By Karin Conrad
Between picking up stray Cheerios, wiping runny noses, reading one more story and taking time to breathe, what busy parent has time to surf the internet tracking down cool websites? That’s why Parents and Kids has done the work for you. Here’s a list of some cool websites for parents and kids we’ve managed to find. Note that, to make the list, a site for kids also needed to have educational value, privacy protection, and minimal or no commercialism. Surf, click and enjoy!
 

 

Cool Web Sites for Kids  
By Karin Conrad
Between picking up stray Cheerios, wiping runny noses, reading one more story and taking time to breathe, what busy parent has time to surf the internet tracking down cool websites? That’s why Parents and Kids has done the work for you. Here’s a list of some cool websites for parents and kids we’ve managed to find. Note that, to make the list, a site for kids also needed to have educational value, privacy protection, and minimal or no commercialism. Surf, click and enjoy!  


Cool Sites for Kids   PBS Kids pbskids.org Age: 3-6

What we like: This public TV sponsored site is a classic favorite of the younger set.   The site is well-designed, easy to navigate, ad free and chock full of online games, printouts and music related to 32 PBS shows from bouncing, baby-friendly Boobahs to the book-loving lions of Between the Lions. Older grade schoolers can follow the link to PBSkids Go!

What’s super cool: Kids can play dragon games at Dragontale’s school in the sky, take snapshots of Curious George in action. watch Buster’s travel videos, and create cool inventions with the Cyberchase kids. The site is regularly updated and the possibilities are (nearly) endless.

  Kids’ CBC www.cbc.ca/kidscbc Age: 3-5

What we like: This site sponsored by CBC is similar to PBS Kids in its emphasis on fun, educational games for pre-readers. Many of the shows featured on the site are CBC productions and new to kids this side of the border. The site includes games, videos, and customized birthday greetings. (If you like this site, you can also check out the BBC kids’ site at www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/menu.shtml).

What’s super cool: Kids are guided by cool sound effects and voices as they explore the site. There’s even a talking French salmon to add some international flair. One kid reviewer raved, “lots and lots of good games!”

  Starfall  www.starfall.com Age: 4-6

What we like: Kids play their way to literacy on this site full of fun, research-based activities. They can progress through four levels from learning ABCs to reading stories. There are also short, entertaining movies on specific reading skills along with holiday related activities including a four-leaf clover search and calendar making.

What’s super cool: Kids can teach themselves to read while having a ton of fun.

  Panwapa www.panwapa.com Age: 4-8

What we like: You’re never too young for global awareness, and, on this graphically sophisticated site, kids can virtually trek from Boston to Togo or Taiwan and find common interests with kids around the world. They first create a Panwapa character and choose flags representing interests such as eating popcorn or making origami. The site then shows kids with similar interests around the world and allows users to safely leave generic messages. There are also great videos featuring kids talking about life in their home country.

What’s super cool: One young reviewer learned to count to ten in Arabic, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish while playing hide and seek with a penguin!

  Tryscience.org www.tryscience.org Age: 8-14

What we like: The brainchild of IBM scientists, the New York Hall of Science and the U.S. Association of Science Technology Centers, this site is described as a virtual science museum with contributions from more than 600 museums. Visitors can try dozens of offline experiments including a DNA mystery, mummy magic, and pepper scatter. There are also virtual field trips to science centers around the world and quizzes about hot topics such as tsunamis and black holes.

What’s super cool: Ultracool Matt Damon narrates a plug for the non-profit environmental group Citizens for Planet Earth. 

  Enlighten Me/Superthinkers www.superpages.com/enlightenme Age: 10-13

What we like: If you have a budding Sherlock Holmes or two in the family, this site will definitely pique their interest. Visitors can try their hand at solving the Peetnik mysteries using a map, phone book, phone and who’s who. Intended to promote creative problem solving using inferences, analysis and logic, this Verizon sponsored site is designed by a team of education experts. The site also includes a guide to local libraries and attractions and a sports themed puzzle game.

