YouTube videos are a great way to inspire children to learn by going deeper and following their interests alongside nature study, family read-alouds, and other curriculum.

Multimedia resources can be a fun and exciting way to bring ideas to life, and provide new learning material for your children. In this blog post we are sharing our all-time favorite educational YouTube channels, including channels that offer lessons in math, science, reading, music, art, and more. We love having a list of favorite channels to save you time searching for content that is wholesome, calm, and well-suited for children.

We suggest giving these videos a quick watch beforehand to ensure they’re a good fit for your family. While we trust these creators, we cannot personally vouch for every video in their library. For help, we’ve also included best practices for using videos in your homeschool, plus some ways helpful Internet safety tips for kids.

In this blog post: 

• How we use YouTube videos in our homeschool
• Favorite YouTube channels for core subjects (Math, history, multiple subjects)
• Best YouTube channels for science lessons
• Reading and storytelling YouTube channels for kids
• Best YouTube channels for art tutorials and art history
• Favorite YouTube channels for movement
• Best YouTube channels for music education
• Tips for using YouTube channels and videos in your homeschool

How we use YouTube videos in our homeschool

We often use YouTube as a rich, intentional tool in our homeschool. I love sourcing biographical videos to study the lives of poets, authors, and hymn writers. We also love taking virtual field trips to monuments, museums, and faraway countries when travel isn’t possible, and dive deep into history or science with documentary clips and expert talks. 

We especially love animal videos. We love seeing how animals build homes, catch prey, or live in their natural habitats. We watch together, pause to discuss and ask questions, and follow up with projects, writing prompts, or library books to continue learning. 

When a picture book isn’t on hand, we turn to read-alouds and recorded storytimes to keep the literature flowing, and I love to curate read-aloud playlists for a more intentional screen time. 

YouTube is also a hands-on resource in our homeschool. We use it for step-by-step drawing, watercolor, and mixed-media art tutorials to help us practice new techniques, as well as cooking demos, DIY videos, and simple experiments we can do ourselves. 

Most Treehouse Schoolhouse curricula include curated YouTube links for extended learning opportunities, with carefully selected videos to deepen studies and illustrate concepts. These virtual experiences are an easy way to add depth to lessons. The links and multimedia embedded in our studies make it easy to blend multimedia learning into curriculum without being distracting. Treehouse Book Studies use YouTube videos to go deeper on themes and historical events in the story, Rooted Family Bible Curriculum uses YouTube links to add depth to hymn studies, and YouTube is helpful for sourcing read-alouds for holiday studies.

To see how multimedia is seamlessly blended with living books, poetry, and art study, try a free week of Treehouse Nature Study, Intermediate Years below. This is a seasonal nature study for 4th-8th grade that invites children to learn through living books, nature notebooking, hands-on projects, poetry, and picture study. Deepen your child’s learning through advanced language arts and scientific experiments.

Favorite YouTube channels for core subjects (Math, history, multiple subjects)

These channels offer comprehensive lessons and supplemental learning in math, history, and general curriculum for a variety of grade levels. These are a good starting point when you are searching for specific content to add to your lesson plan.

Free School

Free School offers a gentle, sophisticated introduction to history, nature, and science, with high-quality visuals and calm narration.

YouTube Channel: @freeschool

Learn Bright

Learn Bright creates clear, engaging videos that simplify complex topics in history and science. Their content is designed for elementary and middle school learners, making it perfect for supplemental lessons.

YouTube Channel: @LearnBright

Homeschool Pop

Homeschool Pop is a fun elementary learning channel by a real homeschool dad named Daniel. This channel covers a massive range of topics including math, geography, and social studies. The videos are energetic, kid-friendly, and often include interactive quizzes to keep learners engaged.

YouTube Channel: @HomeschoolPop

Mathantics

Founded by a former homeschooling parent, Mathantics creates videos that explain upper-elementary and middle school math concepts in simple and easy to understand videos, with simple illustrations. This channel has playlists for fractions, mixed numbers, and more.

YouTube Channel: @mathantics

A Kid Explains History

A Kid Explains History is hosted by a young historian, Quinn. This channel creates content that is a humorous and well-researched perspective on historical events.

YouTube Channel: @AKidExplainsHistory

The Daily Bell Ringer

The Daily Bell Ringer provides high-quality, short history lessons that are designed to be a warm-up at the start of your school day or history lesson. Each video is typically under six minutes and focuses on a specific event, person, or era in American or World history, with a clear summary and critical thinking questions. 

YouTube Channel: @thedailybellringer

Mr. Betts Class

Mr. Betts takes complex historical events and turns them into clever song parodies of popular hits. These catchy tunes double as mnemonic devices that help students retain dates and key concepts that might otherwise feel dry.

