Diaper Days Blog: Is Ms. Rachel a Good Show for Your Toddler?

Many parents of babies and toddlers watch Ms. Rachel’s shows on YouTube. Her online videos teach young children early learning skills, including letters, numbers, and colors. She also emphasizes speech and language development through the use of songs, repetition, and visual aids. Her shows are often helpful to parents whose children aren't talking as they should.

While her work is widely praised by speech therapists and other developmental experts, a quick online search shows an inaccurate AI summary of her qualifications. She is not a speech-language pathologist and has no formal training in this field. She does, however, hold advanced degrees in both music education and early childhood education. She and her husband, a Broadway music producer, created the channel because there was a lack of media resources for their son, who had a speech delay and did not say his first word until two years of age.

The best way parents can use Ms. Rachel’s content is to watch it with their child and model what she is teaching. For example, if your baby learns the sign for more, encourage your child to use that sign in their daily routine. As an aside, her toyline (I recently saw them at Walmart) is excellent at promoting the development of all your child’s milestones. Her training in early childhood learning shows in the toys she chose to promote.

While I always advocate limiting screentime as much as possible, if you're going to allow your youngster to watch online videos, watch Ms. Rachel, especially if your child is already showing delays in communication. And watch the show with your child, and incorporate into your daily routine what she is teaching your child

Does your child watch Ms. Rachel?

Disclaimer: All information provided reflects general guidelines and general recommendations. It is not intended as specific medical advice for your child. If you have concerns about any aspect of your child’s development, talk with their doctor. If your child is receiving therapy, please share this information with the therapist.