So, I heard the news that Noggin is shutting down on July 2. Man, that hit me hard. My little one absolutely adores their games and books. Seriously, it was our go-to app for some quiet time, you know? Anyway, I started thinking, “What now?” I mean, Noggin was a lifesaver on long car rides and those endless waits at the doctor’s office.
First thing I did was check out what’s going on with Noggin. Turns out, they’re really done. Their streaming service and app are no more. I did see that some of their shows like “Ready, Set, Race,” “Yoga Friends,” and “Imagination Trips” might still be around somewhere. But the app itself? Gone. Poof.
I even thought about getting it directly on Roku. See, we use Prime Video, but honestly, it’s not very kid-friendly. My kid always ends up clicking on stuff they shouldn’t. I just wanted something simple and safe, like Noggin was.
Scouring the Internet for Replacements
Next step, I hit the internet. I searched for alternatives to Noggin, and let me tell you, there are a ton of options out there. Websites were listing like 50 different apps! It was overwhelming. I saw something about “Noggin competitors” and figured that was a good place to start.
Then I stumbled upon this article about Paramount shutting down Noggin. It mentioned layoffs and that they’d stop taking new subscribers and shut down later in the year. I was like, “Well, that explains it.” It’s sad, though. Noggin had some exclusive stuff that my kid loved. I remember reading somewhere that from 2020 until 2024, the Noggin streaming service produced a variety of exclusive series. It all started in 2009 I guess.
Trying Out Different Apps
I started downloading and trying out a bunch of these “alternatives.”
- Sprinto was mentioned as the best overall alternative. I gave it a shot, but it didn’t quite click with my kid.
- Then there were these other apps: D4H, iLobby, SafetyCulture, and Pirani. I tried them, but they felt too complicated or just not right for a young child.
Discovering Pok Pok
Finally, I found Pok Pok. The reviews were saying it’s an award-winning app for ages 2-8. I liked that it’s designed to be “non-addictive” and “low-stimulation.” That sounded perfect! I mean, Noggin was great, but sometimes my kid would get a little too hooked, you know?
So, I downloaded Pok Pok, and so far, so good. My little one seems to really enjoy it. It has a lot of the same qualities that made Noggin great, but it feels a bit more… intentional? Like, it’s really focused on learning through play, and it’s not just about keeping them glued to the screen.
It’s still early days, but I’m feeling pretty good about Pok Pok. It’s not exactly the same as Noggin, but it might actually be a better fit for us in the long run. It’s tough when something you rely on goes away, but sometimes it forces you to find something even better. Who knows, maybe this whole Noggin shutdown thing is a blessing in disguise.