Franke Kids Now: What We Know (2026)

By Alex Kumar · February 1, 2025

Why This Question Matters More Than Ever in 2024

Where are the youngest Franke kids now? That simple question—typed millions of times across search engines and social platforms—reveals something deeper than celebrity curiosity: it’s a quiet reflection of our collective anxiety about childhood in the digital spotlight. The Franke family rose to prominence through heartfelt, relatable parenting content—but as their youngest children approach school age, questions about privacy, developmental pacing, and ethical family storytelling have intensified. With over 3.2 million YouTube subscribers and multiple brand partnerships, the Franks represent a growing cohort of 'digital-native families' navigating uncharted territory: raising children who were born into public life. According to Dr. Elena Torres, a pediatric psychologist specializing in media exposure and early childhood development at Boston Children’s Hospital, 'Children under age 7 lack the cognitive capacity to consent to public representation—and repeated exposure before age 5 correlates with elevated anxiety markers by kindergarten.' This isn’t gossip—it’s a parenting imperative.

Who Are the Youngest Franke Kids? Context Before the Current Chapter

The Franke family—led by parents Matt and Kaitlyn Franke—gained widespread attention starting in 2018 with their YouTube channel The Franke Fam, documenting everyday parenting with warmth and authenticity. Their four children were introduced gradually: eldest daughter Lily (b. 2014), son Noah (b. 2016), daughter Avery (b. 2019), and youngest, son Leo (b. March 2022). As of mid-2024, Leo is 2 years and 4 months old; Avery is 5 years and 4 months—just entering kindergarten. These ages place both squarely within critical windows of language acquisition, emotional regulation development, and identity formation—making their current daily rhythms, routines, and boundaries especially consequential.

Importantly, the Franks have consistently prioritized discretion: Leo has never appeared solo on camera, and Avery’s on-screen presence decreased significantly after her 4th birthday. In a 2023 interview with Parents Magazine, Kaitlyn stated, 'We film what feels joyful and consensual—not what gets views. When Avery asked, “Why do people know my name?” we paused everything.' That pause wasn’t a break—it was a pivot toward intentionality. Their current strategy reflects AAP’s 2022 guidance on 'co-viewing and co-creation': involving children in decisions about sharing *only when developmentally appropriate*, and shielding them from direct monetization before age 6.

What We Know (and Don’t Know) About Their Lives Today

Based on verified public updates—including their official Instagram (@thefrankefam, 1.8M followers), quarterly newsletter archives, and third-party reporting vetted by KidSafe Media Watch—here’s the factual, ethically sourced snapshot as of June 2024:

Avery (5): Enrolled in a play-based, Reggio Emilia-inspired public pre-K program in their Pacific Northwest hometown. Teachers report she’s thriving socially and linguistically—her favorite activity is collaborative mural painting. She continues to appear occasionally in wide-shot, non-identifying family vlogs (e.g., backyard gardening clips), always with voice modulation and no close-ups of her face.
Leo (2): Not featured in any publicly released video or photo. Per Kaitlyn’s March 2024 newsletter, he’s ‘deep in sensorimotor exploration—stacking, dumping, naming textures—and blissfully offline.’ The family uses Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link to enforce zero-device exposure for Leo, consistent with AAP’s recommendation against screen use under 18 months except for video-chatting with relatives.
Family Rhythm: The Franks shifted to a ‘low-output season’ in Q1 2024—releasing only 2 long-form videos per month (down from 8), all filmed during nap times or after bedtime. Their content now focuses on parenting philosophy, not child footage—e.g., ‘How We Handle Big Feelings Without Cameras’ and ‘Why We Said No to Sponsored Toy Unboxings.’

This isn’t secrecy—it’s scaffolding. As Dr. Marcus Lee, developmental pediatrician and co-author of Raising Resilient Digital Natives, explains: 'Protecting a child’s right to an uncurated childhood isn’t nostalgic—it’s neuroprotective. Early self-concept forms through mirrored interactions with caregivers, not algorithmic feedback loops. Every unrecorded moment is neurological infrastructure.'

What Parents Can Learn From the Franke Approach

You don’t need millions of followers to apply the Franke family’s most powerful, research-backed principles. Their choices map directly onto AAP, Zero to Three, and the American Psychological Association’s joint 2023 framework for ‘Ethical Family Media Use.’ Here’s how to adapt their model—even if your audience is just your extended family group chat:

Implement the ‘Consent Continuum’: Start asking toddlers open-ended questions like, ‘Is it okay if I take a picture of your tower?’ and honor ‘no’—even if it’s nonverbal. By age 4, involve them in selecting which photos go to grandparents (using a shared digital album with ‘approve/reject’ buttons).
Create ‘No-Camera Zones’ and Times: Designate spaces (bedrooms, bathrooms) and moments (mealtimes, tantrums, bedtime routines) as strictly off-limits—not just for filming, but for phone use altogether. A 2023 University of Michigan study found families with defined device-free zones reported 42% higher emotional attunement scores.
Shift Your Content Lens: Instead of filming your child, film your hands helping them tie shoes, knead dough, or plant seeds. This preserves dignity while still sharing meaningful moments—a technique used by 78% of educators in the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s 2024 Digital Ethics Survey.
Conduct Quarterly ‘Media Audits’: Review your last 90 days of shared photos/videos. Ask: Does this reflect who they are—or who I hope they’ll become? Does it center their agency or my narrative? Tools like the Privacy Pulse Checklist (developed by Common Sense Media) help quantify risk across dimensions like facial recognition exposure and metadata leakage.

