Latest news with #SongsForLittles
Buzz Feed
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
The Ms. Rachel Singing Doll Is 40% Off For Prime Day
Helllooooo parents (or soon-to-be parents!), my name is Heather, and at the time I'm writing this, my son is 3 and my daughter is 1 (I'm out here truly in the trenches). As a parent of littles, the one thing I can *absolutely* stand by is my family's love for the admirable, adorable genius that is Ms. Rachel. If you also have kids, chances are she needs zero introduction. But if you *don't* and you're a delightful aunt, uncle, friend of the family (whoever!) looking for some insight, let me fill you in. That's me (pictured above) dressed as the queen herself for Halloween in Rachel has an *extremely* successful YouTube channel called "Songs For Littles" where she and other talented members of her team create videos of babies and toddlers that get them excited about learning to speak, sing, play, and more. The about page on her website perfectly explains that their videos are made "With a special focus on speech, language, and social-emotional skills, we're here to help your littles learn, bond, and thrive." TL;DR: Ms. Rachel is the best. Kids love her. Parents love her. The only qualms I personally had with her (and the brand) were that she didn't have merchandise for us to appreciate her further. Luckily, that's all changed! That's my toddler happily showing off his fresh Ms. Rachel era tee (she's basically his Taylor Swift). And you can check out more cute Ms. Rachel toddler tees, pajamas, or even a mini version of her signature look. Ms. Rachel has finally answered our parental pleas and released a *ton* of adorable and educational toys: think blocks, loveys, puzzles, tummy time items, and a book. Check out the Ms. Rachel shop page on Amazon to see for yourself. I've been lucky enough to snag the majority of these toys, so it is with GREAT authority that I tell you the cream of the crop is absolutely (and as expected) the Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll — and it's on sale for 40% off for Prime Day!!! The cheapest it has EVER been! My kids (aged 3 and 1) are equally obsessed with our savior, Ms. Rachel. I've been using the fantastic Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll to help get us through the crankiest times of the day (one click of it changes my daughter's entire persona, it's wild). It's been crafted by Gund, so you know it's a quality plush item. My son immediately wanted this doll to sleep in his crib — we just turned the sound off for the evening and told him Ms. Rachel needed some rest (haha). But it actually has a low/high setting to ensure it's sensory friendly for all kids — which I love. The doll boasts four songs and 16 phrases — all of which have been embedded into parents' brains already. If you *don't* know all the words to "Icky Sticky Sticky Sticky Bubble Gum" you're about to 😉. The doll also sings 'Wheels on the Bus,' 'Hop Little Bunny,' and 'I'm So Happy' — fan favorites, if you ask me. The phrases are all extremely positive, engaging, and reassuring (and that's just how *I* feel when I hear 'em). Other reviewers (and kids, of course!) adore this sweet plush Ms. Rachel as well: "I LOVE THIS! Ms Rachel is amazing, so I was so stinking happy for official merchandise. The doll is made so well, and my 1-year-old puts her through the wringer. The second she starts singing, it's like magic how quickly things can calm down. Super fun, no issues with my child using it, and she even made the volume changeable (thank you from an overstimulated mom). And it's soft and cute. Finally, I have a physical version of our best friend, Ms. Rachel!" —Momazon"This Ms. Rachel doll is a fan favorite in our house! My child loves carrying her around while singing along to the fun songs. The doll is soft, well-made, and looks just like her, which makes it even more special. It's a great companion for little fans of the show and encourages lots of imaginative play. If your kid loves Ms. Rachel, this doll is a must-have!" —Misty"I would highly recommend this doll! The attention to detail is impeccable, making it super realistic. It's so easy to use, just press the buttons and the doll sings and speaks. The size is perfect for little hands to carry and play with. This is such an amazing toy, every kid will love it!" —Lovannie When it was first launched, the doll was going in and out of stock on Amazon and was rumored to be as high in demand as Tickle Me Elmo was back in the day. Honestly, now that I've had it for seven months I can totally see why! I mean, just look how happy my kids are! A rare sight to see them both engaged and smiley at the same time — a parenting miracle, one might say. Get the Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll for 40% off Amazon for $17.99 (don't forget to clip the coupon to snag this price) immediately, I promise you won't regret it. And while you're at it, take a look at all the other Ms. Rachel toys that are on sale for up to 58% off right now! Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside Ms. Rachel's rollercoaster rise to fame: How YouTube star made millions despite backlash and controversy