YouTube Channel: @MrBettsClass

Best YouTube channels for science lessons

Science in particular is a great way to introduce video content to explain more complex ideas and showcase scientific experiments and research. These are great channels to supplement your learning through science or nature study.

SciShow Kids

SciShow Kids is hosted by Jessi and her robot rat, Squeaks, this channel answers scientific questions kids have about the world. It covers everything from biology to space in an inquisitive, scientific way that encourages curiosity.

YouTube Channel: @SciShowKids

BBC Earth

BBC Earth is a selection of stunning wildlife footage. This channel is an incredible resource for nature study, offering glimpses into how the world works and animal behaviors from every corner of the globe.

YouTube Channel: @bbcearth

Nat Geo Kids

Nat Geo Kids makes science feel like an adventure. This channel features kid-friendly wildlife footage, and the Explorer Academy series and animal features are perfect for kids who love the outdoors.

YouTube Channel: @natgeokids

Real Wild

Real Wild explores nature through full-length nature documentaries and clips focused on the raw beauty of the natural world. This channel is a great option for older students who want a deeper, more immersive look at science, nature, and wildlife.

YouTube Channel: @realwild

Crash Course Kids

Crash Course Kids explores how things work on Earth and beyond, using STEM and the humanities to engage curious learners. It’s perfect for teaching gravity, ecosystems, and engineering in a structured way.

YouTube Channel: @crashcoursekids

The Dad Lab

The Dad Lab is run by a dad who makes hands-on STEM experiments using everyday household items. This channel has tons of ideas to entertain kids around the house while teaching simple ideas from science. 

YouTube Channel: @TheDadLab

Reading and storytelling YouTube channels for kids

These channels feature read-aloud books and narrative stories designed to help children develop literacy skills.

Bri Reads

Bri Reads is hosted by a former preschool teacher, with engaging read-alouds of children’s picture books that kids will love.

YouTube Channel: @BriReads

Brightly Storytime

Brightly Storytime is a channel in partnership with Penguin books that offers full-length picture books read aloud by the host, Ms. Linda.

YouTube Channel: @BrightlyStorytime

Storyline Online

Storyline Online is an Emmy award-winning children’s literacy program. It features famous actors reading beloved children’s books with beautiful animations. 

YouTube Channel: @StorylineOnline

The Fable Cottage

The Fable Cottage offers beautifully narrated fables and fairy tales, often available in multiple languages. It’s a wonderful resource for literature studies or even as a supplement for foreign language learning.

YouTube Channel: @TheFableCottage

KidTime Storytime

KidTime Storytime makes reading feel like a play. The storyteller host and her puppets read a huge variety of popular modern books with funny voices and great energy.

YouTube Channel: @KidTimeStoryTime

Best YouTube channels for art tutorials and art history

Here are several resources for learning practical drawing techniques, art tutorials, and a broad and kid-friendly look at  famous art movements.

Art for Kids Hub

Art for Kids Hub is one of our favorites, with tons of art tutorials hosted by a dad drawing alongside one of his children. Every project feels achievable, and the step-by-step tutorials focus on building confidence and having fun rather than seeking perfection. They also offer a membership where you can watch tutorials without ads.

YouTube Channel: @artforkidshub

How2DrawAnimals

How 2 Draw Animals offers meticulous, step-by-step tutorials on how to draw wildlife. Unlike more cartoonish art channels, these videos focus on realistic proportions, shading, and anatomical details.

YouTube Channel: @How2DrawAnimals

Red Ted Art

Red Ted Art with Maggy Woodley is a treasure trove of easy, accessible crafts that typically use basic household items like paper and cardboard. It’s a go-to for seasonal projects and developing fine motor skills in younger children. We love her recycled DIYs and her cute bookmark ideas.

YouTube Channel: @redtedart

Andrea Nelson Art

Andrea Nelson Art brings a bright, encouraging energy to watercolor and mixed-media art projects. Her projects are bright and colorful and she encourages enjoying the process of creating art over perfecting the final product. Her projects are perfect for kids (and parents!) who may feel intimidated by more formal art instruction. This is also a great channel to browse for DIY gift ideas.

YouTube Channel: @Andrea-Nelson-Art

Art with Mati & Dada

Art with Mati & Dada are animated shorts that take kids on time-traveling adventures to meet famous artists throughout history. It’s a brilliant way to introduce art appreciation and history through storytelling and vibrant animation.

YouTube Channel: @ArtWithMatiDada

Easy Kids Craft

Easy Kids Craft uses craft demonstrations to show kids how to make simple crafts out of paper. They have fun collections for holidays like Easter and Christmas.

YouTube Channel: @EasyKidsCraft

Tate Kids

Tate Kids, a channel from the Tate Museum, features art history and simple art tutorials for children.

