This YouTube Alternatives blog has been updated for 2025. It was originally published in 2016.
Video content has become a valuable tool for teachers, and for good reason. The use of video in elementary instruction has many benefits, including increasing accessibility to and engagement in learning.
However, general-use video platforms are designed just as much for entertainment as education. While sites like YouTube offer a wealth of free educational videos, they also provide minimal guardrails to shield students from inappropriate or distracting material.
This can leave educators grappling with how to take advantage of video content while ensuring students’ online safety and innocence is maintained. A common approach is to seek out YouTube alternatives that are intended specifically for educational purposes. While this isn’t the only approach — more on that later — there are a number of high-quality video platforms that fit the bill.
Here’s a list of five safe and kid-friendly platforms (in no particular order) that offer both educational and engaging video content.
1 | PBS Kids
PBS Kids is a trusted source of educational content, featuring videos that align with early learning goals. The platform offers thousands of kid-friendly videos from beloved shows like Sesame Street, Arthur, and Wild Kratts. Each video is designed to teach children fundamental skills like reading, science, math, and social-emotional learning, making PBS Kids an excellent resource for elementary teachers.
Why it’s a safe choice:
✅ Educational content curated by educators
✅ Age-appropriate for young learners (pre-K through early elementary)
✅ No advertising
2 | Khan Academy Kids
Khan Academy Kids is like the younger sibling of the more widely recognized Khan Academy. Focusing on interactive learning for younger children, the app offers educational videos, storybooks, and activities. Focusing on literacy, math, and social-emotional development, it’s a go-to for teachers looking for educational video content to complement lessons.
Why it’s a safe choice:
✅ High-quality, standards-aligned educational videos
✅ Interactive, engaging learning activities appropriate for ages 2-8
✅ No advertising
3 | National Geographic Kids
National Geographic Kids offers an engaging way for students to explore the world through the lens of science, nature, history, and culture. The platform’s videos showcase wildlife, geography, and exploration, making learning fun and engaging for students of all ages, though the platform is most suitable for ages 6-14. The content is perfect for sparking curiosity and supporting science and social studies curriculum.
Note that National Geographic Kids also offers paid subscriptions, but a wealth of resources are available for free.
Why it’s a safe choice:
✅ High-quality educational content
✅ Ideal for STEM and geography lessons
✅ Provides a consistent source of content, even as children advance to middle school
4 | Common Sense Media’s Wide Open School
Wide Open School, powered by Common Sense Media, is a hub of learning resources for both educators and families. It curates safe, educational video content from a variety of sources, including PBS, Khan Academy, and Scholastic. With subjects ranging from core academics to art and music, it acts like a one-stop shop for a wide variety of high-quality educational content. Similar to National Geographic Kids, it also offers content relevant to older students.
Why it’s a safe choice:
✅ Vetted for educational value and safety
✅ Covers a wide range of subjects and age ranges
✅ Supports teachers with lesson plans and activities
5 | Scholastic Learn at Home
Scholastic Learn at Home provides educational resources designed to keep kids engaged while learning from home or in the classroom. Offering a collection of age-appropriate activities, videos, and articles across various subjects, it caters to students from preschool through middle school. With a strong emphasis on reading and critical thinking, it supports educators in delivering interactive and meaningful lessons.
Why it’s a safe choice:
✅ Diverse content spanning multiple subjects and grade levels
✅ Engaging videos and activities that promote independent learning
✅ No advertising
How to Make YouTube Safe for Teacher Use
While the YouTube alternatives mentioned above offer safe and kid-friendly content, YouTube remains a valuable resource for educators because of its vast library of instructional videos. However, customizing a school web filter to allow restricted access to YouTube can present challenges for K-12 technology teams.
This is where Securly Filter comes in. Securly Filter gives schools the tools to harness the educational power of YouTube without worrying about inappropriate or distracting content. Here’s how Securly Filter can make YouTube safer and more accessible in K-12 environments:
Customizable Access to YouTube Content
Securly Filter provides advanced YouTube controls that give tech teams and teachers the ultimate flexibility. With Securly Filter, schools can:
- Approve specific educational videos for viewing, ensuring students only access high-quality content
- Block only certain YouTube videos or channels
- Block videos by category (e.g., entertainment, gaming) to keep students focused on educational content
- Hide video thumbnails to reduce distractions
For schools using Chromebooks or operating entirely in a Google environment, Securly Filter offers all the YouTube control features you’d expect from Google Admin, with added functionality to enhance security and control.
Even if your school uses a mixed environment—like a combination of Windows, iOS, and Chromebook devices—Securly Filter ensures consistent YouTube controls across all platforms, with no need for Google Admin.
Consistent YouTube Policies Across Devices
One of the biggest advantages of Securly Filter is its ability to enforce YouTube policies across any device connected to the school network—whether it’s a Chromebook, iPad, or a guest device. With Securly, administrators can ensure that YouTube is safe and distraction-free for all students, regardless of the device they’re using or where they’re accessing the network.
Watch this short video to see how Securly Filter helps schools manage YouTube content effectively.
Forget YouTube Alternatives: Safely Use Video in K-12 Classrooms with Securly Filter
By harnessing the flexibility of Securly Filter, edtech teams can give teachers access to enriching video content from both education-specific platforms and YouTube. Whether it’s discovering the wonders of nature through National Geographic Kids or sparking kids’ history knowledge with Crash Course videos on YouTube, teachers can share high-quality educational video content in a secure environment with the help of Securly Filter.
Curious why thousands of K-12 technology teams prefer Securly Filter? Check out these resources:
