diff --git a/lib/kino/vega_lite.ex b/lib/kino/vega_lite.ex
index 9b1cda4..ce506ff 100644
--- a/lib/kino/vega_lite.ex
+++ b/lib/kino/vega_lite.ex
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ defmodule Kino.VegaLite do
         |> Vl.mark(:line)
         |> Vl.encode_field(:x, "x", type: :quantitative)
         |> Vl.encode_field(:y, "y", type: :quantitative)
-        |> Kino.VegaLite.new()
-        |> Kino.render()
+        |> Kino.VegaLite.render()
 
       for i <- 1..300 do
         point = %{x: i / 10, y: :math.sin(i / 10)}
@@ -52,6 +51,18 @@ defmodule Kino.VegaLite do
     )
   end
 
+  @doc """
+  Renders and returns a new kino with the given VegaLite definition.
+
+  It is equivalent to:
+
+      vega_lite |> Kino.VegaLite.new() |> Kino.render()
+  """
+  @spec render(VegaLite.t()) :: t()
+  def render(vl) when is_struct(vl, VegaLite) do
+    vl |> new() |> Kino.render()
+  end
+
   @doc """
   Appends a single data point to the graphic dataset.
 
@@ -145,6 +156,7 @@ defmodule Kino.VegaLite do
 
   The callback is run for the first time immediately upon registration.
   """
+  @deprecated "Use Kino.listen/3 instead"
   @spec periodically(t(), pos_integer(), term(), (term() -> {:cont, term()} | :halt)) :: :ok
   def periodically(kino, interval_ms, acc, fun) do
     Kino.JS.Live.cast(kino, {:periodically, interval_ms, acc, fun})
diff --git a/test/kino/vega_lite_test.exs b/test/kino/vega_lite_test.exs
index 8034e1a..6719c0c 100644
--- a/test/kino/vega_lite_test.exs
+++ b/test/kino/vega_lite_test.exs
@@ -93,26 +93,6 @@ defmodule Kino.VegaLiteTest do
     assert_broadcast_event(kino, "push", %{data: [], dataset: nil, window: 0})
   end
 
-  test "periodically/4 evaluates the given callback in background until stopped" do
-    kino = start_kino()
-
-    parent = self()
-
-    Kino.VegaLite.periodically(kino, 1, 1, fn n ->
-      send(parent, {:ping, n})
-
-      if n < 2 do
-        {:cont, n + 1}
-      else
-        :halt
-      end
-    end)
-
-    assert_receive {:ping, 1}
-    assert_receive {:ping, 2}
-    refute_receive {:ping, 3}, 5
-  end
-
   defp start_kino() do
     Vl.new()
     |> Vl.mark(:point)