What’s super cool: While sleuthing around Clutterbuck Valley, visitors can dial up a phone book full of intriguing characters, each offering a clue to help solve the mystery.

    My Pop Studio www.mypopstudio.com Age: 11-16

What we like: On this innovative site, girls immersed in the world of teen idols and fashion magazines, can turn the tables and become the producers of popular culture rather than just consumers. They can create their own TV show complete with soundtrack, design their own teen magazine, produce a popstar and take revealing quizzes about their digital life. There are even suggestions for getting “out of the box” and identifying interests and activities away from the screen. Site designers hope that activities such as Photo Fakery and Selling with a Song will get girls to think more critically about the media.

What’s super cool: In Truth or Rumor, girls can get the real scoop on celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and learn to separate the gossip from the facts.

 

National Gallery of Art Kid Zone
nga.gov/kids
Age: 5 to adult

What we like: Kids won’t be the only ones addicted to this visually stunning site featuring interactive art. Even adults will get hooked on playing with Art Zone’s 3D twister, collage machine, mobile, paintbox and Pixelface. Users can explore their inner artist while creating very cool graphics such as a tropical jungle inspired by Henri Rousseau, a still life that moves, and a pixelated George Washington.

What’s super cool: In the dollhouse inspired by 17th century Dutch paintings, you can make pigs squeal, pipes smoke and furniture slide across the room. Very cool.

  Puzzlemaker http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ Age: 5 to adult

What we like: Users can create their own customized puzzles including word searches, crossword puzzles, mazes, cryptograms, hidden messages and math puzzles. Once you enter your word list, the site automatically generates your unique puzzles.

What’s super cool: This site can be used to create personalized, fun puzzles for friends that make great gifts to tuck into birthday cards!

  Toymaker http://www.thetoymaker.com/ Age: 5 to adult

What we like: What’s not to like about these charming, elegantly designed toys? Visitors simply print out one of the dozens of designs on the site, assemble them with some glue and imagination, and – voila - instant fun! Kids can make a variety of handmade toys including pinwheels, treasure boxes, pop up cards, fairy furniture, dream theatres and bug boxes. 

 What’s super cool: This site actually gets kids off the computer and involved in cool, creative offline crafts. 

  WGBH Kids www.wgbh.org/kids Ages: 3 and up

What we like: Kids can find listings of local, fun family events and WGBH kids’ programming schedules. They can also check out a slideshow of drawings submitted by kids who visited WGBH studios or mailed in their artwork.

What’s supercool: The Parents’ page provides tips on behavior, development and helping kids learn to read. 

   

Cool Sites for Parents

  WickedLocalParents
www.wickedlocalparents.com

What we like: Pardon our boasting, but we happen to think the Parentsandkids site earns top billing as a cool and useful parenting resource. Where else can you find so many great articles on issues of importance to Boston area parents? And let’s not forget the witty, informative blogs of P&K Editor Heather Kempskie and contributors Gwenn O’Keeffe and Jennifer Lord.  If you want to stay on top of the latest in Boston parenting, be sure to keep this site in your list of Internet Favorites.

What’s super cool: Even after your latest issue of P&K has been carted off to recycling, you can still find many of your favorite articles archived online. Also, be sure to check out videos of P&K contributors’ TV appearances!

Pediatrics Now
pediatricsnow.com

What we like: Created by local mom and pediatrician, Dr. Gwenn O'Keeffe serves as your 'easy-access' connection to health information. She blogs, she provides her expert perspective on the latest health news and advice and she's credible - she's the Editor-in-Chief for the Amercian Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communication and Media!

What's super cool: Her e-newsletter gives tips and advice on the latest bugs/viruses going around.

Boston Central – The Center for Boston Families
bostoncentral.com

What we like: If the kids are bored and the calendar is empty, or you’ve recently moved to the Boston area and need to know where to go, what to do and when to do it, this site has the answers. There are hundreds of local events listed including crafts, classes, exhibits, concerts, and playspaces along with services such as finance, shopping and educare.

