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Netflix Review For Kids
Plus Streaming Keeps Clutter At Bay

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX.

Have you ever tried Netflix streaming? My family has been using it for a couple of years, and we've really enjoyed it, and surprisingly have found it has saved us from a bunch of DVD clutter as an unexpected side benefit.

We Use Netflix Just For Kids A Lot

Our household has three kids, 11 and under, with one still a preschooler, and because of that we use the "Netflix Just for Kids" section of the service a lot, especially now that summer is coming.

I appreciate the fact that Netflix has separated out the kids programming from the content geared toward teens and adults.

It makes it easier for me and my husband to feel comfortable that what they're watching is age appropriate for them without having to micro-manage each of their choices.

select your Netflix experience

I didn't realize this until recently, but all of the Just for Kids programs have been selected with help from Common Sense Media, and provide ratings, reviews and information so we parents can make choices which are appropriate for our kids.

If you're not familiar with the service when you log in (we stream Netflix through our Wii) you get a choice between regular Netflix (what hubby and I view on date nights, for example) or Netflix Just For Kids (what all three of our kids are required to choose when they ask to "watch Netflix").

I took a picture of our TV screen to show you how easy it is to select the kids programming (see picture above, to the right).

How My Toddler Enjoys Netflix Streaming

child watching Netflix

All of my kids really enjoy watching programs on Netflix, and I actually prefer they use it to watch shows rather than Comcast's On Demand, which we also have (it automatically comes with our cable subscription), since I often find the commercials for the On Demand section inappropriate for young children.

I have no idea why they show horror movie trailers in the On Demand section, for example, when the kids are searching for cartoons.

That, of course, doesn't happen when we stream Netflix Just for Kids, since there are no commercials, you just choose the shows you want to see.

I've always been happy with the selection for the kids section, and it has got things that each of my children enjoy, at their various ages, for both my girls and my boy.

Plus, recently they've actually added several new shows and series that my five year old loves, including Tinker Bell & The Great Fairy Resuce, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Road Rally, and Jake & The Neverland Pirates (that's what she was watching in this picture to the left). She loves her Disney programs!

Often my youngest will watch a show with her siblings, but we also enjoy watching shows together as a family. My husband loves comic books, and has passed this love on to our kids, so we often watch superhero shows together on Netflix, including ones from channels we don't get on cable so we get excited as they get added and sometimes have a weekend night marathon when sports are not going strong.

Devices You Can Watch Netflix On

I tend to like to know what my kids are watching, so they typically use our Netflix streamed through our Wii which is shown on the main TV in our living room.

However, I appreciate the fact that you can watch it from multiple places in your home as well. Often my husband streams a movie on his computer to watch while working on paperwork, or while exercising.

In addition, this past Christmas my kids got a Kindle Fire as a joint present, and we downloaded the Netflix app for them so they can watch movies on that as well.

I personally find this fun myself from time to time when I want some Mommy downtime, since I can take the Kindle upstairs and watch it alone! :)

How Streaming Helps Us Keep Clutter At Bay

videos and DVDs on shelf

At the beginning of this article I shared with you that a surprising benefit, for our family, for using Netflix is that it has cut down on DVD clutter in our home, and it is so true!

When my oldest was little we bought lots of videos (VHS, can you believe it?) and DVDs for her to watch, and trust me, we watched them A LOT! You know how really small kids like to watch the same thing over and over and over again.

You can see our extensive video and DVD collection in the picture to the right.

The thing is, when a child outgrows those children's DVDs and videos they just become clutter. Yes, we try to show them to the next child, but if you've got multiple children you know each child's taste in shows is different and often what was a hit with one is a dud with the next.

The result -- lots of these videos and DVDs haven't been used in quite a while, and I really should just get rid of a lot of them! (In fact, that's exactly what I'm going to do in when we organized CDs and DVDs as part of the 52 Week Organized Home Challenge.)

Since we've gotten Netflix streaming I think I can count on one hand the DVDs I've bought specifically for my youngest child to watch. We just really don't need to anymore.

Instead, we just look for something new for her to watch and she gets into it, watches lots of different episodes of a program over the course of a couple of weeks, finally gets bored with it, and we move onto something new. Nothing to accumulate in my home! Bonus!

***Update: I've also written another post about how streaming keeps kids entertained in the summer with even more tips about how I use this service in my home. ***End Update

Conclusion

What are you watching on TV with your family? Netflix has family favorites from Disney, Disney Jr., Hasbro, Cartoon Network and Dreamworks that are available to stream anytime, anywhere.

And streaming is easier than you think! Download the free app on your iPad, click on the Netflix app on any gaming device, go to the website on your computer – and you’re in business.!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX.

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Share Your Comments, Tips & Ideas

I would love to hear from you, sharing your thoughts, questions, or ideas about this topic, so leave me a comment below. I try to always respond back!