How to Start a YouTube Channel for Kids? (2026)

Your kid wants to be a YouTuber. They've watched Ryan's World, Vlad and Niki, and Diana and Roma pull in millions of views, and now they want their own channel. You're not sure where to start — or whether you should start at all.

Here's the good news: starting a YouTube channel can genuinely be a positive experience for kids. It builds creativity, communication skills, and confidence. But it also comes with real legal requirements, privacy risks, and monetization realities that most guides gloss over.

This guide walks you through the entire process — from creating the account to publishing the first video — with a focus on keeping your child safe and staying on the right side of the law.

Before You Start: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Age Rules on YouTube

YouTube has strict age policies. Understanding them is non-negotiable:

Your Child's Age	Can They Have a Channel?	How It Works
Under 13	Not on their own	Parent must create and manage the channel using their own Google account. The child cannot legally own the account.
13–17	Yes, with parental permission	Can create their own channel. Parents can set up a supervised account through Google Family Link for oversight.
18+	Yes, independently	Full access to all YouTube features.

The critical rule: If your child is under 13, the channel is legally yours. You manage it, you upload to it, and you're responsible for everything on it. Your child can appear in videos and help create content, but the account must be in your name.

What Is COPPA and Why Should You Care?

COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) is a US federal law that restricts how websites collect data from children under 13. YouTube paid a $170 million fine in 2019 for violating it. Since then, the rules have gotten stricter.

If your channel features kids or creates content aimed at children, you must mark it as "Made for Kids." This isn't optional — getting it wrong can result in fines of up to $42,530 per video.

Here's what YouTube considers when determining if content is "Made for Kids":

• The subject matter (toys, cartoons, nursery rhymes, etc.)
• Whether children are the intended or actual audience
• Whether child actors or models appear
• Whether it includes characters, toys, or activities that appeal to kids
• Whether the language is aimed at children
• Whether it features play-acting, simple songs, games, or early education

If any of these apply, mark the content as "Made for Kids." When in doubt, mark it. The penalty for not marking is far worse than the restrictions that come with marking.

What You Lose With "Made for Kids" (The Trade-Offs)

Marking your channel as "Made for Kids" triggers significant restrictions. You need to understand these before starting:

Feature	Available?	Impact
Personalized ads	No	Advertisers pay less because they can't target viewers. CPM drops significantly.
Comments	No	Automatically disabled on all videos.
Notification bell	No	Subscribers won't get push notifications for new uploads.
Community tab	No	Can't post polls, images, or text updates to subscribers.
Stories	No	Feature completely disabled.
Channel memberships	No	Can't offer paid memberships.
Super Chat / Super Thanks	No	No live donation features.
Merch shelf	No	Can't display products below videos.
End screens & cards	Limited	Only certain types allowed.
Miniplayer	No	Viewers must watch in full-screen.
Save to playlist	No	Viewers can't save your videos to their playlists.
Personalized recommendations	No	YouTube won't recommend your videos based on viewer watch history.

That's a lot of restrictions. But here's the reality: these are the rules, and ignoring them puts your family at legal risk. The successful kids' channels you see — Cocomelon (200M subscribers), Vlad and Niki (149M subscribers), Like Nastya (131M subscribers) — all operate within these constraints and still thrive.

Setting Up the Channel: Step by Step

Here's exactly how to create and configure a YouTube channel for your child's content.

Step 1: Create a Google Account

If your child is under 13, use your own Google account or create a new one specifically for the channel. Do not create a Google account with your child's real information if they're under 13 — it violates Google's Terms of Service.

