I Have a Solution!
I have a solution the might help! Try switching over to Minecraft Education Edition. Now this isn't very intuitive, or convenient but it works!
Here's Why
Minecraft Education Edition (or MCEE) does not show featured servers. You can move your worlds to MCEE if you're tired of the server list. This is because MCEE does not support servers outside of those made by people who published the IP, or code, to join their world (which even then, is only temporary). So if you are thinking of making the switch, here's how:
How To Make the Switch
Export the world you are currently on and put it onto your computer as a .mcworld
file.
Make sure that the world is on, or is converted to 1.14.
Go to your computer files and open the .mcworld
file, which will automatically open MCEE and begin importing the world into it.
Use creative mode to restore your inventory to its former glory and play from there.
Just To Be Safe
DONT make the world a .zip
file or else nothing will work.
If you want a legitimate survival world make sure to go to the settings of the world before you open it, and disable cheats (and coding if you want).
Cons
The first downside is that if you wanted to play together at the same time you would need more computers
The second is that you need a school account or else it'll keep pressing you to try the MCEE exclusive coding lessons
The third is that MCEE is still on 1.14 (The bee update I believe).
Pros
You did say you wanted your children to somewhat learn and use their brains, right? Well here I have a list of things exclusive to MCEE.
Due to this version being named "Minecraft Education Edition" it has a variety of lessons on things like Math and science, but at the same time basic Minecraft things like redstone, building, brewing, and etc.
There is also the coding lessons exclusive to MCEE that i briefly included. They could, of course, teach your kids about coding, giving them a chance to make some fun personal mods that can do things like automatically build a big wall, or spawn a horde zombies with armor and swords for you to battle! But those are only a few of the possibilities you have with MCEE's coding system.
if you want your kids to unleash their creativity MCEE has different world templates that will allow your kids to do things like: Create the cover of a book, make a comic using NPC's and posters, build a spaceship, or just build a mars rover.
If Not...
Now if this seems a little extreme, or doesn't look like the right solution to you, that's fine with me just correct me or give me advice as to how this process could work better. Just be sure to not change too much if you edit this answer, just make changes like adding more tips or sections that might help, or correcting grammar and formatting mistakes.