KideoPlayer: Now little eyes can safely watch YouTube videos
A website called KideoPlayer makes it possible for little ones to enjoy YouTube.
Yesterday I blogged about kids using YouTube and asked what sort of precautions, if any, parents took to ensure their kids weren’t watching or posting inappropriate videos. Marc Saltzman made a comment, saying:
I probably *should* supervise my kids when they watch YouTube videos (my 7 year-old Maya loves checking out Britain’s/America’s Got Talent performances, etc.) but so far it hasn’t been an issue with the related videos it suggests.
Someone, however, just told me their daughter was looking at videos of dogs and he left her for a moment…when he returned she just clicked on a video of a dog fight. Thankfully, his 6 year-old didn’t see that or else it could’ve been traumatizing!
A site called KideoPlayer offers up a solution that allows young children to watch YouTube videos that are completely family friendly, so parents can relax knowing their preschooler isn’t going to stumble upon unsuitable videos. KideoPlayer is run by a dad of two young boys in his free time. He scouts out YouTube for safe, educational and fun videos and then puts them on KideoPlayer.
KideoPlayer is extremely simple. Unlike the YouTube website, there’s no search option or comment section. Videos are automatically played and, if your child wants to skip ahead to a different video, (s)he just needs to hit the keyboard’s spacebar. Pressing R will rewind the video that’s playing and pressing F will make the videos play in full screen.
This site seems like a nice way to let young children watch YouTube videos, but is limited in that there is no search option (sorry Marc, your daughter can’t hunt for America’s Got Talent videos here).
What do you think? Is this a site you’ll introduce to your kids? Unfortunately, it’s a little too young for my son to benefit from it, but think it’s a great idea for preschool aged kiddos.
Hey there. Thanks so much for the post. My name is Tom. (I’m the dad you mentioned in the posting). Pleased to meecha! :)
So glad you like the site – it is truly a labor of love.
One thing: This actually IS search. Another clever little feature we added is the ability to “search” the archive or “roll your own channel” just by using the URL field.
Like so: Say you want to ONLY find videos with Thomas The Tank Engine in them. Just enter http://www.kideoplayer.com/thomasthetankengine Voila! Every spacebar slap just brings back another “Thomas” clip in the library.
:)
As a moderator of a site myself and also as a childcare worker, I’m very glad to here there is still parents like you protecting the young from sites like this, and honestly despite what age they may be, we should always encourage them to use safe even if it may seem toddler like programming. Working with children for about the last seven years. Most parents wouldn’t believe how young some children have watched/view 18+ or yes even R-Rated content because of videos on sites like this. They do have their own security, but it’s obvious it’s still flawed greatly especially when this much of an improvement over it can be made.
This is fabulous, thank you so much. I will use this for my 4 year old son, who loves to watch YouTube for videos about trucks and vehicles, and somehow manages to stumble upon weird things sometimes.
Just wanted to apologize any parents or children, as I realized after I posted my reply to Tom I made a very bad but quite often typo of mine. I have already reported my last reply to get it edited. So again is you notice the typo just drop the extra letter when you read it, and again I apologize for it.
Thanks so much for the kind words everyone. I will definitely report back here with any new developments on the site. I feature new content just about daily. Any feedback always appreciated.
LB, no worries on the typo! We’re all human! :)
/ t
A very cool and interesting application but how can parents be sure the what you deem is child safe is also safe for their children?
While your motivations seem altruistic and not commercial, parents still must trust you to put up appropriate content which is in line with their Moral and Social values. Without a play list or other indication of what is on the KideoPlayer, how can a parent be sure that questionable content is not just a space bar slap away?
-Bob