Acceptable Videos

We do "cooking time" at our house.   The half-hour before lunch and dinner is a time the kids can watch videos on youtube.  Preferably, the videos help them learn something or at least don't seem worthless. 

These ones work for us.  Adapt what works for you. 

Numberblocks (just the real thing, no fan channels)

Alphablocks

Mighty Machines

FunScienceDemos

Thomas the Tank Engine - we only do original Rev. Awdry stories, UK seasons 1-4, as the characters in later ones aren't always as worthwhile and sometimes have behavior I don't want the kids to copy. 

Postman Pat - only seasons 1-4

Fireman Sam - only seasons 1-4

My qualifications for a decent video

-can't have unacceptable behavior or words.  Thomas's characters sometimes are cheeky or tease, but they get their come-uppance. This is fine with me.  

-can't be absurd, like a helicopter for a country postman's everyday use. 

-can't rot the brain and make me long for it to be over.  I'll just turn it off. 

-can't introduce the kids to worldviews they're not ready to deal with. This one requires a hefty dose of parental intervention - good to be with them when they watch unfamiliar videos, one more virtue of being in the kitchen with them at cooking time. 

-hopefully will actually give them information or understanding.