If you have a child under five years old, than you've probably heard of Ms. Rachel. With her signature pink headband, pink T-shirt, and blue overalls, she has become a staple in the homes of millions of families across the globe. The star, 42, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has been transformed into a massive phenomenon thanks to her educational videos for children - wracking up billions of views on her YouTube channel, Songs for Littles, and earning her millions of dollars along the way. Her sudden burst onto the scene in 2019 was certainly an unexpected one. Before she became the internet's most trusted voice for toddlers, she was a preschool music teacher. She started posting videos online after she struggled to find resources to help her own son when he developed a 'severe speech delay' - and she certainly didn't expect it to take off the way it did, nor for it to transform her into a star. But her journey has not been easy, as the internet sensation has faced a slew of scandals and setbacks along the way. She has openly struggled with the sudden fame and attention and has had to take multiple social media breaks over the years due to the immense pressure of being thrust into the public eye practically overnight. The mother-of-two has also faced severe backlash over a few controversial comments that she made over the years. In fact, Rachel has been in the news for something other than her catchy songs over the last few months: her unwavering support of Palestinian children in Gaza. The educator also recently made headlines when she lashed out at critics after actress Olivia Munn shunned her show, slamming the news for not covering the people in Gaza instead. As Ms. Rachel's brazen comments continue to put her in the hot seat, has taken a look back at her rollercoaster-ride rise to fame. How Ms. Rachel used her music and education backgrounds to launch her groundbreaking YouTube channel after her son developed a speech delay Rachel was born on November 30, 1980, in Biddeford, Maine, and was raised by a single mom in the small town of Sanford. The YouTube star previously explained on the The Drew Barrymore Show that she likely wouldn't be where she was now had it not been for her mother's strength and determination. '[I was raised] by a super strong wonderful single mom who - she's just incredible,' she explained on the show. 'She would set her mind to something and just do it, it's such an extraordinary example to watch her and it's why I think through my life I've been like, "I want to try this. I want to make this show and I'm just going to do it." 'She went back to finish college she worked at a daycare during the week, and at Pizza Hut as a waitress on the weekends. 'She went back and got a master's, and viewing that was extraordinary as a child. I was like, "I can do anything."' Regarding her own education, Ms. Rachel graduated from the University of Southern Maine. She went on to receive her master's degree in music education and a second master's degree in early childhood education from New York University. The internet personality worked as a music teacher at a preschool in New York City during the early years of her career. She started dating her now-husband, Broadway music director and composter Aron Accurso, sometime in 2010 after they met at a Unitarian church on the Upper East Side, according to The New York Times. They tied the knot in 2016, and welcomed their son Thomas in 2018. After becoming a mom, her passion for child development, paired with her music background, led her to a groundbreaking career shift. 'When my son was born, I stayed home with him for a year and saw how much music helped with soothing, bonding, play, and language development,' Rachel previously explained. 'I created an in-person baby/toddler music class informed by my music education teaching skills, which I then moved online to YouTube because I wanted the classes to be more accessible.' She started her YouTube channel Songs for Littles in 2019, after she said she struggled to find online resources to help her son when he had a 'severe speech delay.' 'His first word was at two years and eight months and it was "mama" and I had waited for that for so long,' she detailed to NBC News. 'As a parent, you want to do anything you can to help them and it's not our fault when our child has a speech delay. 