Online Games for Children

Online games for children can be fun and even educational. Read on for some sites offering kids Internet games, as well as a few things for parents to consider before letting the kids take control of the mouse and keyboard.

If you'd like to share your thoughts, ideas, or suggestions about kids games online, feel free to post them in the comments section located below this article.

There are plenty of things on the Internet today that kids should never see. Online games for children can be a great learning and activity resource, but protecting your children from inappropriate content is a big concern.

Parental controls and filters can be purchased and downloaded from many sites for Internet [Child Safety| safety]]. You can also purchase software that provides many control and filtering options. Some internet service providers, like My Fish Online offer great filters along with your dial-up, DSL, or broadband service for a minimal yearly fee.

A good free parental control filter is available from Blue Coat, a California based technology Company. Their K-9 Web protection blocks inappropriate content.

There are many games online for preschoolers that can help them with letter and number recognition, early phonics skills, preliminary math skills, science and nutrition, and much more.

• Fisher Price Online Games: The Fisher Price online game site has sections for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Puzzles, dot-to-dot games, driving games, coloring pages, and memory matches are among the online activities this site offers.
• PBS Kids Games: The games at the PBS Kids' Site are colorful and fun. Preschool favorites like Sesame Street, Clifford, Barney, Jay-Jay the Jet Plane, and more come to life for kids in these online games. Kids can learn letter recognition, early phonics skills, animals, manners and working with others, pattern recognition, and early math skills from many of these games.
• Lego Online Games: Lego.com offers mazes, coloring pages, racing games, puzzles, bingo, matching, and a variety of Lego village games such as Legoville Family Helper, Weather Chart, and Fire Station.
• Nick Jr.: Nick Jr. Playtime has games from their hit preschool shows like Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer, and Little Bill. Stories and videos are also offered on the site.
• Disney Games: Playhouse Disney's online games for children will get your little one giggling and thinking. The games get goofy with Jo Jo's circus, smart with Little Einsteins', and big and brave with Higgly Town Heroes and Bear in the Big Blue House.

• Funbrain: The Funbrain games site from Pearson Education Inc. has a variety of math, reading, and arcade games to choose from. There is a variety of skill levels and directions are clearly displayed for the games.
• Learning Planet Interactive Games: Learning Planet games range from preschool to sixth grade games. Counting games, word searches, strategy games, and more are available. You can search by grade level, subject, or category.
• Nutrition Games: For some wholesome healthy fun that teaches kids about the power of eating right and being fit, check out Nutrition Explorations, Kids Health.org, or Kids Nutrition.
• Science Games: For some good science games and activities, browse the NASA Kids Page, the Energy Information Administration Kids' Page, or National Geographic Kids.
• Family Fun: Family Fun has strategy, adventure, arcade, and puzzler online games for children.

• Monitor the amount of time your child spends on games to avoid having him spend too much time in front of the computer.
• Play games with your child first to see if it is appropriate and help him with any directions he doesn't understand.
• Set Internet gaming rules, such as allowing playing only after homework is completed.
• Check sites for pop-up ads and possible spyware before allowing your child to play.

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