Building the library
Starting from a pre-built library
In short
Starter libraries are pre-assembled sets of channels and videos organised by age band and topic. Adopting one gives a child a working library in a couple of taps; from there it behaves exactly like a library you built by hand, so you can add and remove freely.
Why start from one
The single most common reason a setup stalls is the blank library. Faced with an empty shelf and the whole of YouTube, most people either spend an hour researching or close the tab and come back never. A starter library removes that decision so your child can watch something the same evening.
It is also a better starting point than most first attempts. The sets are assembled around what actually holds a given age group’s attention rather than what looks educational, which is a distinction that matters a lot when a six-year-old is the one choosing.
Adopting one is not a commitment. Once it is in a child’s library the contents are ordinary library items — remove anything that does not suit, add your own alongside. Most families end up with a heavily edited version within a fortnight, which is exactly the intended path.
Adopting a starter library
Open the library page for the child
Starter libraries are offered alongside the manual add field, so you can adopt one and paste your own URLs in the same session.
Pick by age band first, then topic
Age band matters more than topic for how well the set lands. If your child sits between two bands, the younger one is usually the better starting point — it is easier to add up than to walk something back.
Adopt it into that child’s library
The contents are added to that profile only. Adopting the same set for a sibling later creates an independent copy, so editing one does not touch the other.
Watch a few with your child, then edit
The fastest way to tune a library is to sit through two or three items together. You will usually find one thing to remove and one direction to add more of within ten minutes.
Subject libraries for homeschooling and study
Alongside the general age-band sets there are subject-organised libraries aimed at learning rather than leisure — maths, science, reading and language arts, history and social studies, and art.
These work best as a separate part of a child’s library rather than as the whole of it. A common arrangement is a subject library plus a small leisure set, with the daily time limit covering both so study time and downtime draw from one clear allowance.
If you are using Watchly primarily for schoolwork on a shared or school-issued device, the subject libraries plus a viewing window that matches school hours is usually the setup you want.
Common questions
Can I edit a starter library after adopting it?
Yes, completely. Once adopted, the contents are ordinary library items for that profile — remove anything, add anything alongside. Most families have substantially rewritten theirs within a couple of weeks, which is the expected path rather than a sign something went wrong.
What if my child is between age bands?
Start with the younger band. Adding more mature content to a library later is a two-tap decision you make deliberately; walking something back after your child has already seen it is a conversation you would rather not have.
Do starter libraries update over time?
The copy in your child’s library is yours once adopted, so your edits are never overwritten. Channels you keep continue to bring in new uploads through the normal content filter, exactly as they would if you had added them yourself.
Can I use a starter library as a starting point for an older child?
Yes, though older children’s libraries usually end up mostly self-directed. A common pattern for a ten-year-old and up is to adopt a set for the initial shape, then let the approval-request flow drive most of what gets added after that.
Related articles
Adding videos, channels, and playlists
Add by video, channel, or playlist, and which to use when.
When your child asks for a video
The “Ask a parent” flow and your approval queue.
Quick start: set up Watchly in about ten minutes
Account, first child profile, first library, first time limit — the whole first run.
Try it with your own kids
The free trial needs no card, and nothing installs — build a library, set a limit, and hand the device over.