'A lot of things I teach are things I wish I had known for my son. I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if there was a show that really encouraged language development and worked on these important milestones and was slow-paced and a real person and very interactive?"' After her YouTube channel became a massive success - earning her $15.7 million per year - she struggled to adjust to the sudden attention As the COVID-19 pandemic kept families indoors, Songs for Littles began spreading quickly amongst parents looking for meaningful screen time for their children. Her videos consist of her singing a combination of covers and original children's songs that help youngsters with their pronunciation and language skills. Unlike many bright, flashy kids' channels, hers felt calm, purposeful, and soothing. Dressed in her signature pink T-shirt and overalls, she looks directly into the camera, speaks slowly and clearly, and repeats simple phrases like, 'Can you say, "ball?"' The results were staggering and parents flooded the comments with emotional messages about how their children were finally speaking after watching Ms. Rachel. Her videos quickly started to go viral, and soon, her channel had taken off. By 2023, she had become a household name among families with young children, and now, Ms. Rachel's channel has now amassed 15.2 million subscribers and billions of views. According to Social Blade, her catchy tunes have earned her yearly earnings of up to $15.7 million, raking in between $77,000 to $1.2 million per month. And in January, Netflix signed a deal with Ms. Rachel for an undisclosed amount. But the star - who went on to welcome a daughter, named Susannah, with her husband in April 2025 via surrogate - struggled to adjust to the sudden attention. She has been open about the difficulties of managing her booming career with parenthood. 'It's been hard to balance everything, which I think a lot of parents feel, but it was really important to me to have all that knowledge and early childhood to being in this field,' she told People in 2023. 'I felt that it was crucial for me to have that and I feel more confident. I just feel like I have a lot of tools. 'I've learned to help parents and I think I have a good work-life balance. Sometimes it takes us a while to get things out, but it's important to me to have that.' In early 2023, Rachel made headlines when she took a brief step back from TikTok and other social media platforms, citing the toll that negative comments had taken on her mental health. 'I'm taking a break from TikTok for my mental health,' Ms. Rachel announced at the time. She added in the caption: 'Hurtful videos and comments, no matter how much attention they get, will not bring you want you want. Only love can do that.' Around that time, a nasty troll had commented on one of Rachel's Instagram videos saying she should 'lose weight and try to be prettier.' She clapped back: 'Finishing my second masters in education while someone comments I've gained weight and should lose weight and try to be prettier if I'm going to have a show teaching toddlers.' In early 2025, Rachel took another long absence from the platform, later revealing that 'family issues' were the reason. Her sudden disappearance raised eyebrows and sparked concern from parents who depend on her videos. At the time, Ms. Rachel wrote in a social media comment: 'I'm sorry. We've had some family things to attend to.' She has since returned to social media. Ms. Rachel has faced a slew of backlash over her comments about Palestinian children in Gaza and her inclusion of a nonbinary musician in her videos Over the years, Ms. Rachel has become embroiled in controversy multiple times. In 2023, the child educator received backlash from parents who called her content 'inappropriate' after she featured nonbinary musician Jules Hoffman in a video. Rachel including someone who uses they/them pronouns started a fierce debate online, and led to some of her fans announcing that they will no longer be watching her content. In the past year, Rachel has also angered some with her outspoken advocacy on behalf of Palestinian children in Gaza who have been under consistent violence by Israel. She has used her platform to raise awareness about the conditions faced by children there, including lack of access to food, education, and medical care. Ms. Rachel has even made videos with Palestinian children who were able to escape Gaza - including three-year-old Rahaf who was left a double amputee after Israel's siege of the region. She has repeatedly said that her advocacy is non-negotiable - even if it comes at the expense of her career. 'I am fully willing to risk my career for this,' she stated in a video shared earlier this year. 'It is more important to me to speak out than to remain silent.' Her advocacy has included re-sharing posts from humanitarian organizations, educating her followers about the crisis, and calling for an end to the violence. She posted a song on Instagram in prayer for all of the people involved in the war, begging, 'Please stop hurting them.' Some have praised Ms. Rachel for speaking out, while others have accused her of anti-Semitism. Most recently, the educator hit out at Olivia after the actress shunned her popular kids show. While chatting with People last week, Munn - who is mom to two kids - explained her personal preferences when it comes to the kind of children's content she allows in her household. 