Sites for Kids' Eyes

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We hear a lot of mixed messages when it comes to kids and the Internet. Some say it's the best educational tool since the blackboard. Others argue it's a cesspool of pornography and violence. I don't buy either argument.  

While not a substitute for a good teacher, the Internet, especially the World Wide Web, does have some wonderful fun and educational resources for children. And, like every other part of society, there are places that should be off-limits to children. But both its value and its potential dangers are often exaggerated.  

The key to making the most out of the positive and avoiding the negative can be boiled down to two words: parenting and teaching. It's the same whether your talking about the Internet, multimedia CD-ROMs or, for that matter, books, periodicals, videos and TV.   

A computer, especially when connected to the Internet, is not an electronic baby sitter, and there is no machine I'm aware of that can substitute for a good teacher or a loving parent. No matter how adept your children may be at surfing the Web, it's parents and teachers who can provide the guidance, knowledge, wisdom and perspective that gives it meaning.  

The technology itself creates a paradox: one of the biggest benefits of computerized searching, the ability to jump quickly and easily from place to place, is also one of its weaknesses. Having so many options can be empowering, but it can also lead to a more shallow experience because the user doesn't get a complete picture of what he or she is exploring.  What's more, the Web and multimedia CDs usually allow you to explore at your own pace.  

That has its advantages, but it can also be counterproductive: I've spent many hours watching my kids and other children using the Web and CDs and know first hand how easy it is for them to loose much of the meaning or impact of a presentation. A teacher or parent, however, can help put it into perspective and encourage the child go at an appropriate pace and order.  
 
Some people are worried that kids will get into places that they don't belong but, there are ways to greatly reduce the chance of that happening. More dangerous than sex and violence, in fact, are sites that waste your kids' time, bombard them with advertisements, or entice them into buying products or handing over information about themselves with games and other ploys.  

For now, I'll focus on the positive sides of cyberspace with a few suggestions on how you and your kids can get started.  

Jean Amour Polly, author of The Internet for Kids Yellow Pages [http://www.well.com/user/polly/] which lists hundreds of child oriented sites, has a web site) with "Fifty Extraordinary Experiences for Internet Kids." I don't agree with everything on her list, but it's a good starting place.   

Another good starting place is the kids version of Yahoo, the mother of all Internet search engines. Yahooligans [http://www.yahooligans.com/] lets you search for child friendly sites by category of keyword. Categories include Around the World (culture, politics, history), art soup, school bells, entertainment, science and oddities, sports and recreation and, of course, comics.  

Uncle Bob's Kid Page [http://gagme.wwa.com/~boba/kidslinks.html] is a well-edited compendium of kids sites with links to plenty of educational sites, including a directory of museums around the world. Another site, "volcano world" [http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/] lets kids explore one of the earth's most explosive subjects.   

Cyber Patrol, which makes parental control software to keep kids out of inappropriate sites, has its own list of great places for kids to visit [http://www.microsys.com/616/].  The site, which is divided into sections for play, school work and parents is one of the best collection of links on the net.   

You'll also find plenty of links from the Internet for Kids  [http://www.internet-for-kids.com/] home page, including one site designed to " teach your baby to use the Internet." The page takes you to an area where "baby" (I think I'd wait at least until toddler age) can click on a big block letter and get a picture and a word.   

There are a lot of government [http://www.yahoo.com/Government/] sites that are well suited for children, including NASA's home page [http://www.nasa.gov/] which links to all NASA sites and a searchable gallery of photos, video and audio files.  

San Francisco's Exploratorium [http://www.exploratorium.edu/] is definitely a cool place for kids. You can take a virtual visit at the "What's new in the world of science" section which has plenty of hands-on projects, including the dissection of a cow's eye.   

The commercial online services each offer special areas for kids.Disney [http://www.disney.com/] Adventure magazine, and entertainment features from Nickelodeon, Nintendo [http://www.elibrary.com/], Ringling and other sources.   

I'll never be too old to love Mr. Rogers [http://www.realaudio.com/contentp/pbs/rogers.html]. If you or any little one you know f eel the same way, check out his virtual neighborhood. Be sure to click on the "Internet Greeting from Mister Rogers and King Friday XIII" option to hear a greeting from Fred Rogers and King Friday and to read the biography of Fred McFeely Rogers.   

The Web can be a good substitute for TV but it's also another way to tune in to your kids' favorite programs. There is Discovery Channel, CBS, NBC, and CNN among others on the net. You'll also find web sites for most major movie studios.   

Mountain Lake Software operates Cyberteens [http://www.cyberteens.com/] an on line magazine that's not afraid to tackle the hard issues like AIDS and eating disorders. Other parts of the site include an art gallery, a launchpad with links to other teen and kid friendly sites, games, a serialized novel, teen composed music and more. This site is a must-visit for teens who are ready to explore life's more serious -- and frivolous -- sides. A great place to visit. Definitely brings out the child hidden somewhere in all of us.