Carroll County Times Articles
Fun and Safe Web Surfing For Kids
by Catherine McDonald – May 6, 2007
We've all heard about the possible dangers to children on the Internet, but have you heard about some of the great sites for kids of all ages? I recently searched for some interesting sites that would appeal to kids and would also receive the parent "stamp of approval". So rather than just telling your children to steer clear of the Internet, give them some great sites to explore where they can learn and also have fun.
Here are a few steps to get you started:
- Educate yourself.
A great site for everyone to learn about safety and the Internet is www.staysafe.org/parents/. This site teaches about Internet dangers, scams and predators. The site is geared towards parents but it provides valuable information for all adults who want to learn about safe Internet surfing. - Educate your family.
Now that you understand more about Internet safety, make sure that your family understands also. Often kids know the best chat rooms, the best game channels, but they don't spend a lot of time learning the basics of safety. Think of this as teaching a child to cross the street. You wouldn't just let a child walk out into the street and hope they stay safe, so ensure they understand the dangers. A great site geared towards teen safety is www.staysafe.org/teens/ - Have Fun!
Here's a list of some web sites that are fun, educational, and safe.- eTeens: www.weberpl.lib.ut.us/eTeens
This site is a portal for a variety of teen topics and has many links to fun, helpful, educational, and instructional web pages. Just a few of these options are: FBI Youth page (for Grades 6th to 12) with adventure and challenge games, Feudal Life, Shipwreck Central, BBC Online, and Homework Help for students.
- Maryland Family Health Administration: www.fha.state.md.us
This site has activities and information on many health subjects including nutrition, preventative health, physical fitness, quitting smoking, and more.
- Maryland State Department of Education's "Take 15 for the Family": www.msde.state.md.us/family_literacy/pdf/15min.pdf
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.state.md.us/
Want to know where to go in Maryland for fun and learning? Get information about state parks, fishing, boating, events, outdoor discovery camps, sea information, and more.
- The Tiger Woods Foundation 'Start Something' Program: http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp?title=startsomething
This program is designed to encourage and empower kids from eight to seventeen to pursue their dreams. The site helps children answer questions such as what are my career choices, what are my dreams?
- MD Public Information Network's 'Sailor Kids': www.sailor.lib.md.us/MD_topics/kid/
This site has links for homework help, fun activities, online games, NASA games, places to go in Maryland and much more.
- Carroll County Public Library 'Kid's Corner': http://kids.carr.org/
This CCPL site is chock full of fun and games, reading resources, homework help, stories and activities for kids of all ages. The site also lists upcoming library events at each of the library branches.
- Teens Connect: http://teens.carr.org/
This new statewide program designed to encourage Maryland families to dedicate at least fifteen minutes each day spent on everyday activities, like eating together or going to the library, and turning those moments into learning opportunities.
Also a CCPL site, this one is designed for teens and is loaded with cool stuff, volunteer opportunities, college information, homework help and other programs of interest to teens.
- eTeens: www.weberpl.lib.ut.us/eTeens
- Start Surfing!
About the Author
Catherine McDonald is President of A & O Consultants, LLC which specializes in Emergency Planning and Research. She volunteers in Carroll County and is a volunteer speaker for community groups. Catherine McDonald is proud to be a member of the Carroll Technology Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating businesses, government and residents about technology issues.
Questions are welcome and may be addressed in future articles. Email mail@carrolltechcouncil.org or go to www.carrolltechcouncil.org to learn more.
The viewpoints expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Carroll Technology Council.
