Netflix debuts new 'Playground' app with shows, games for preschoolers – exclusive

Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY Mon, April 6, 2026 at 12:25 PM UTC

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EXCLUSIVE — Kids around the world are already watching Netflix on TVs and tablets for fun or when a tired parent needs five minutes to themselves. Now Netflix aims to make the process easier and more streamlined. And add some games.

Netflix Playground, a new app from the juggernaut streaming service designed specifically for kids aged 8 and under, will debut April 6, the company told USA TODAY exclusively.

The "all-in-one app for tablets and phones with a growing library of instantly playable games based on beloved shows/movies like 'Peppa Pig,' 'Dr. Seuss' and 'Bad Dinosaurs'," and Netflix also touts "comprehensive parental controls ... kids discover at their own pace while giving parents added confidence and peace of mind."

Promotional art for the Netflix Playground app.

The biggest difference between this app versus others on the market (besides games based on Netflix titles like "Sesame Street") is that Playground has no ads or in-app purchases, frequent pain points for families trying to use technology with young children. The app is included is a basic Netflix membership ($8.99/month), and the games can be played in "offline mode" without data or WiFi.

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Coinciding with the launch of Playground, Netflix has unveiled new kids' shows and renewed several of its most popular series. New titles include "Young MacDonald," a musical animated series based on the "Old MacDonald" nursery rhyme. Netflix has also announced new seasons of kids' hits "Creature Cases" and "Trash Truck," the latter of which hasn't releasing new episodes since 2021.

Glen Keane as Trash Truck Grandpa, Lucas Neff as Donny, Henri Keane as Hank, and Jackie Loeb as Miss Mona in the first season of Netflix's popular "Trash Truck." The streamer announced a third season of the kid-favorite series has been ordered.

Also debuting over the next few months: "My Sesame Street Friends: My Elmo" (April 13); "My Sesame Street Friends: My Abby" (April 27); "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" (May 23) alongside new seasons of "CoComelon Lane," "Dr. Seuss’s Horton!," "Mark Rober's CrunchLabs," "Sesame Street," and "Ms. Rachel."

"We’re building a world where kids can not only watch their favorite stories, they can step inside them and interact with their favorite characters,” John Derderian, Netflix Vice President of Animation Series + Kids & Family TV, says of Netflix Playground. “Watching and playing on Netflix can be the fun and easiest part of every family's day."

There are a lot of things for parents to consider about the Netflix Playground watching and gaming experience, says Dr. Yalda T. Uhls, a developmental psychologist and former Hollywood executive at studios like MGM and Sony. As founder of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA, she researches kids and screens, from the tiniest tots to teenagers.

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"The no-ads, no-in-app-purchases piece is significant," she says. "So much of what's out there for young kids is designed to monetize their attention in ways parents don't always see coming. ... The inclusion of games alongside shows is interesting to me from a developmental standpoint too. Interactive play, even on a screen, engages kids differently than passive viewing."

A game available on Netflix Playground based on "Story Bots."

Uhls does have reservations she thinks are important for parents to note. "My concern is less about this specific product and more about what happens around it. Well-designed apps are genuinely engaging, which means they can easily become the default," she says. "And at this age, what screens can displace matters a lot. The back-and-forth with a caregiver, conversation, play, just being together, is really foundational for young children's development. No app substitutes for that, however good the content is."

Boundaries and guardrails are important she says. Other experts agree, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which has recently its guidelines to include the quality of programming and the context under which children consume it. Uhls thinks Hollywood brands, including Netflix, are thinking about quality more and more.

"I've spent my career in rooms with the people who make content for kids, and I can tell you that the conversation inside the industry has genuinely shifted," Uhls says. "But awareness isn't enough on its own. What actually moves the needle is when creators and platforms commit to working with developmental psychologists and child development researchers from the very beginning, as a core part of how content gets made."

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Aaron Bisman, senior vice president and head of marketing for Sesame Workshop, is confident in the thoughtful design of the "Sesame Street" element of the Playground experience.

"Gaming and interactive content have been part of the 'Sesame Street' portfolio of offerings for over 40 years," he says. "Our primary goal with any content we create is to deepen learning and engagement. We also aim to strengthen kids’ connections to our characters and stories in ways that feel personal and empowering."

He talks about the same kinds of approaches mentioned by child development experts.

"We believe we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to create digital experiences that are safe, high-quality and worthy of families’ trust," he says. "Screens can absolutely be a positive part of children’s lives, but they work best when they’re thoughtful, age appropriate and part of a balanced day."

Netflix Playground is available to download for mobile and tablets in the U.S. April 6.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netflix debuts 'Playground' app games for little kids – What parents should know

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