A Vermont father has launched a free website that gives parents full control over the videos their children watch online, responding to growing concerns about inappropriate content on platforms like YouTube Kids.
Go Caboodle, created by St. Albans resident Galen Dow, allows parents to create custom video collections called "caboodles" that their children can access through a junior account. The platform launched in January 2026 and aims to provide families with a safer alternative to traditional video-sharing platforms.
How Go Caboodle Works
Dow developed the website after catching his daughter watching a video with inappropriate content, according to 1011now. The experience prompted him to build a solution that allows parents to maintain complete authority over their children's viewing material. "The idea is parents have control," Dow explained in a television interview. "Within the child's app, they can't wander off and go to anything else other than what you've approved to put in."
Parents create a free account on gocaboodle.com, which serves as their control dashboard. They then set up junior accounts for each child and search through caboodles uploaded by other users or create their own collections. Content ranges from drawing tutorials and music to sports and educational material. Children using the app can only watch videos that parents have specifically added to their account, with no ability to search for or access other content, Yahoo News reported.
The platform also allows grandparents, coaches, and other caregivers to be added as co-managers who can help curate video content for children. This collaborative approach enables trusted adults to contribute appropriate material while maintaining parental oversight.
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Benefits of Quality Content for Children
Renee Carrico, psychology program director at St. Michael's College, notes that screen time can benefit children when they view high-quality educational content. She said such content can help children develop social-emotional skills, improve literacy and academic abilities, and enhance executive functions such as planning and problem-solving.
Dow emphasized that Go Caboodle presents content in alignment with family values rather than corporate algorithms. The platform remains completely free, ensuring accessibility for families regardless of income. New users join daily as parents seek alternatives to platforms where content control remains challenging.
The website is available at gocaboodle.com and via mobile apps for iOS and Android, per Apple. Dow said he hopes the platform will continue to expand as more families discover it, with a long-term vision of helping parents regain control over their children's digital tools.
