The number of children who are getting regular access to the Internet has been rapidly and steadily rising. Through the years, parents and teachers have been teaching kids to get online and make use of the wide and helpful Web sites. Many children are also able to access and use the online media on their own now. How much Internet is helpful for children? The actual figure is not quantifiable, but in terms of quality, of course, the Internet is apparently an effective learning tool.

Most parents and teachers believe that the Internet is indeed, an effective and potent developmental and educational tool. That is why exposing children to the online media would truly be helpful. There are many Web sites that have been designed, developed and rolled out specifically for kids’ learning. Web sites like the National Geographic (Kids), FunBrain, MathGuru and many more are highly recommended for kids’ learning.
The Internet is a wide selection of useful and kid-friendly Web sites itself. There are numerous Web pages and specially designed sites that are primarily intended for kids. These sites have been developed in aim to enhancing and complementing children’s learning. These sites are colorful, interactive, fun, exciting and very informative that kids would surely find them lively and would see them as a fun way of learning. Parents and teachers are also advised to regularly log in to these Web sites because the content and materials embedded would surely help them understand kids more and be updated to the latest in kid education.

Kid’s Web sites

There are too many Internet sites that are designed to cater to the learning needs of kids. However, the real challenge would be how to direct these Web sites to children. Because the Internet is a powerful and broad hub of information, there are also Web sites that inevitably would be accessed by kids even by accident. One bad thing about the online media is that adult stuff and not-so-kid-friendly content can also be accessed by kids. Thus, it is important that whenever kids log online, there should be parents or guardians who should be beside them to regulate and guide the Internet usage to make sure kids don’t get to see online smut.

Aside from National Geographic (Kids) and Indian developed MathGuru.com, there are also other popular kid Web sites that would surely facilitate better and more fun kid learning experiences. Yahooligans is Yahoo’s special and specific search engine service tool especially designed and run for kid learning. As a guardian, you should encourage your kids to use this search engine instead of the more popular ones. Doing so would help ensure that your kids would always be guarded online against Web sites and online content that they should not get access to. Kids Click is a special site designed and developed by a group of practicing US librarians. How Stuff Works contains recommended activities for kids and simple know-hows so children would learn how to accomplish simple tasks and activities using fun and exciting ways.

The Internet Protection Act for Children

There is no doubt that there are too many Internet sites that are specifically designed and intended for children. However, there are also so many sites that should not, ever, be accessed by children. But because the Internet is an information hub that caters to almost anyone with an Internet connection, the US Congress in 2000 enacted a federal legislation that provides protection from access to adult materials within Internet in school and in public and private libraries.

Children’s Internet Protection Act makes sure kids would be safeguarded against inappropriate Internet content especially when they are accessing online media through school and libraries. Parents now are feeling safe and secured.

How much Internet is helpful to children? The answer: adequate enough to help make learning fun, interactive and exciting. The challenge however is how to make sure kids would not encounter adult content and smut so that their young and innocent minds would never be polluted.