If your child is 13–17, you can create a supervised account through Google Family Link:

1. Download the Family Link app on your phone
2. Create a Google Account for your child (or link their existing one)
3. Set up supervision, which gives you control over app permissions, screen time, and content filters

Step 2: Create the YouTube Channel

1. Go to youtube.com and sign in with the Google account
2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner
3. Click "Create a channel"
4. Choose a channel name — do not use your child's real full name (more on this in the safety section)
5. Click "Create channel"

Step 3: Configure "Made for Kids" Settings

This is the most important step from a legal perspective:

1. Go to YouTube Studio
2. Click Settings (gear icon) in the left sidebar
3. Go to Channel → Advanced settings
4. Under "Audience," select "Yes, set this channel as made for kids"
5. Click Save

You can also set this on a per-video basis if your channel has mixed content. But if most of your content features or targets kids, set it at the channel level to avoid accidentally missing a video.

Step 4: Set Up the Channel Profile

• Channel name: Something fun and memorable that doesn't reveal your child's identity. Examples: "Tina's Toy Universe," "Epic Kids Lab," "Adventure Crew"
• Profile picture: Use an illustrated avatar or logo — not a photo of your child
• Banner image: Create a simple banner that reflects the channel's theme (Canva has free YouTube banner templates)
• Channel description: Write 2–3 sentences explaining what the channel is about. Include your upload schedule if you have one

Step 5: Verify Your Account

Verifying your phone number unlocks features you'll need:

1. Go to youtube.com/verify
2. Enter your phone number and verify via text or call
3. This unlocks custom thumbnails, videos longer than 15 minutes, and live streaming

Keeping Your Child Safe: The Non-Negotiable Rules

Safety isn't a section you skim. It's the foundation everything else is built on. Follow these rules without exception.

Personal Information: What to Never Share

Never share	Why	What to do instead
Real full name	Strangers can find your family	Use a first name only or a nickname
School name	Reveals daily location	Never mention it, blur any logos on uniforms
Home address	Physical safety risk	Film indoors with neutral backgrounds
Daily schedule	Reveals when the child is home/away	Don't mention specific times or routines
Phone number / email	Direct contact from strangers	Use a dedicated channel email only
Location details	Can identify neighborhood	Avoid filming recognizable local landmarks

Content Review Process

Review every video before it goes live. No exceptions. Here's a simple checklist:

• No personal information visible or mentioned (names, school, address, location)
• No other children appear without their parents' written consent
• No unsafe activities (stunts, dangerous challenges, risky behavior)
• No background details that reveal your home location (house numbers, street signs, school logos)
• Nothing your child would be embarrassed by in 5 years
• Audio doesn't capture private conversations in the background
• The content matches what you've set as the audience (Made for Kids)

Comments and Messages

Since "Made for Kids" disables comments automatically, this is largely handled for you. But if you ever upload content that isn't marked as "Made for Kids":

• Disable comments on any video featuring your child
• Never let your child read comments unsupervised
• Turn off direct messages in channel settings

The "Would I Want This Online Forever?" Test

Before uploading any video, ask yourself: Would my child be comfortable with this video existing on the internet when they're 18? If the answer is no — or even maybe — don't upload it. The internet doesn't forget.

Choosing a Content Niche That Works

Not all kids' content niches are created equal. Some are easier to produce, some get more views, and some monetize better. Here's an honest breakdown.

Best Niches by Age Group

For younger kids (ages 5–8):

Niche	Why It Works	Example Channels
Toy reviews & unboxing	Kids love watching other kids play with toys	Ryan's World
Arts & crafts	Easy to film, educational, parents approve	Art for Kids Hub
Nursery rhymes & songs	Massive demand, high replay value	Cocomelon
Science experiments	Educational + entertaining = parent-approved	The Dad Lab
Pretend play & skits	Creative, low equipment needs	Kids Diana Show

For older kids (ages 9–12):

Niche	Why It Works	Example Channels
Gaming (kid-friendly)	Huge audience, easy to produce	Stampy, DanTDM
DIY & building projects	STEM-focused, parents love it	Mark Rober (style)
Cooking for kids	Practical skills + fun content	Tiny Chef Show
Sports & challenges	High energy, very shareable	Dude Perfect (style)
Educational content	Math, history, science explainers	Kurzgesagt (style)

Picking Your Niche: Three Questions

1. What does your child genuinely enjoy? Forced content shows. Kids who are enthusiastic on camera create better videos. Don't pick "finance for kids" because it pays well if your child wants to do craft projects.

