How to sort kids playlists by length for parents of young children in 2026

A plain guide for parents of young children to sort a kids playlist from shortest to longest, with steps, tools to try and mistakes to avoid.

By XP Daily · 2026-10-27

XP Daily is published by the makers of DaysAid, QuickDictate and YTSort, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Write down the length of each video, rank the list from shortest to longest, and apply that order to the playlist by hand or with a tool. A tool such as YTSort reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1]

Option	How it orders videos
Paper list or sticky note	You rank by hand
Spreadsheet	You sort by a length column you fill in
YTSort	Reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first ^[1]

What you need before you start

Sorting a kids playlist by length takes only a few things. Start with a playlist in your own account, since that is the kind a tool such as YTSort can reorder. ^[1]

You also need the length of each video. YouTube shows it on each thumbnail, so you can read it without opening the video. Have a rough idea of how much time the child has, such as a car ride or a quiet half hour, so you know how far down the list to go.

Some children's playlists are series, where each episode builds on the one before. Note which videos must stay in order before you change anything.

Keep the order somewhere easy to find, such as a paper list on the fridge or a spreadsheet on your phone. Sort at a quiet time away from the child, so the list is ready before screen time starts.

A web browser is needed only if you want a tool to do the sorting. Add the tool to your browser once, before you need it.

Step by step

These steps work with any method, including a pen and paper.

Open the playlist you want to sort, and confirm that it is in an account you can change.
List every video with its title and the length shown on its thumbnail. Do not sort yet.
Mark the videos that must stay in order, such as episodes that build on one another.
Rank the rest from shortest to longest, with the shortest at the top.
Decide what happens to the longest videos. You can leave them at the end or give them their own slot.
Read the new order once from top to bottom, and look for any episode that now sits in a confusing place.
Apply the order by hand in the playlist, or use a tool to do it for you.
Start with the first video and let the child watch down the list.
Review the order after a few viewings. If it is not working for the child, change it.

Tools that can do it

You do not need software for this. The three options below range from pen and paper to a browser tool.

Paper list or sticky note. You write each title and length, then rank them by hand. Nothing is published here about price or limits, because those depend on what you already own.

Spreadsheet. A column for the title, a column for length, and a sort on the length column gives you a shortest-first list. Facts about specific spreadsheet apps are not given here, so check their own pages for limits and cost.

YTSort. YTSort is made by the team that publishes this site, and it is one option among the three. It reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] It can also sort only the videos within a length range and move the rest to the end. ^[1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. ^[1] YTSort is free. ^[1] You can get it as a bookmark, a small program that runs inside the browser, or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1] The extension needs Chrome or Edge; the script version works in any browser, including Firefox, with Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed. ^[1]

Common mistakes to avoid

Sorting a series by length alone. If episodes build on one another, a shortest-first order can start a story in the middle. Keep those episodes together in their original order.

Forgetting the longest videos. Moving them to the end is fine, but give them a set time to be watched, or they may never be seen.

Trying to reorder a playlist that is not yours. Check whose account the playlist is in first. If it belongs to someone else, copy the videos into a playlist you own and sort that copy.

Skipping the read-through. A quick look at the new order catches episodes that ended up in an odd spot before the child starts.

Leaving the next video unplanned. Decide what comes next before the current video ends, so the order actually gets followed.

Never reviewing the order. Check how the child responds after the first few viewings, and change the approach if it is not working.

Frequently asked questions

How do parents sort a kids playlist from shortest to longest?

Write the title and length of each video, then rank them from shortest to longest. Read the new order once from top to bottom, keeping any episodes that tell one story together in their original order. Then apply the order to the playlist by hand, or use a tool that does it for you. A paper list or a spreadsheet works well for a playlist you can manage by hand.

Can YTSort sort a kids playlist that someone else owns?

YTSort works on playlists in your own account. It reorders a YouTube playlist you own by video length, shortest or longest first. ^[1] For a playlist that belongs to someone else, copy the videos into a playlist you own, then sort that copy. Check the account name on the playlist before you start, so you know which kind you have.

Can YTSort show the new order before it changes the playlist?

Yes. It shows the before and after order so you can check it before applying. ^[1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. ^[1] After sorting, it reads the playlist back from YouTube and re-applies any moves that did not stick. ^[1]

Is YTSort free for parents to use?

YTSort is free, and every install option includes the same features. ^[1] It is free to use and change, and its source code is open, under the GPL-2.0-only licence. ^[1] There are three ways to get it: a bookmark that runs it, a small program that runs inside the browser, or a Chrome Web Store extension. ^[1]

Which browsers can run YTSort?

The extension needs Chrome or Edge. The script version works with a script add-on such as Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey or Greasemonkey installed in your browser. ^[1] You can also run it from a bookmark. ^[1] Pick the option that matches the browser you already use for your child's videos.

YTSort is free; all install options include the same features. ^[1]

Try YTSort

Sources

YTSort's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)