7 reasons MyKids is a perfect package for your family
7 reasons MyKids is a perfect package for your family
Simplify your streaming by cutting the bloat and keeping only the channels your kids actually need.
Finding the right TV setup for kids isn’t as simple as it used to be. Many families end up paying for oversized channel packages just to unlock a handful of children’s networks (I know I did), while still juggling separate streaming subscriptions on the side to cover all of the content they want. The result is more cost, more clutter, and a lineup that doesn’t really match how kids actually watch TV.
DIRECTV’s MyKids Genre Pack takes a different approach. Instead of building around general entertainment, it puts children’s programming first — from early-learning shows for babies and toddlers to animated series and cartoons that older kids still love. It’s designed to grow with your family, offering a safer, more focused alternative to traditional TV packages that won’t leave you stuck paying for channels you’ll never even watch.
1) It focuses on the channels kids actually watch
The MyKids Genre Pack trims away the filler and puts kid-first channels front and center. Networks like Disney Channel, Disney Junior, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and Universal Kids cover a wide range of ages without drifting into general entertainment. Instead of paying for hundreds of channels, families get a lineup built around what’s on the TV most of the day.
Where bigger, more robust packages have many of these channels included as well, busy parents honestly may not care about having a slew of other channels just to get the programming for their kids. When my kids were younger, we went through various larger packages just to nail down kid-friendly channels, but now you don’t need to search high and low for the cheapest packages with the channels you want — they’re all right here.
MyKids channel lineup
| DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu | Philo | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Free Trial | Free 3-Day Trial | Free Trial | Save with Sling | Free Trial | |||||
| $20.99 | $9.99 | $28.99 | $25 | $19.99 | $29.99 | $45.99 | $45.99 | $64.99 | ||
| BabyFirst | + $0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Boomerang | + $0 | - | - | - | - | - | + $6 | + $6 | - | |
| Cartoon Network | + $0 | - | + $61 | - | - | - | ✓ | ✓ | + $18 | |
| Discovery Family | + $0 | - | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Disney Channel | + $0 | + $59 | + $61 | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | + $18 | |
| Disney Junior | + $0 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $6 | - | + $18 | |
| Disney XD | + $0 | + $59 | + $61 | - | - | - | + $6 | - | + $18 | |
| MeTV Toons | + $0 | - | - | ✓ | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Nickelodeon | + $0 | + $59 | + $61 | ✓ | - | - | - | - | + $18 | |
| Nicktoons | + $0 | + $8 | - | ✓ | - | - | + $6 | + $6 | + $18 | |
| TeenNick | + $0 | + $8 | - | ✓ | - | - | + $6 | + $6 | + $18 | |
2) It works for babies and toddlers just starting screen time
For families introducing screen time for the first time, MyKids offers a softer entry point than a full TV package. BabyFirst, Disney Junior, and Nick Jr. emphasize music, repetition, simple visuals, and short-form storytelling — content that’s better suited for limited, supervised viewing. Parents don’t have to worry about kids stumbling onto age-inappropriate content.
Even these channels alone are great for younger kids with plenty of educational programming and trusted shows parents know are good for their children. There’s no scrambling around on YouTube to find something appropriate, as everything is just a few channels away.
3) It grows with kids as they get older
MyKids isn’t something kids outgrow in a year, either. As they move into preschool and elementary school, the pack expands naturally with more comedy, adventure, and animated series from Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network. Even older kids can still find plenty to watch thanks to action-driven animation and classic cartoons on networks like Boomerang.
No worries about your children plopping on the couch with a phone or tablet just to scroll endlessly across social media. You can easily let them pick any show from these well-known networks without being stuck with just one channel or genre. There’s plenty to choose from, and that’s part of what makes MyKids such a great value.
4) It’s a cleaner, safer alternative to large TV packages
Large TV packages often require constant monitoring, parental controls, and channel blocking. With MyKids, the lineup itself does much of that work. Because everything is curated for younger viewers, kids can flip channels freely without landing on adult content, news, or programming that feels out of place.
Many kids are channel surfers, which could be a huge problem given the hundreds of channels and the lack of parental controls. Why not give them a set of approved channels and take the worry out of the equation? They can surf all they want within the MyKids lineup and always find something age-appropriate that won’t keep them up at night.
5) It costs less than paying for a full tier just for kids’ channels
One of the biggest reasons MyKids stands out is value. Many families end up subscribing to large packages like Choice or Ultimate solely to access children’s networks. The MyKids Genre Pack delivers those channels at a lower price, helping families avoid paying extra for sports, news, and entertainment channels they don’t use.
Of course, if you want the other channels for yourself as well, you can certainly explore larger packages, but many busy parents just want enough that their kids always have something to watch and don’t need anything else. MyKids has such a wide variety of channels that there’s always something on, and you’re not paying for channels you won’t watch.
6) Disney+ Basic is included at no extra cost
Alongside live TV, MyKids includes Disney+ Basic, giving families on-demand access to Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content. It’s a built-in streaming bonus that pairs well with the live channels, especially for movie nights, rewatching favorites, or filling gaps when nothing’s on live TV.
Already paying for Disney+? Now you don’t have to. With MyKids, it’s included, so you save even more on your streaming without sacrificing anything. You’re getting a full channel package plus an entire streaming library for one low price.
7) It makes TV simpler for parents
At the end of the day, MyKids is about reducing friction. Fewer channels to manage, a clear focus on kid-friendly programming, and a price that aligns with how families actually watch TV. Gone are the days of overpaying for huge packages just to get a few channels to keep your kids occupied.
It’s not like you’re only getting a few channels either. With everything included in MyKids, you’d think the price would be even higher, but it’s an insane value for the content provided. Also, adding Disney+ really puts things over the top.
Value-packed and ready to go
When you factor in the lower cost compared to full-tier plans, the curated lineup of kid-friendly channels, and extras like Disney+ Basic included at no additional charge, MyKids stands out as a smarter way to handle kids’ TV. For parents looking to simplify their TV setup without sacrificing quality children’s content, the MyKids Genre Pack checks almost all of the right boxes.
DIRECTV
DIRECTV is one of The Streamable’s top choices for the best live TV streaming service overall in 2026, especially for users who want the most channels or want to watch the most live sports. With an unbeatable lineup of local, news, sports, and entertainment channels, three main signature packages, an unlimited DVR, and 20 simultaneous streams at home, DIRECTV remains a premier choice for any cord-cutter.