2. Can you sustain it? A toy review channel requires a constant supply of new toys. A craft channel needs supplies. A cooking channel needs ingredients and kitchen access. Think about the ongoing cost and effort.

3. Is there a unique angle? "Kid reviews toys" has millions of competitors. "Kid reviews toys and builds obstacle courses for them" is more specific and stands out in search.

Equipment: What You Actually Need (And What You Don't)

One of the biggest myths about YouTube is that you need expensive equipment. You don't — especially for a kids' channel.

Starter Setup (Total Cost: $0–$50)

Item	Recommendation	Cost
Camera	Your smartphone (iPhone or Android from the last 3–4 years)	$0 (you already have it)
Editing software	CapCut (free), iMovie (free on Apple), or YouTube's built-in editor	$0
Tripod	Any basic phone tripod from Amazon	$15–$25
Lighting	Film near a window during daytime — natural light is free and looks great	$0
Microphone	Your phone's built-in mic is fine for starting out	$0

Upgraded Setup (When You're Ready: $100–$300)

Item	Recommendation	Cost
Ring light	10-inch ring light with phone holder	$25–$40
Lavalier microphone	Clip-on mic for clearer audio	$15–$30
Backdrop	Solid color backdrop or a clean, decorated corner of a room	$20–$40
Webcam / Camera	Logitech C920 or similar HD webcam for desk-based content	$50–$80
Editing software	DaVinci Resolve (free and professional-grade)	$0

The honest truth: Audio quality matters more than video quality. Viewers will tolerate slightly grainy video but will click away from bad audio immediately. If you're going to spend money on one thing, make it a decent microphone.

Creating Videos Kids Actually Watch

Video Length by Age Group

Target Age	Ideal Length	Why
3–5 years	2–5 minutes	Very short attention spans, simple concepts
5–8 years	5–8 minutes	Can follow a narrative but still need fast pacing
9–12 years	8–15 minutes	Longer attention spans, can handle more complex content. 8+ minutes also unlocks mid-roll ads.

The Formula That Works

After studying hundreds of successful kids' channels, the pattern is consistent:

1. Hook in the first 5 seconds. Start with action, a question, or a surprising visual. "Today we're going to..." is boring. "Can we build a tower taller than Dad using only marshmallows?" is a hook.

2. Show, don't tell. Kids are visual learners. Instead of explaining what you're going to do, just start doing it. Narrate while demonstrating.

3. Keep energy high. Kids' content that performs well has enthusiastic, slightly exaggerated energy. This doesn't mean yelling — it means being animated, expressive, and genuinely excited.

4. Use simple language. Match your vocabulary to your target age. A 6-year-old doesn't understand "innovative" but understands "super cool."

5. Include a pattern or recurring element. Successful kids' channels have signature phrases, intros, or segments that kids recognize and look forward to. Think of it like a TV show with familiar structure.

6. End with a clear call to action. "If you liked this video, hit the subscribe button so you don't miss our next adventure!" Keep it simple and direct.

30 Video Ideas to Get You Started

Toy Reviews & Unboxing:

1. Unboxing a mystery toy box (blindfolded)
2. Comparing the most popular toy of the year vs. last year's
3. "Is this toy worth it?" — honest kid review
4. Building the biggest LEGO set we've ever tried
5. Rating toys from 1–10 and explaining why

Arts & Crafts:
6. Making slime with only 3 ingredients
7. Creating a cardboard spaceship from scratch
8. Painting challenge: recreating a famous painting
9. DIY room decorations for under $5
10. Crafting a gift for Mom/Dad's birthday