'I know kids love [Ms. Rachel], but the thing is, if I can't watch it, I'm not going to spend the rest of my life going crazy,' she said, in part. While Munn's comments appeared to be more about her personal viewing preferences than criticism of Ms. Rachel specifically, it did not stop online speculation that she was throwing shade at the YouTube star. In response, Ms. Rachel commented directly on a social media post discussing Olivia's comment, writing, 'I'd rather you cover my advocacy for kids in Gaza.' She later followed up with a post on her own Instagram account, sharing screenshots of those comments alongside a caption that read: 'WHO CARES?! 'I'd rather you cover me advocating for kids in Gaza who are literally starving, [the] largest cohort of child amputees in modern history, thousands and thousands killed – no medical care, no education, no homes… do better,' she added. She emphasized that her frustration was directed at the coverage - not at Munn. 'Not against her at all and don't care that she doesn't want to watch the show - all my love to her and her family - disappointed in the outlets,' she wrote.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ms Rachel hits out at critics after Olivia Munn shuns her popular kids show
Ms. Rachel, the widely beloved educator behind the hit YouTube channel Songs for Littles, has hit out at critics after Olivia Munn shunned her popular kids show. In a recent interview, Munn - who is mom to two kids - explained her personal preferences when it comes to the kind of children's content she allows in her household. 'I know kids love [Ms. Rachel], but the thing is, if I can't watch it, I'm not going to spend the rest of my life going crazy,' she said. Munn, 44, also shared that she avoids cartoons, noting that when her son Malcolm asked for Blue's Clues, she responded, 'Hell no. Not in my house.' She added that while her partner John Mulaney introduced their son to Spider-Man cartoons, she prefers live-action films like Spider-Man: Homecoming. 'If you want to watch the real-life ones, then we can watch that,' she said. 'It might be a little too old for him, but I can't take the cartoons.' But, following widespread conversation about the comments, Ms. Rachel, 42, furiously hit back to express her disappointment at the coverage of the allegedly brewing 'feud' with the actress. While Munn's comments appeared to be more about her personal viewing preferences than criticism of any specific creator, it did not stop online speculation that it was a slight on Ms. Rachel. In response, Ms. Rachel commented directly on the social media posts of certain outlets, writing, 'I'd rather you cover my advocacy for kids in Gaza.' She later followed up with a post on her own Instagram account, sharing screenshots of those comments alongside a caption that read: 'WHO CARES?! 'I'd rather you cover me advocating for kids in Gaza who are literally starving, largest cohort of child amputees in modern history, thousands and thousands killed – no medical care, no education, no homes… do better!!!' She emphasized that her frustration was directed at the coverage - not at Munn. 'Not against her at all and don't care that she doesn't want to watch the show - all my love to her and her family - disappointed in the outlets,' she wrote. Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has built a loyal following for her educational videos that emphasize speech development, emotional regulation, and inclusivity. In a recent interview, Munn - who is mom to two kids - explained her personal preferences when it comes to the kind of children's content she allows in her household But in the past year, she's also become known for her outspoken advocacy on behalf of Palestinian children in Gaza who have been under consistent violence by Israel. Since the start of the humanitarian crisis, she has used her platform to raise awareness about the conditions faced by children there, including lack of access to food, education, and medical care - all while being under constant bombardment by Israel. Ms. Rachel has even made videos with Palestinian children who were able to escape Gaza - including three-year-old Rahaf who was left a double amputee after Israel's siege of the region. Ms. Rachel has repeatedly said that her advocacy is non-negotiable - even if it comes at the expense of her career. 'I am fully willing to risk my career for this,' she stated in a video shared earlier this year. 'It is more important to me to speak out than to remain silent.' Her advocacy has included resharing posts from humanitarian organizations, educating her followers about the crisis, and calling for an end to the violence.