YouTube Channel: @TateKids

Favorite YouTube channels for movement

These channels provide guided exercise, dance, and yoga videos to help students stay active during the day.

Cosmic Kids Yoga

Cosmic Kids Yoga blends yoga with popular stories from movies and books. It’s a fun way to combine physical activity with emotional regulation and storytelling.

YouTube Channel: @CosmicKidsYoga

Danny Go!

Danny Go! uses for high-energy dance songs and dance song challenges to create opportunities for active play for kids. The videos are bright, silly, and guaranteed to get kids moving.

YouTube Channel: @DannyGo

GoNoodle

GoNoodle offers everything from intense cardio dance-offs to calm stretching and breathing exercises. It’s an easy way to get kids moving with silly and light-hearted videos.

YouTube Channel: @GoNoodle

Best YouTube channels for music education

These creators offer tutorials on music theory, instrument practice, and rhythm exercises for beginners. These are also a nice way to mix up your homeschool day.

The Music Teacher Toolbox

The Music Teacher Toolbox provides structured music lessons that cover everything from music theory to instrument tutorials. It’s a great way to make your home feel like a music class. The scarf tracing videos are excellent!

YouTube Channel: @TheMusicTeacherToolboxHelp

Symphonic Sounds

Symphonic Sounds uses rhythmic patterns and body percussion to teach timing and coordination. It’s an engaging, instrument-free way to explore rhythm and musicality.

YouTube Channel: @SymphonicSounds-rm8qm

Laurie Berkner Band

Laurie Berkner’s channel features classic kids’ songs that encourage movement and imagination. Her videos are perfect for preschoolers and playtime at home.

YouTube Channel: @TheLaurieBerknerBand

Ready GO Music

Ready GO Music specializes in rhythm play-along songs, where kids can clap or drum along to the beat following visual cues and rhythmic notes from music. It is a great way for kids to interact with musical patterns and develop a sense of rhythm, musical timing, and steady beat.

YouTube Channel: @ReadyGOmusiceducation

Tips for using YouTube channels and videos in your homeschool

Adding multimedia content to your homeschool is best done with some prep and research. Here are our tips for adding content to your home education setting in a way that doesn’t over-emphasize screens, plus best practices for safely introducing children to the Internet.

Adding multimedia resources to your homeschool (YouTube videos, podcasts, documentaries)

• Read information in books first. Go to subject matter in books first to use this material as the primary form of learning in your homeschool. Let books be the first introduction to new ideas.
• Use educational videos as an opportunity for notetaking. As children watch or listen, one option is for children to take notes of points that are interesting and could be used on their notebooking pages.
• Preview or pre-watch videos. Watch videos ahead of time or when you are planning out your homeschool week to make sure you are comfortable showing content to your children.
• Use YouTube content to add to your teaching. Use online videos to elaborate, provide a visual aid, consider different perspectives, or show the event happening in real time. Videos are helpful for complex science ideas, music, and movement for children.
• Watch videos with your kids. Avoid the pitfalls of using online media as a babysitter. Make watching videos a shared experience that your family can engage in together instead of consuming videos independently.
• Consider sources for educational content. Older children can learn about the differences between primary and secondary sources. As you use videos for learning, talk with children about who is sharing information and how biases can impact information. Compare details in the videos you watch with the information in your books.

Best practices for Internet safety and screens

• Purchase a subscription to eliminate ads. If you find you are using some channels or platforms consistently, consider purchasing a premium subscription to eliminate interruptions by ads, which can be loud, disruptive, and limit your ability to control what content your children see.
• Cast YouTube videos onto a TV instead of using a screen or device. When it’s time to watch a video in your homeschool, play the video on a large screen, like a computer or television. TV encourages shared viewing, while handheld devices like iPads can encourage more addictive behaviors.
• Preview videos and watch videos with your children. Previewing videos is one of the most important ways to monitor and understand what your children are consuming. Then, watch it together with your children.
• Use YouTube Kids and parental controls. YouTube Kids is designed to give parents more control over what their children have access to online. It also does not have a search bar, which limits what children can watch. You can also set parental controls on YouTube to block content. While all of these are helpful, none of these are perfect, so it is best to continue to watch content with your children. You can also add settings, like Open DNS Family Shield, to your wifi to block specific types of content.
• Make playlists and save links. Add YouTube videos to playlists or save links ahead of time so you do not constantly have to search and browse content you plan to use in your homeschool.
• Educate kids about Internet safety. As you add multimedia to your homeschool, have honest conversations with your kids about the dangers of the Internet and how to use these tools safely.

Do you use YouTube videos in your homeschool? Share your thoughts and your favorites in the comments below.