Everybody seems to love Ms. Rachel and, in case you’re still wondering why, Dr. Hafeez broke it down for me: “Ms. Rachel is so popular because she blends education and entertainment in a way that really resonates with toddlers. Her warm, gentle voice and clear speech help children learn new words and sounds with ease. The repetition in her songs and activities builds confidence in early language skills.” In other words, she’s pretty good at doing what she set out to do: help toddlers and preschoolers develop language skills without overstimulating them. Plus, the expert notes that she’s popular among parents because they “trust her background as a preschool teacher and musician, which comes through in the thoughtful structure of each lesson.”
Is Ms. Rachel Good for Kids?
Dr. Hafeez tells me that Ms. Rachel’s content is considered good for kids because it’s designed to support early speech and language development with the use of simple words, repetition, and clear enunciation—all of which help toddlers learn how to talk. Perhaps most importantly, “her songs and activities keep children engaged without being overwhelming or too fast-paced; In a noisy online world, her calm, engaging presence stands out and offers a sense of safety and learning for young kids,” says Dr. Hafeez. Indeed, the bright visuals and friendly tone create a safe, positive space for little ones, and many parents and speech therapists recommend her videos because they blend fun with valuable learning.
Still, there are some cons to tuning in. Well, just one, actually: screen time. Although Ms. Rachel’s videos are gentler than much of the overstimulating content around, it’s still important to keep in mind screen time guidelines. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children under the age of 18 months should have no screen time whatsoever, aside from brief video calls with family members; children between the ages of 18 and 24 months should only watch education content (like Ms. Rachel’s) in the company of a caregiver, and ideally for no longer than 20 to 30 minutes; finally, kids between the ages of 2 and 5 should have no more than one hour of non-educational screen time on weekdays and three hours maximum on the weekend. Of course, Ms. Rachel’s content is educational, so you could make a case for bending the rules a little for kids two and older, but the really young ones definitely don’t benefit from binge-watching anything, not even when valuable learning is involved. Bottom line: Ms. Rachel is good for kids, but as with most good things, moderation is key.
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