If you’ve had a toddler at home in the last few years, chances are you’ve heard the cheerful songs and bubbly voice of Ms. Rachel. Known for her hit YouTube series Songs for Littles, Ms. Rachel—whose real name is Rachel Griffin-Accurso—has become a household name for parents and kids alike. As of 2024, she is in her early 40s and has an estimated net worth of $6.5 million.
But how did a former preschool teacher and mom from Maine become one of YouTube’s biggest stars in the children’s education space? Let’s dig into her journey, her motivations, and how she turned a deeply personal challenge into a global success story.
Where Did Ms. Rachel Come From?
Ms. Rachel was born in Biddeford, Maine, and raised in Sanford, where she attended Sanford High School. Her love for performance started young—she was active in theater and starred in musicals throughout her school years. Those early performances would unknowingly lay the groundwork for the engaging, expressive style she brings to her YouTube videos today.
She later earned a master’s degree in music education from New York University, and it was during her time as a preschool music teacher in New York that she really started to understand what kinds of songs and strategies truly helped little ones learn.
Why Did Ms. Rachel Start Her YouTube Channel?
Ms. Rachel didn’t begin her YouTube journey with the intention of becoming famous or wealthy. It all started from a place of parental concern.
Rachel and her husband, Aron Accurso, a Broadway music director (currently with Aladdin), were navigating a challenging phase with their son, who had speech delays. By the time most children were starting to form sentences, their son hadn’t said a single word.
The experience led them to consult speech therapists and dive deep into early childhood language development. Through that process, Rachel realized how little accessible, inclusive, and engaging educational content there was for very young children—especially content that helped support speech development.
So she took matters into her own hands.
How Did “Songs for Littles” Become a Hit?
Ms. Rachel first started with small in-person classes, where she used familiar nursery songs alongside originals she and her husband composed. But when the pandemic hit in 2020, she pivoted—like many educators and creators—to online content.
Armed with just a camera, a bright smile, and a mission, Rachel began uploading videos to YouTube. With her husband helping behind the scenes, she created content that wasn’t just fun—it was intentionally designed to support language milestones, inclusion, and emotional development.
As parents scrambled to find educational distractions during lockdown, her videos exploded in popularity. By mid-2020, her channel Songs for Littles had already crossed 1 million subscribers. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has soared past 8 million, with over 5 billion total views.
How Does Ms. Rachel Make Her Money?
You might be surprised to learn that despite her massive viewership, Ms. Rachel doesn’t take money from sponsors or sell merchandise. Instead, her income comes primarily from YouTube ad revenue and Premium subscribers.
While children’s content often earns lower ad rates (because advertisers don’t target toddlers), many parents opt for YouTube Premium—a subscription that removes ads altogether. This works in Rachel’s favor. YouTube distributes a portion of the Premium revenue to creators based on how much time subscribers spend watching their content.
And guess what? Ms. Rachel’s videos are on a nonstop loop in households worldwide, making her a major recipient of this kind of payout.
Experts estimate that creators in the kids’ space might earn around $1,000 per million views—but in Rachel’s case, her consistent, high engagement and Premium-heavy audience could mean significantly more. Industry insiders estimate she may have brought in over $10 million in revenue to date, though after taxes and production expenses, her net worth is estimated at $6.5 million as of January 2024.
What Makes Ms. Rachel So Beloved?
Ms. Rachel isn’t just another internet personality—she genuinely connects with children and their parents. Her videos are inclusive, developmentally focused, and free of the fast-paced, overstimulating content that’s become all too common online.
She uses sign language, features children and adults of different abilities and backgrounds, and regularly consults with early childhood experts to shape her content. She’s even gone back to school to study early childhood development in more depth.
In short, she’s created safe, engaging, and enriching content that parents trust—and kids adore.
What Is Ms. Rachel Doing Today?
Ms. Rachel continues to release around one video a month, but her impact goes far beyond just content creation. She recently signed with Creative Artists Agency, suggesting that she may soon expand her reach into books, live shows, or even television.
And while she maintains a strong presence on YouTube, she’s also become an advocate for early speech development, inclusion, and accessible education. She has built a platform where education meets compassion, and that authenticity shines through in every performance.
What’s Next for Ms. Rachel?
With millions of loyal fans, a rapidly growing platform, and her recent move into professional representation, the possibilities are wide open for Ms. Rachel. Whether she launches a new line of children’s books, stages live performances, or even partners with educational organizations, one thing is clear—Ms. Rachel isn’t going anywhere.
Her journey from concerned mom to YouTube sensation proves that sometimes, the best ideas come from the most personal places. And with her heart in the right place, she’s become a trusted friend to millions of families around the globe.
