireworks, parades, and backyard barbecues. Movies have also become a Fourth of July mainstay, as many blockbusters are released in time for the federal holiday. And while there are some Independence Day classics — like, say, Independence Day —  that are fun to watch, sometimes you need a flick with a little less action when you're watching with kiddos. Here are great patriotic movies to stream on the summer holiday that are good, wholesome fun.

The Sandlot
Even if you're not a baseball fan, this '90s movie is for kids and adults everywhere who have dreamed big. When Scottie moves to a Los Angeles suburb in the 1960s, he doesn't know how to catch or throw a baseball. He's taken in by a group of neighborhood boys who spend their summer days playing baseball on a sandlot. What makes this charming movie a Fourth of July film is a scene depicting a quintessential July Fourth with family barbecues, baseball, and, yes, fireworks. (And, to be honest: The entire movie has us all nostalgic for the summers when we were kids.) Available on Prime Video, The Sandlot is a perfect pick to end the holiday.
A League of Their Own
"There's no crying in baseball!" laments Tom Hanks' character in another baseball flick -- but with a twist. A League of Their Own is a story about two sisters who join the first professional women's baseball league during World War II. It boasts a stellar cast, including Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell. The movie is rated PG and is a great choice if you have older tweens and teens, especially daughters. You can find it on Prime Video.
National Treasure
How can you not watch an action-thriller with a main character named Benjamin Franklin Gates on the Fourth of July, especially when the plot involves the Declaration of Independence? National Treasure is streaming on Disney+. It's rated PG and is an ideal movie for tweens and teens after the little ones have gone to bed. If you're looking for a July Fourth movie marathon, National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is also available on Disney+.
An American Tail
If you have younger kids, cuddle up for this '80s classic animated tale about a group of Russian mice emigrating to the United States. Kids will love Fievel as he tries to find his family as they pursue the American dream. It teaches children about how the United States became a "melting pot" of different cultures. It's a cute and appropriate family-friendly movie to watch together on the Fourth of July. An American Tail is available on Prime Video.
Miracle
"Do you believe in miracles? Yes!" Sportscaster Al Michaels made this legendary call in what is considered one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century. Miracle is the movie depicting the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's unbelievable gold-medal victory in Lake Placid, New York. Okay, while it is technically not a Fourth of July movie, the team victory over Russia to set up the gold-medal win over Finland brought cries of "USA! USA!" across the nation. Even if you're not a hockey fan, this movie is pretty patriotic and a fun film for older kids and teens. Miracle is available on Disney+.

Read more
These funny jokes for 6- to 7-year-olds will be a hit with kids
Get the whole family laughing with these funny jokes for kids
Grandpa and grandson laughing at a knock-knock joke

We all love a good joke, especially kids. Nothing gets the family sharing a few belly laughs more than a well-timed joke delivered by your favorite little person. Kids love to make people laugh with jokes, but if your repertoire only consists of groan-inducing dad jokes or those that are a little too mature for your kids, you may need some help. We've compiled a list of some of the best funny jokes for your 6-7-year-olds that are sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
Age-appropriate jokes for your kids

What did one toilet say to the other?
You look a bit flushed. -- Because nothing is funnier to kids than bathroom humor!
What creature is smarter than a talking parrot?
A spelling bee!
How do you know when the moon has had enough to eat?
When it’s full!
Why can’t Elsa from Frozen have a balloon?
Because she will "let it go, let it go."
What do you call a cold dog?
A chili dog.
Why did the superhero flush the toilet?
Because it was his doody.
What did one hat say to the other?
You wait here — I'll go on ahead!
What do you call a fake noodle?
An impasta!
Why couldn’t the pony sing?
Because she was a little hoarse.
Why are balloons so expensive?
Because of inflation!
What do snowmen eat for breakfast?
Frosted Flakes
Why is Superman’s outfit always so tight on him?
Because it’s a size S!
Where do cows go for fun?
The moo-vies.
Why did the cookie go to the doctor?
It was feeling crummy.
Why didn't the melons get married?
Because they cantaloupe!
What do you call a pig that knows karate?
A pork chop!
What did the right eye say to the left eye?
Between us, something smells.
Why did the teacher wear his sunglasses to class?
Because his students were so bright.
Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants?
In case he got a hole-in-one.
Why was 6 afraid of 7?
Because 7, 8, 9!
Why did the math book look so sad?
Because of all its problems.
Why did the student eat his homework?
Because the teacher told him it was a piece of cake.
Who did the zombie take to the dance?
His ghoul-friend
How does the ocean say hello?
It waves.
Where do you find a dog with no legs?
Right where you left him!
Why is it so easy to fool Dracula?
He's a sucker.
What did Venus say to Saturn?
Give me a ring sometime.

Read more
9 simple steps that’ll help teach your toddler to read
Use these tips to help your toddler on their reading journey
Happy toddler boy reading a picture book

Learning to read is a critical milestone for all children. It's a skill they will use throughout their lives, and fostering a love of reading at an early age will help them as they progress through school. As an adult, reading is an essential part of every day.

Since reading is so vital, it's easy for parents of young children to wonder when they should start teaching a toddler to read. Is it even normal for a two-year-old to read? While some children will begin reading as early as age three, most children will not. Developmentally, many children begin to make the connection between letters, sounds, and words at the end of kindergarten or in first grade.

Read more