- Your own Google account
- Your child's device (or a shared one)
- About 15 minutes
Pick the right option
YouTube Kids is a separate app for younger children. It has content levels for Preschool (4 and under), Younger (5-8) and Older (9-12). A supervised account uses the regular YouTube app with limits you choose, for kids who are ready for more.
Set up from the YouTube app
In the YouTube app on your own account, go to Settings > Family Center and follow the steps to add a kid account. Then pick the content setting that fits your child.
Or set up from Family Link
If you already use Google Family Link for your child, open it, choose your child, then go to Controls > YouTube.
Review and adjust
Check the settings again as your child grows. You can change the content level, and in YouTube Kids you can block videos or channels you don't want them to see.
💡 Tip: No filter is perfect. Keep young kids' screens in shared rooms and talk about what they watch.
Also see Set up parental controls on your child's phone. Menu names change as apps update. These steps were checked against official help pages in October 2026.
Related game: Safe or Risky?. Related explainer: What does “the algorithm” mean on social media? .