Telegraph
03-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The former nursery teacher building a YouTube empire
For most people, Rachel Accurso's January deal with Netflix for four episodes of Ms. Rachel – with the promise of more to come later this year – barely registered, if at all. And most people couldn't understand why pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism would be pressing US attorney general to investigate whether this same Rachel Accurso was operating as a pro-Hamas foreign agent. For parents, however, the Netflix deal was more important than Taylor Swift and Timothee Chalamet joining a reboot of Friends for the streamer. And Accurso's take on Gaza was a headline grabbing controversy that caused rows on Mumsnet. Accurso is a kids' YouTuber and host of a show called Songs for Littles. She's both integral to the Netflix business plan a lightning rod for the culture wars - one suspected by the pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism to be operating as a pro-Hamas foreign agent (a claim she vehemently denies). But watching a Ms Rachel video, you wouldn't immediately pick that up. Fair warning, unless you're watching with your child, it's not the most riveting content. Even with a pre-schooler, it is not really a shareable experience, unless it's about 4pm, you're still in your pyjamas, the floor is a mess, and you've opened the wine early again. In an episode titled Learning with Words and Colors for Toddlers, for instance, Ms Rachel appears in her uniform of pink shirt and denim dungarees in front of a brightly coloured animated background. 'Hi friends. I'm so excited to learn with you today,' she says. An animated egg appears next to her. 'What's that? It's a surprise egg. Yes. Maybe if we say open, it will open! Can you say open?' Pause. 'Open. Wow! it's a ball!' She looks at the ball and the screen in delighted surprise. 'Red ball. Red ball. Maybe if you say ball the ball will bounce. Say ball. Say ball. Say…' Pause. 'Ball.' The ball starts bouncing. And so on. She has an excited, open face and the patience to pause just long enough to encourage pre-schoolers to try for each word. And she's so wholesome she's somehow found the Platonic ideal shape of everyone's favourite primary school teacher. So parents love her for many things, not least of which is the length of her videos. Most are, at minimum, 30 minutes long whilst episodes of Songs for Littles, which sees her romp through classics like Wheels on the Bus, Old MacDonald and London Bridge is Falling Down, is a solid hour of content. That's a lot of time off to stare into space or text the parent group chat and one of the reasons she has been called 'the world's babysitter'. But they also love her for letting them do so without feeling guilty. Or at least, not as guilty as if the kids are watching the deranged animation CoComelon or any AI generated kids' animation on YouTube channels such as Yes! Neo or Super Crazy Kids. Miss Rachel is the closest thing to a Playschool presenter the Internet has produced. Before she found fame, the 42-year-old earned master's degrees in early childhood education and music education and worked as a music teacher in the Bronx. She left her job to spend time with her son, Thomas. Around his first birthday, she noticed that he was behind on speech development so started making videos for him. She and her musical theatre husband uploaded the videos to YouTube in 2019, and they immediately struck a chord with young children and their parents. She now has over 15 million subscribers, a small production team and earns between $10 million and $17 million a year through ads and merchandise. This is because YouTube is by some considerable margin the most popular place for kids' viewing. According to a May survey from Precise TV and Giraffe Insights, 72 per cent of two- to 12-year-olds in the UK watch YouTube, against subscription-based streamers (64 per cent), phone/tablet games (54 per cent) and console games (43 per cent). Kids spend an average of 83 minutes a day on YouTube, with only 26 per cent preferring British content over American. In part, this is due to the broadcasters retreating. 'All kids viewing used to be with broadcasters, but they've taken their foot off the pedal over the last decade, more so than any other genre, because you can't really monetise kids' content,' says Tom Harrington of Enders Analysis. 'There's not much you can advertise against it, kids 0-4 viewing isn't measured, and kids don't really need new content because they love watching the same thing again and again so there's no point commissioning 50 new episodes of Fireman Sam.' But kids' content is huge for streamers, he adds, because adults are fickle – they can take out a subscription for the latest cool drama then let it drop – but children are hyper loyal. They want their favourite shows available all the time again and again and again. 