Science & Learning:
11. Baking soda volcano (with explanations of why it works)
12. Growing crystals at home over 7 days (time-lapse)
13. "What happens if...?" curiosity experiments
14. Building a simple robot from a kit
15. Testing 5 viral science experiments from the internet

Cooking:
16. Making pizza from scratch (kid-friendly recipe)
17. Taste-testing snacks from another country
18. "Can a kid follow a professional chef's recipe?"
19. Making lunch for the whole family
20. Decorating cookies for a holiday

Challenges & Games:
21. The floor is lava — full house edition
22. Guess the food blindfolded challenge
23. Building the tallest tower with household items
24. 24-hour challenge: only eating one color food
25. Sibling trivia showdown

Day-in-the-Life & Vlogs:
26. A day at the zoo (what we learned)
27. My morning routine for school
28. Behind the scenes of making a YouTube video
29. What I got for my birthday (haul video)
30. First time trying [activity] — reaction video

Uploading and Optimizing Videos for Search

Getting your video found on YouTube requires more than just uploading and hoping. Here's how to optimize each video for maximum visibility.

Writing Titles That Get Clicks

• Include the main topic in the first few words: "DIY Slime Recipe" not "Our Amazing Weekend Project Slime"
• Add a hook or emotional trigger: "DIY Slime Recipe That Actually Works!" or "Easiest Slime Recipe Ever (Only 3 Ingredients)"
• Keep it under 60 characters so it doesn't get cut off in search results
• Avoid clickbait. Kids and parents both lose trust quickly when the video doesn't match the title

Writing Descriptions That Rank

Your video description helps YouTube understand what your video is about. Structure it like this:

First 2 lines (visible without clicking "Show more"): A short, compelling summary with your main keyword. Example: "In this video, we're making the easiest homemade slime recipe with only 3 ingredients! Perfect for kids ages 5 and up."

Rest of the description:

• A detailed paragraph about what the video covers (150–200 words)
• Timestamps for key moments in the video
• Links to related videos on your channel
• A brief "About this channel" section

Tags and Keywords

While tags matter less than they used to, they still help YouTube categorize your content:

• Use your main keyword as the first tag
• Add 5–10 related variations ("slime recipe for kids," "easy slime," "how to make slime," "3 ingredient slime")
• Include your channel name as a tag

Thumbnails That Stand Out

Your thumbnail is the single biggest factor in whether someone clicks on your video. For kids' content:

• Use bright, saturated colors (red, yellow, blue) — they pop in a sea of thumbnails
• Show a face with an exaggerated expression — surprise, excitement, curiosity
• Add 3–4 words of large, bold text that complements (not repeats) the title
• Keep it simple — it needs to be readable at phone-screen size
• Be consistent — use the same style, font, and layout across all thumbnails so viewers recognize your channel

Growing Your Kids' YouTube Channel

Growth on YouTube is slow at first. Here's what actually works — and what doesn't.

What Works

Consistency beats everything. Pick a schedule you can maintain and stick to it. 1–2 videos per week is the sweet spot for most family channels. YouTube's algorithm rewards channels that upload regularly.

YouTube Shorts for discovery. Take the best 30–60 second moments from your long-form videos and post them as Shorts. Shorts get distributed to a much wider audience and can funnel new subscribers to your main content. The ad revenue on Shorts is minimal, but the growth impact is real.

Cross-promote on other platforms. Share clips on Instagram Reels, TikTok (if age-appropriate), and Pinterest. Parents discover kids' content on all these platforms. A social media scheduling tool can help you post consistently across all platforms without spending hours on it each week.

Collaborate with similar channels. Find other kids' channels at a similar size and do collaboration videos. Each channel gets exposed to the other's audience. This is one of the fastest organic growth strategies on YouTube.

Optimize for YouTube search. Especially early on, search traffic is your best friend. Target specific, searchable topics ("how to make slime for kids," "easy science experiments at home") rather than broad, competitive ones.

