Streaming services are great fun: you always have something to watch and your children can enjoy them for hours. Yet it differs considerably per streaming service how child-friendly they are. We list the child-friendliness of the most popular streaming services.
Child-friendliness per streaming service
If you’re sharing your streaming service’s account with your kids, it’s important that it’s kid-friendly too. For example, it is useful if you can set a child lock and of course you also want the range to be large enough. That’s how child-friendly the various popular streaming services are.
1. Netflix
Netflix is ​​at the top when it comes to child-friendliness. The streaming service offers various options to ensure that the little ones can only watch films and series that are intended for them. For example, Netflix even has a kids account with a simple layout, so that even the little ones can easily navigate. For example, you see a list of popular children’s series and you can even search for pictures of favorite characters. With countless family and children’s films and series, the offer is enormous.
With a kids account you do not have access to the account settings: you can only watch series and films that are intended for younger and older children. By putting a pin code on your own (adult) profile, children cannot still end up in the adult offer. On the Netflix account page you can change everything for your children after entering your password. This can only be visited via the browser: unfortunately it is not possible to adjust this in the app.
For example, it is possible to have separate profiles with an adjusted age category. This will only show you films that match the age entered of your children. To do this, select the ‘Viewing restrictions’ category in the Kids profile on the Netflix account page.
Do you want to block certain series? This is also possible via ‘Viewing restrictions’ in the account page. If you want to check whether your children have not watched something that is not intended for them, it is also possible to view the viewing activity here.
2. Disney Plus
Disney Plus is less comprehensive when it comes to parental controls. On the other hand, Disney Plus naturally already offers a lot of content for all ages, which makes the streaming service incredibly child-friendly. To ensure that your child cannot see adult content, it is also possible to create a child profile.
- Open the app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen;
- Tap the plus sign to create a new profile;
- Select an avatar or tap ‘Skip’;
- Give the profile a name (for example the name of your child);
- Turn on the slider behind ‘Child profile’.
If you have saved the settings, you have created a child profile. In this profile it is no longer possible to view adult films and series.
Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to secure the adult profiles with a PIN code, so it is still very easy to switch to an adult account.
3. Apple TV Plus
Apple TV Plus offers the possibility to set a child lock, so that the little ones do not accidentally turn on a violent series. By turning on the blockade, adult images are shielded from young viewers. Fortunately, you can do this very easily on your iPhone. It goes like this.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad;
- Tap on ‘Screen Time’ and go to ‘Restrictions’;
- Slide the switch at ‘Restrictions’, if you have not already done so;
- Choose Content Restrictions and go to TV Shows;
- Indicate the age limit that you think is appropriate for the age of your children.
It is also possible here to screen all TV programs, or to remove the restriction. If you also want to set restrictions for movies, press previous and choose movies. You can then indicate an age limit or block films.
4. Video land
Just like with Disney Plus, Videoland offers the possibility to create a so-called ‘Kids profile’. With this, your child only has access to children’s series and films. You can choose from a Kids profile for children from 0 to 6 years old and children from 6 to 9 years old. Again, it is wise to put a pin code on shared adult accounts.
The offer is not huge, but large enough to entertain your child. Titles such as Peppa Pig, Dora the Explorer and Buurman & Buurman provide the necessary viewing pleasure. The range is also constantly being expanded, so there is always something new to see.
5. Pathé Thuis
Pathé Thuis has a wide range of children’s films. Both Disney classics and the latest animated films can be found on the streaming service. Under the ‘Kids’ tab you scroll through the range of children’s films, divided into genres.
There is no option for a child lock or child profile, but this is also less necessary on this streaming service. Because you pay per film, it is a bit more difficult for children to start watching just like that. Nevertheless, it is good to pay attention, because the range of films that is only intended for adult viewers is easy for children to find.
More about streaming services
Do you want to know more about streaming services? On iPhone you regularly read useful tips, news and reviews about the popular streaming services of the moment. For example, we explain how to share a Netflix account with your family. We also provide a review update of Apple TV Plus. Can you no longer see the forest for the trees or do you not know which service to choose? We list everything for you in our handy overview of streaming services.