Should My Baby Watch Ms. Rachel?

If you have a baby or toddler, you've probably heard of Ms. Rachel or seen her dance, sing and peekaboo her way across your screen. If you're unfamiliar with her work, here's a brief introduction: Rachel Griffin Accurso is the creator of 'Songs for Littles,' a YouTube series that has become a household name for families with young children. Known for her signature pink shirt, overalls and headband, Ms. Rachel has amassed nearly millions of subscribers and billions of views across her videos. She even has her own line of toys.

For parents considering Ms. Rachel's content for their little ones and wondering about appropriate screen time, this guide will help. Ahead, we'll explore who Ms. Rachel is, discuss screen time guidelines for babies and recommend the best Ms. Rachel YouTube videos to start with.

Who is Ms. Rachel? 

Ms. Rachel, a beloved YouTube personality, has captured the hearts of parents and young children alike. Her videos teach basic concepts like colours, numbers and letters through fun songs and activities that encourage interaction.

She and her husband Aron Accurso started their channel in 2019 to help their son Thomas, who was experiencing a speech delay. The channel's popularity soared during the pandemic and continues to thrive, assisting toddlers and young children in developing language skills. Today, Ms. Rachel boasts an impressive 12.5 million subscribers.

What makes Ms. Rachel so popular?

What sets Ms. Rachel apart from many online influencers is her educational background. She holds a master's degree in music education from New York University which adds professional depth to her engaging content.

Haley DeSousa, M.Ed., head of curriculum and instruction at Haven, believes Ms. Rachel's videos offer valuable learning during screen time in an entertaining way.

"Compared to traditional children's television, which features animation and fast-paced transitions, Ms. Rachel's content is slow-paced, simplistic and calm," DeSousa explains. "It offers evidence-based and engaging content, appealing to the interests of both families and their children."

What are the educational techniques used in Ms. Rachel videos?

Ms. Rachel's popularity also stems from her use of baby-friendly engagement and education techniques. DeSousa highlights her signature strategies, like repetition, sign language, interactive prompts, and a warm, engaging tone that captivates little learners.

"These methods help capture children's attention and improve speech and language development," she explains. "She makes learning accessible to most, if not all, families, thus making her so popular."

How much screen time should babies and toddlers get?

When it comes to screen time for little ones, both the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) agree that less is more for babies and young children. For babies under two, screens are a no-go—except for the occasional video chat with Grandma or a far-away friend, which can be a sweet way to stay connected. At this critical age, brain development thrives on face-to-face play, babbling and exploring the world without digital distractions.

For little ones 18 months to two years, introducing screens can be tempting, but it’s best done sparingly and intentionally. If you decide to press play, stick to high-quality, educational content and watch together to help your child connect the dots. By the preschool years, screen time can inch up to an hour a day, but it should still be carefully curated and shared. Think of screens as a tool—not a babysitter—while letting unstructured play, movement and family time take center stage. The goal? To raise kids who are engaged with the real world, not just the digital one.

When should my baby watch Ms. Rachel?

For babies under two, Martine Harris, a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist for the State of California, recommends starting with short, focused screen time sessions. She suggests, "Start with five to ten minutes of Ms. Rachel's videos while you're present to interact with your baby. While passive viewing is fine at times, the goal of educational videos should be to promote active engagement. Talk to your baby, sing along and make the content more interactive to support learning."

Tips for parents considering Ms. Rachel

If you’re a parent considering using Ms. Rachel as an educational and fun resource, Harris suggests limiting screen time based on the guidelines above, being present as much as you can, making the content interactive and balancing the videos with other activities.

"You should also make the experience an opportunity for learning and bonding," she adds. "Try to make it interactive by singing along, mimicking the movements or pointing to objects in the video. You can also pause the video to talk about what’s happening, helping your child make connections between the content and the world around them."

Harris also stresses that it's important to balance educational content and the need for real-world interaction for developmental milestones. "Educational content is valuable but should supplement real-world interaction," she says.

Ms. Rachel videos are a fun and educational choice for your baby's watchlist. To maximize the benefits, interact with your baby while watching, talk and sing along to make it more interactive, and limit screen time to an hour or less a day. Remember, balancing educational content with real-world interaction is also crucial for your baby's developmental milestones.

FAQs

1. Who is Jules Hoffman? Jules Hoffman is a children's musician and content creator who is a current cast member on Ms. Rachel's YouTube channel "Songs for Littles." Hoffman has appeared in several videos on the channel, including Baby Music Class, Baby/Toddler Music Class 2, and more.

2. Does Ms. Rachel have a degree in early childhood education? While Ms. Rachel does not currently have a degree in early childhood education, she does hold a Master's degree in Music Education from New York University.

3. What are good Ms. Rachel videos to start with? There are several great Ms. Rachel videos to watch your baby. Here are three below:

Baby's First Words This is a great starter video for parents who are new to Ms. Rachel's YouTube channel. This video is designed to aid early language development in infants and toddlers through engaging content that includes visual aids, repetition, interactive elements, and music. The video introduces common words alongside images, encouraging children to repeat after Ms. Rachel and participate actively.

Baby Learning with Ms. Rachel This is another video from Ms. Rachel to add to your watch list. In this video, she uses a technique called 'parentese,' which involves speaking at a higher pitch and slower pace to capture children’s attention. This video also features music, colourful visuals, and interactive elements that encourage children to sing along and participate actively.

Baby Learning 2 With Ms. Rachel This video expands on Ms. Rachel's Baby Learning video. It also focuses on language development through fun songs, interactive participation, and colourful visuals.

Shop Ms. Rachel toys

Ms. Rachel Sensory Take-Along Toy

Ms. Rachel Official Herbie Huggable Lovey

Ms. Rachel Official Herbie Sensory Take-Along Toy

Experts:

• Haley DeSousa, M.Ed., Head of Curriculum and Instruction at Haven.
• Martine Harris is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist for the State of California and the founder of Travel & GIVE, a nonprofit focused on supporting children with disabilities in underserved communities.