Computers have become an integral part of daily life from work, school, and informal communication to news and entertainment.
Although most children would benefit more from playing with others, they should not be denied the opportunity to use the web for games, especially since games are a proven medium to encourage learning. Three great sites for children to spend some time on are NickJr.com, Disney.com, and Barbie.com.
Before simply loading the web page and letting a child explore, it should be noted that the first time visiting any of these sites should be done so with assistance and supervision. Without help, a child is not very likely to find his or her favorite game, and could get lost in cyberspace after clicking a banner ad.
Children with more web savvy may get frustrated easily over the pages loading. With a parent there, the child will not feel helpless. And when the game starts, he will have a better understanding of how each game works, and how to play it.
NickJr.com Has Art, Games, and More
Nick Jr. has many favorites for children. Online, kids can exercise their creative muscles with computer art, painting such things as dolphins and then printing them out as gifts for friends and family, or to be posted as the latest refrigerator masterpiece. Be wary of too much printing, though, as just a few sheets of so much colored ink can bleed a printer cartridge dry.
Along with the art, kids can play games with character favorites such as SpongeBob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, The Backyardigans, and more.
For families without the Nick channel, videos of favorite shows like The Wonder Pets and Little Bill, as well as those mentioned above, can be seen on the site at no extra cost.
Disney Games and Shows Offer Fun to Younger and Older Children
Games on Disney.com vary from those as easy to play, as on Nick Jr., to some that are more difficult.
Just as the shows on Disney, some would be of no interest to toddlers due to more complicated story lines of kids getting into real-life shenanigans like Zack and Cody, The Wizards of Waverly Place, or Hannah Montana. However, games like Shark Tank, with the lovable character Stitch from the show Lilo and Stitch, is suitable for children of all ages.
Disney.com is a bit more sophisticated in that it will appear to have random ads, interviews, and music videos come up while a game is being played. If a younger child is playing on the Disney site, be sure to mute the tiny TV screen on the "games" page, or children can become overwhelmed with sudden interviews of Selena Gomez, commercials for Disney products, and more crowding their cyberspace.
Barbie Has Everything for the Girly-Girl
For girls who like to play dress-up and make believe, there is Barbie.com where kids can crimp, curl, color, and cut Barbie's hair, even trying to match it to a style randomly chosen by the computer.
When beauty parlor loses its luster, dream homes can be designed and a garden can be grown. After that (as if it wasn't enough) kids can go into a "fun & games" section for more.
Just like the others, this free entertainment is meant to sell things to your child. With Barbie.com, there is a section solely for shopping, where parents can buy toys, accessories, and electronics which could make birthday and holiday shopping easier.
All in all, these sites are great for the occupation of 30 to 60 minutes of a child's time. Games are a proven method to help children learn, and with these games, kids will be eager to learn how to navigate the mouse and keyboard so that they can play games with their favorite character, make cool art, and watch their favorite shows.
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