What Doesn't Work

• Buying subscribers or views. YouTube's algorithm detects fake engagement and will suppress your content.
• Uploading inconsistently. One video a month with occasional bursts of 5 videos in a week confuses the algorithm and your audience.
• Copying other channels exactly. Inspired by? Great. Shot-for-shot copies? YouTube's audience sees right through it, and it won't rank against the original.
• Obsessing over analytics too early. Your first 20–30 videos are learning. Focus on getting reps in and improving each video, not watching the view counter.

Realistic Growth Timeline

Milestone	Typical Timeline	What It Means
First 100 subscribers	1–3 months	Friends, family, and first organic viewers
First 1,000 subscribers	6–12 months	Eligible for YouTube Partner Program
4,000 watch hours	6–18 months	Combined with 1K subs, unlocks monetization
First 10,000 subscribers	12–24 months	Sponsors start reaching out
First 100,000 subscribers	2–5 years	Significant audience, real revenue potential

These are averages. Some channels blow up faster, many take longer. Consistency and quality compound over time.

How Much Money Can Kids' YouTube Channels Actually Make?

Let's be honest about the money. Most guides either overhype the earnings potential ("Your kid could be the next Ryan Kaji!") or are vague about the numbers. Here's the reality.

Ad Revenue: Lower Than You Think

"Made for Kids" content earns significantly less per view than general content because personalized ads are disabled:

Content Type	CPM Range	RPM (What You Earn per 1K Views)
General YouTube content	$5–$30	$3–$12
Made for Kids content	$1–$4	$0.50–$2.00
Kids' Shorts	$0.10–$0.50	$0.01–$0.05

For a detailed breakdown of YouTube CPM and RPM by niche and country, check out our guide on how much YouTube pays for 1,000 views.

What this means in real money:

Monthly Views	Estimated Monthly Ad Revenue
10,000	$5–$20
50,000	$25–$100
100,000	$50–$200
500,000	$250–$1,000
1,000,000	$500–$2,000

At 100,000 views per month, you're earning $50–$200 from ads. That's not nothing, but it's not life-changing money either.

Where the Real Money Is

The kids' channels earning millions aren't doing it through ads alone. Here's how the top channels actually make money:

Revenue Stream	Earnings Potential	Requirements
Brand sponsorships	$500–$50,000+ per deal	10K+ subscribers, niche audience
Merchandise	$5–$30 profit per item	Established brand, loyal audience
Licensing deals	$10,000–$1M+ per deal	Major channel with recognizable characters
Books & media	Varies widely	Strong brand identity
Live appearances	$1,000–$50,000 per event	Celebrity-level recognition

Ryan Kaji (Ryan's World) earns an estimated $26 million annually — but the vast majority comes from his toy line, licensing deals, and a TV show, not YouTube ads. Vlad and Niki earn $4.9M–$78.5M annually across sponsorships, merchandise, and ad revenue combined.

Setting the Right Expectations

Be honest with your child about money:

• First 6–12 months: Expect to earn essentially nothing. Focus on learning and having fun.
• Year 1–2: If you hit monetization requirements, expect $20–$200/month from ads.
• Year 2+: If the channel grows steadily, brand deals become the real income driver.

The financial payoff is possible but rare at the top level. The real value of a kids' YouTube channel is in the skills your child develops: creativity, public speaking, editing, project management, and persistence.

2026 Regulatory Updates: What's Changing

The regulatory landscape for kids' content is evolving. Here's what you need to know heading into 2026 and beyond.

AI-Based Age Detection

YouTube launched AI-driven age estimation in August 2025. The system infers viewer age based on behavior patterns — not just stated birthdate. This means:

• Even if a viewer doesn't identify as under 13, YouTube's AI may classify them as a minor
• If your content attracts viewers that the AI flags as children, YouTube may apply "Made for Kids" restrictions automatically — even if you didn't mark it
• Flagged minor accounts may need to verify age via government ID, credit card, or selfie

What to do: Be proactive about labeling your content correctly. Don't try to avoid "Made for Kids" labeling to keep features enabled — YouTube's AI will catch it, and the penalties are worse than the restrictions.