'In the data, what we can see is that preschool content is at the top for Netflix,' according to kids' content media analyst Emily Horgan. 'Preschoolers have a limited media footprint. Parents put them in front of Netflix because it's a safe space.' That's why Netflix just bought Sesame Street and originally did a deal with YouTube animation CoComelon in 2020. All eight seasons of that show appeared in the Netflix top 100 until 2024, when viewing started to trail off. In May, Disney + swooped in an bought the full eight eps of the strange cartoon, which it plans to show from 2027 alongside Bluey – which amassed 55.62 billion viewing hours on the streamer last year. In other words, Ms Rachel's theatre-kid-on-Adderall vibe woman is a serious part of Netflix's business. To be fair, she does actually know what she's doing. 'There's techniques Ms Rachel uses that are interesting – everything's incredibly slow, she's incredibly expressive, she talks to the camera and when she says something, she'll give a visual cue,' explains Rachel Diment, a UK speech and language therapist. 'I work with lots of kids that may have cerebral palsy or autism, and they're fascinated. In terms of supporting early language milestones, I would say Ms Rachel versus, say, Teletubbies then Ms Rachel's amazing.' The Teletubbies are unlikely to pose much of a threat to her empire, but Gaza might. Christian conservative parents have previously objected to her Instagram and TikTok content, which is not kid focussed. In 2024, she wished everyone a happy Pride Day, which lead to complaints. But but the Israel-Hamas war is proving a rolling maul of controversy and follows her advocating for Palestinian kids injured or made homeless in Gaza. She first posted about the conflict in May 2024 on Instagram, announcing that she would be raising money for Save the Children's emergency fund for children in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan. Within hours she had raised $50,000 with orders for 500 personally recorded videos. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ms Rachel (@msrachelforlittles) A few days later she followed up with a message saying 'children should never experience the horrors of war – nor be killed, injured or taken hostage.' The messages seemed designed to be non-political and she has specifically posted in support of hostage children Ariel and Kfir Bibas. Her posts brought a backlash, and Accurso has posted tearful videos rejecting claims she is antisemitic and talking about her Christianity, saying she loves every child. Remarkably, she managed to ride out the row for almost a year. But in May, StopAntisemitism asked US attorney general Pam Bondi to find out whether Accurso was 'being remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers.' Accurso has called accusations she received money from Hamas 'absurd' and carries on posting messages on Tik Tok, including a recent video where she told political leaders to 'be ashamed' for not doing enough to stop the killing. The conservative calls for boycotts and imitation 'Christian Ms Rachel' don't appear to have hurt her popularity. She's added two million subscribers this year. 'The kids don't know what her politics are and if the kids watch and they're quiet then I think that's more powerful than probably any political belief,' says Harrington. 'I would argue that you'd have to be quite a resilient person to say, well, I'm not going let the little ones watch that. I'd just prefer if they screamed for the next four hours.'
The Onion
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Onion
The Onion's Exclusive Interview With Ms. Rachel
Rachel Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, is a popular YouTuber who creates videos for toddlers. The Onion sat down with Ms. Rachel to discuss education, social media, and the backlash to her public support for the children of Gaza. The Onion : Why did you create your show Songs For Littles ? Ms. Rachel: I figured if that dipshit Blippi could make it big, anyone could. The Onion : What song do children love most? Ms. Rachel: 'Toxicity' by System of a Down. The Onion : What inspired you to speak out about Gaza? Ms. Rachel: While I've enjoyed a great deal of success, my real dream has always been getting called an 'antisemitic cunt' online. The Onion : What's the biggest advantage of creating content for babies? Ms. Rachel: They can't leave death threats in the comments. The Onion : Any fun stories from the set? Ms. Rachel: One day, no matter how many times I tried, I just couldn't count to four correctly. Turns out, I was having a stroke. The Onion : What do you say to children who recognize you in public? Ms. Rachel: Don't touch the overalls. The Onion : What do you say to your critics? Ms. Rachel: Good luck potty training your child without me.
