MS. RACHEL 1.1-1.3

Here is the decision. This YouTube-born children's series, now on Netflix, does exactly what it sets out to do: it teaches. Ms. Rachel sings, signs, and coaxes toddlers to talk, and she does it with real warmth. She's kind to the children she addresses, and the show even teaches little ones how to say "I love you." For a preschooler learning colors, shapes, and letters, that's a genuine good.

There's one thing to know before you press play. A recurring character named "Jules" is an openly non-binary individual who looks mostly like a boy but has a female voice. Nothing about Jules's gender is ever mentioned — but the appearance may confuse young children.

So: this is a worthwhile show, and the practical answer is to preview it, watch alongside your child, and skip the parts with Jules if you'd rather. Children two and under shouldn't have screen time at all; preschoolers three to five should have extremely limited, monitored screen time. With that discretion, it's fine to enjoy.

There's no plot to spoil here — just a friendly teacher and a room full of songs. Ms. Rachel pulls surprises from a colorful mystery box, opens a giant egg, and turns each discovery into a lesson: colors, shapes, the letter A, the sounds words make.

Between the discoveries come the songs your toddler already loves — "The Wheels on the Bus," "Hop Little Bunnies," "Open Shut Them" — plus sign language, peek-a-boo, and rhymes for fingers and toes. It's built for the youngest viewers to sing, clap, and answer back.

Three stars, and here's what they mean for a preschool show. Ms. Rachel understands her tiny audience. She focuses on colors and shapes, and she uses the inflections in her voice to draw responses out of the children watching — the whole thing is built to be answered, not just watched.

It's lively and interactive, with bright colors, colorful backdrops, and a mix of live toys, props, and animation to keep small eyes engaged. Her husband, Aron, and other singers join in, and even a homemade book — "Cat and his Mat," written to teach rhyming — fits the goal. For what it is, it's well made and does its job.

For a toddler show, the heart of this one is easy to read, and much of it is good. Ms. Rachel is consistently kind, she teaches children skills they genuinely need, and she teaches them to say "I love you." That gentleness and that emphasis on love reflect a biblical, moral spirit — the show largely exalts kindness and care for little ones.

Parents should know about one element. A recurring character, "Jules," is presented as openly non-binary — looking mostly like a boy but speaking with a female voice. The show never comments on Jules's gender in any way. Even so, the appearance itself may confuse young children who are only just learning to name what they see. That's the reason for the discretion we recommend: preview episodes, and skip the segments with Jules if you prefer.

The show's whole aim — teaching a child to say "I love you" — points past itself. The love we teach children to speak is only an echo of the love that first reached us: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

This is a warm, well-crafted little show that does real good for the smallest viewers — and it carries one element worth a parent's careful eye. So our answer stands: wait and see. Preview it, watch it beside your child, keep screen time limited, and skip the parts you'd rather skip. Looking for more? Try our latest family-friendly picks.