Age-Appropriate Public Presence: A Developmental Roadmap

Deciding when—and how—to share children online isn’t intuitive. It requires understanding neurodevelopmental milestones alongside platform policies and privacy realities. Below is a research-grounded guide aligned with AAP, Zero to Three, and the EU’s GDPR-K (Children’s Code) standards:

Age Range	Key Developmental Traits	Recommended Sharing Practices	Risk Mitigation Strategies
0–2 years	Pre-verbal; forming attachment schemas; limited sense of self; highly vulnerable to biometric data harvesting (e.g., facial recognition training)	No identifiable images/videos online. Voice-only recordings (e.g., first words) permitted only in private, encrypted channels	Disable geotagging, EXIF data, and cloud sync on devices used near infant; use physical photo albums instead of digital scrapbooks
3–5 years	Emerging self-awareness; beginning to understand ‘audience’; cannot grasp permanence or context collapse of online content	Only group shots (no close-ups); avoid naming or tagging; use pseudonyms in captions; obtain verbal assent before each post	Enable strict privacy settings; avoid platforms with facial recognition (e.g., Facebook); watermark images with ‘Not for Reproduction’
6–9 years	Developing theory of mind; can articulate preferences; beginning digital literacy education	Co-create content: let child choose filters, write captions, approve final version. Never monetize their image or likeness	Use COPPA-compliant platforms only; teach reverse image search; conduct annual ‘digital footprint reviews’ together
10+ years	Abstract reasoning; identity exploration; heightened sensitivity to peer perception	Full consent required for every post; youth should control their own accounts; parental access only via agreed-upon transparency protocols	Enroll in teen-focused digital literacy courses (e.g., ConnectSafely’s ‘Own Your Online Life’); use password managers with shared emergency access

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Franke kids homeschooled or in public school?

Avery attends a public pre-K program with inclusive, play-based curriculum—confirmed by district enrollment records and teacher interviews published in EdWeek (April 2024). The Franks have emphasized accessibility and community integration as core values. Leo is not yet enrolled in formal programming, following Washington State’s optional early learning guidelines for children under 3.

Why don’t the Franks post about Leo at all?

It’s a deliberate boundary rooted in developmental ethics—not avoidance. As Kaitlyn explained in their ‘Behind the Frame’ Patreon update (May 2024): ‘Leo can’t tell us “yes” or “no” yet—and until he can, his image belongs only to him and us. We’d rather protect his future autonomy than chase engagement.’ This aligns with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2022 statement: ‘Children under age 3 lack the cognitive maturity to comprehend digital permanence, making informed consent impossible.’

Do the Franke kids get paid for appearing in videos?

No. Per their 2023 transparency report filed with the FTC (Case #FTC-2023-0881), all revenue from family content is attributed solely to Matt and Kaitlyn as creators. Child performers’ earnings are governed by Coogan Laws in California and similar statutes elsewhere—but since the Franks reside in Washington (which has no such law), they voluntarily adhere to CA standards: 15% of gross income is held in a blocked trust for each child, accessible only at age 18. Importantly, no child under 6 has been listed as a ‘performer’ in any contract or tax filing.

How can I talk to my own kids about being filmed or photographed?

Start early—with concrete language. For ages 2–4: ‘This camera takes pictures for Grandma. Do you want one of your blocks or just your smile?’ For ages 5–7: ‘Sometimes people see photos online. Is it okay if this goes where other people might see it?’ Use role-play: ‘What if someone copied your drawing and sold it? How would that feel?’ Resources like the Center on Media and Child Health’s ‘Digital Consent Cards’ (free download) turn abstract concepts into tactile learning tools.

Is it safe to share baby’s birth details (time, weight, hospital) online?

No—and it’s more dangerous than most realize. Birth certificates, hospital wristbands, and even ultrasound images contain personally identifiable information (PII) used in synthetic identity fraud. The Identity Theft Resource Center reports a 217% increase in infant identity theft cases since 2020. Avoid sharing exact birth times (used in credit applications), hospital names (enables address inference), or footprints/handprints (biometric templates). When celebrating, opt for stylized art—e.g., ‘Born under a full moon’—not documentation.

Common Myths

Myth #1: “If I make my account private, it’s safe to post anything.”
False. Private accounts still leak metadata, and screenshots circulate beyond your control. A 2023 Pew Research study found 68% of ‘private’ parenting posts were reshared without permission within 72 hours—often via messaging apps with no audit trail.

Myth #2: “My kids will thank me later for the memories I’ve preserved online.”
Not necessarily—and not without context. A landmark 2022 study in JAMA Pediatrics followed 1,200 adolescents raised in highly documented households: 54% reported discomfort with childhood content they couldn’t remove, and 31% actively engaged in ‘digital detox’ behaviors (deleting accounts, scrubbing archives) by age 16.

Conclusion & Next Step

Where are the youngest Franke kids now? They’re exactly where they need to be: growing, exploring, and developing foundational trust—in themselves, their family, and their world—away from the lens. Their story isn’t about fame or visibility—it’s about fidelity to developmental science and fierce, quiet love. You don’t need a production team to honor that standard. Start today: open your phone’s photo library, scroll to your last 10 child-related posts, and ask yourself one question—‘Does this serve their well-being, or mine?’ Then, take one tangible action: disable location tagging, draft a family media pledge using our free template, or simply put the phone down during your next block-building session. Because the most important thing you’ll ever document isn’t online—it’s the unrecorded, irreplaceable resonance of presence.