by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Most children today have been exposed to computers from birth and, like everything else in your home that you’ve deemed off limits, they are going to be drawn to it almost instantly. Since there really is no getting around it (unless you’re willing to give up the convenience, and I, for one, am not), why not allow your children to explore all that the web has to offer on your terms.
Because I work from home, my five-year-old has seen me typing away all her life and has, on more than one occasion, sat at the desk and pretended to be Mommy, banging on the keyboard and seeing what happens. Instead of leaving them to their own devices, I’ve discovered some fun sites for kids to explore when they get extra curious.
Keen on making your kid the coolest kindergartner on the block? Then you must check out PancakeMountain.com, where parents and their kids can experience Washington DC’s hit children’s variety show. Creator Scott Stuckey marries some of rock’s biggest names with kid-friendly music, and the result will have you and your children on your feet and dancing to the sounds of Bright Eyes, Cypress Hill, The Flaming Lips, Garbage and much more.
Children of all ages love Dr. Seuss and this site is dedicated to putting them right in the middle of the author’s most beloved stories. Here, kids can play games based on the books, print out fun activities and coloring pages and make their own Seuss-like story. The site also features a biography on the man himself and an events section, which lists fun happenings around the country.
In addition to having info on your kid’s favorite Mouse House shows and movies, Disney.com has a ton of games, for kids in preschool and beyond. Children can also access the Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK), where tweens and teens from all over the world create a character, explore a web version of the theme parks, and collect and trade virtual souvenirs. Best of all, the VMK is closely monitored by staff members to keep kids safe.
It’s been a fear of mine that one day my kids may stumble upon something that is less than appropriate on the web while messing around on our computer. So, I’ve been tracking down ways to keep questionable content away from their prying eyes. Here are a handful of free, kid-safe web browsers for your family to try:
This Flash-based browser lets kids access a handful of child-related websites rather than attempting to filter the entire Internet. Kids can play on sites like PBSKids.com, Disney.com, Lego.com and much more without ever being able to accidentally stumble upon naughty websites. The browser also has games, an art section, and interactive math flashcards. Simply head over to kidrocket.org and download the free software.
Set this fun site as your home page and your kids won’t want to go anywhere else. The highly appealing website has plenty of games, movie trailers, jokes and a study zone and allows kids to search the web for age-appropriate content only. Check out all it has to offer at www.yahooligans.com.
Kid’s AOL has been around for a long time and is great, especially since AOL is now free for all. KOL gives kids their own email address (which you can monitor) and allows them to listen to music, play games, read stories, get homework help from actual teachers and much more. To check it out, head over to KOL.com.
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