COPPA 2.0 (Proposed)

While COPPA 2.0 hasn't become law yet, YouTube has been implementing changes in anticipation of it. The proposal aims to:

• Extend protections to ages 13–16 (beyond the current under-13 scope)
• Limit targeted advertising for all minors, not just children under 13
• Require stricter verification for youth accounts

GDPR-K (EU)

If you have European viewers (and you likely do), GDPR Article 8 governs data collection from minors. The age threshold varies by EU country (13–16). YouTube applies GDPR-K and COPPA requirements globally, so even if you're not in the EU, these rules affect your channel's features for European viewers.

The bottom line: Regulation is getting stricter, not looser. Build your channel with full compliance from day one so you're never scrambling to adapt to new rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a kid under 13 have their own YouTube channel?

No. YouTube's Terms of Service require users to be at least 13 to create an account. If your child is under 13, a parent must create and manage the channel using their own Google account. The child can appear in videos and help create content, but the account must be in the parent's name.

Is it safe to put my child on YouTube?

It can be, with proper precautions. Never share personal information (full names, school, address, schedule), review every video before publishing, disable comments, use a channel name that doesn't reveal your child's identity, and film in locations that don't reveal where you live. The biggest risk is not YouTube itself — it's inadequate privacy practices.

How much money can a kids' YouTube channel make?

Most small kids' channels earn $5–$200 per month from ad revenue, which is significantly lower than general content because "Made for Kids" restrictions disable personalized ads. The real money comes from brand sponsorships, merchandise, and licensing deals — but those require a substantial audience (typically 10,000+ subscribers).

Do I have to mark my channel as "Made for Kids"?

If your content is directed at children — based on subject matter, the presence of child actors, the use of toys/characters that appeal to kids, or the language level — yes, you are legally required to mark it. Failure to do so can result in FTC fines of up to $42,530 per video.

What's the difference between YouTube Kids and a "Made for Kids" channel?

YouTube Kids is a separate app with a curated library of content for children, with extra parental controls. A "Made for Kids" channel is a regular YouTube channel that has been labeled as child-directed, which triggers feature restrictions (no comments, no personalized ads, etc.). Your "Made for Kids" content can appear on both regular YouTube and the YouTube Kids app.

How often should my child upload videos?

1–2 videos per week is the sweet spot for most kids' channels. Consistency matters more than frequency. It's better to upload one quality video every week than three rushed videos one week and nothing for the next two weeks.

Can my child's YouTube channel get monetized?

Yes, once it meets YouTube Partner Program requirements: 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months (or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days). However, "Made for Kids" channels earn less per view than general content due to advertising restrictions.

What happens if I don't mark my videos as "Made for Kids" but they are?

YouTube's AI detection system may automatically flag your content and apply restrictions. Additionally, the FTC can impose fines of up to $42,530 per incorrectly labeled video. It's always safer to over-label than under-label.

The Bottom Line

Starting a YouTube channel for your child is a project you take on together. Done right, it teaches valuable skills and gives your kid a creative outlet. Done wrong, it exposes your family to privacy risks and legal trouble.

Here's the order of priorities:

1. Safety first. Protect your child's identity, location, and privacy in every single video. No exceptions.
2. Legal compliance second. Mark your content as "Made for Kids," understand COPPA, and stay updated on regulatory changes.
3. Fun third. Let your child lead the creative direction. The best kids' content comes from genuine enthusiasm, not manufactured performance.
4. Growth and money last. These are nice outcomes but terrible primary goals for a child's YouTube channel.

Start small, stay consistent, and enjoy the process. Your child doesn't need to become the next Ryan Kaji to have a meaningful experience creating content.

If you're managing your child's YouTube channel alongside other social media accounts, PostPlanify helps you schedule and coordinate content across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and more — keeping your posting consistent without it becoming a second job. Try it free.