What’s super cool: You can get weekly emails listing fun family activities happening in and around Boston.

  Go City Kids gocitykids.parentsconnect.com

What we like: Next time you’re planning a trip out of town, add a visit to Go City Kids to your to-do list. You can enter any major U.S. city and discover all sorts of cool local happenings that your kids will enjoy. You can narrow your search by type of day, kind of fun and your child’s age. 

What’s super cool: You can also search for fun family activities in your own Boston area neighborhood and get useful information on local afterschool activities, childcare, parent resources, restaurants, day camps and classes.

  Wondertime wondertime.go.com

What we like: Wondertime is a great resource for parents of young children (newborn to 6), providing advice on child development, creative parenting, home decorating, recipes, crafts, and games. This attractively designed site is easily navigable and recently featured articles on tackling teasing and making funky playroom murals, along with parents’ ideas for creating workable morning routines.  

What’s super cool: Wondertime TV featuring advice from experts, podcasts and the Dalai Mama blog in audio is very cool.

   iVillage Pregnancy and Parenting parenting.ivillage.com

What we like: There are plenty of cool parenting sites, but this one offers something for everyone. With hundreds of message boards covering every (okay, nearly every) conceivable parenting topic from Disney vacations to the vaccination debate to military families, parents are bound to find a group sharing their interests. The site also features discussions of hot topics, articles by experts, videos, quizzes, a photo gallery and more.

What’s super cool: Cool tools include a sleep method decoder to track and solve sleep problems, a development tracker, fetal image slide show, toy recall resources and a family time activities calendar.

  Common Sense Media commonsensemedia.org

What we like: Wondering if the latest new movie, website, or TV show is family-friendly fare? Are you concerned about the messages your kids may be getting about violence, social behavior and commercialism? This site provides reliable reviews on the latest media from a parent’s perspective. Each review includes commentary on “what parents need to know” along with opinions posted by parents and kids. 

What’s super cool: Each review has an easy-to-read chart listing features such as language and drug use with red, yellow or green lights showing just how much caution is needed.

 

Baby Plays – Toy Rental Program
babyplays.com

What we like: We all know kids’ fascination with a new toy is short lived. This site ingeniously addresses the problem of high toy turnover by creating a type of Netflix for toys. Subscribers pay a monthly fee and get rental toys delivered to them for a period of 30 days or more. Once the novelty has worn off, the toys can be returned and a new bunch delivered.

What’s super cool: This is the kind of cool idea that makes you wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

  Geni geni.com

What we like: Building your family tree has never been easier.  This relatively new site, launched in 2007, lets users enter names and profiles in a family tree which automatically expands as new members are added. Invited family members can join in the fun by adding names, photos and family news.  

What’s super cool: Relatives can easily merge their trees with yours, giving new meaning to the term ‘extended family.’ Kids will get a kick out of seeing how they are connected to their great-great-great grandparents.

  Manic Mommies manicmommies.com What we like: Manic Mommies was created by Erin Kane and Kristin Brandt, two local Boston moms, who decided they wanted to create a blog and podcast about juggling jobs and kids and attempting “not to lose our mind…or our sense of humor.” Clearly, their sense of humor is still intact and their often funny and always thought-provoking take on a variety of parenting issues is both enlightening and entertaining. 

What’s supercool: Past podcast guests have included such big names as Julia Louis Dreyfus and Elizabeth Edwards.

  MommaJam mommajam.com

What we like: This podcast by P&K contributor Sara Eberle is a “let your hair down, crank up the volume, shout out loud audio onslaught for mothers.” Moms in need of a good laugh along with good advice have been tuning in. Recent interviews included a chat with cyber security expert Marian Merritt. 

What’s super cool: Ask MommaJam features questions and answers about typical parenting problems.

Karin Conrad is a freelance writer living in Waltham. Her 5-year old daughter served as guest reviewer for this article and was thrilled to get to play on the computer.