The web is teeming with information for kids – good and bad! We’ve put together some of our favorite kid-friendly, fun, educational and just because websites for toddlers to tweens for you and your kids to enjoy this summer!
Network Websites - PBSKids, Nick Jr., Sesame Street and Universal Kids are just a few! All the networks your kids love have great websites with videos and games featuring their favorite characters.
Starfall.com - This free, learn-to-read site is arranged in four different main sections to play, based on where your child is on the journey from reading readiness to independent reader. Fun animations, interactive stories, and catchy tunes.
Smithsonian Education Students - Smithsonian Education Students is a treasure trove of resources for kids and a place for them to explore and learn about many topics such as art, history, science, and cultures.
Brain Pop Jr. – Brain Pop Jr. (and Brain Pop for older kids) creates animated, educational movies and curricular content that engages students, supports educators, and bolsters achievement.
Switch Zoo - Switch Zoo started as a fun little game where you can make crazy animals by combining different body parts. Now, the website features additional animal games, music created from animal voices, a reference section about all the animals in Switch Zoo, lesson plans, and poetry, stories and artwork created by students and other visitors.
Fisher Price - Online learning activities and games, coloring pages, crafts, and more for your infant, toddler, or preschooler.
Pixie Hollow - Fairy-loving kids will find virtual-community features, two chat options, and a magical fairyland of games, videos, and activities.
The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That - An award-winning website designed to spark a love of learning and an interest in science and math in preschoolers
Sports Illustrated Kids - SIKIDS.COM is the online counterpart to Sports Illustrated For Kids magazine. The site changes from day to day, and even from minute to minute, where they provide a fun, safe environment for kids, filled with some of the best news, games, and interactive features on the internet.
LEGO Duplo - Safe, full-screen games where your preschooler can play and learn with virtual LEGOs.
FunBrain – Edcuational games, online books, and comics, for ages preschool to 8 years old.
KidRex.org – A safe, kid-friendly search engine that emphasizes kid-related webpages from across the entire web and are powered by Google Custom Search™ and use Google SafeSearch™ technology.
National Geographic Kids - National Geographic Kids inspires young adventurers to explore the world! The website features different people, animals, and places with facts, games, activities, and related links.
KoookaBoooka – KoookaBoooka is a blog-style website of funny stories, funny pictures, and humor for kids to enjoy.
Kids are bored and doing nothing? Have these toys and activities on hand to perk things up!Washable Sidewalk Chalk - Sometimes getting kids outside is simple. Crayola's Washable Sidewalk Chalk will inspire hours of driveway doodling. Each stick is squared off so that it will not roll away into the street when placed down. Should you prefer not to wait for the rain to clear your children's chalk masterpiece, this chalk will wash away easily with the spray of a hose.
Tuptoel Electronic Target Shooting Game – A hit with parents and children alike, this toy gun set comes with two quality toy guns, electronic shooting targets, and digital screen scoring.
Dress-Up Costumes – Boys and girls of every age love to dress up and pretend they are a princess, superhero or police officer. Have a drawer stuffed old jewelry, hats, etc. or purchase they ready-made sets for easy access!
Sand and Water Table – This is a great idea for helping pass the time on a hot summer day! Choose from sand, water or both for all-around imaginative play. Combine the water tower and mountain cover to create a waterfall.
Jumbo Cardboard Blocks – Kids will spend hours building, destroying and building with these large, cardboard blocks. Make mazes for your pet hamster, race tracks for your cars or houses for Barbie – the ideas are endless!
Finger Paints – Stop by the craft store and load up on finger paints, finger paint paper, textured rollers and sponge stamps and then open the door and let the kids create in the yard!
Play Doh – Play Doh comes in every color and texture imaginable these days and there’s no end to what kids can make! Spice it up a bit and get them an ice cream or tool workshop and watch them go!
Kinetic Sand – Kinetic Sand, sometimes referred to by the trademark Moon Sand™, is a revolutionary material that feels just like sand and molds to any shape you can imagine. Squish it! Shape it! Mold it! Kinetic sand never dries out and can be used again and again.
Jump Rope – There are tons of things to do when you have a jump rope on hand if you’re going solo or with a group. Grab an 8-foot jump rope, a couple of friends and the “Anna Banana Jump Rope Rhymes” book and have a ball!
Folks, it's true! A day home doing something with your child that she enjoys can be just as memorable and special to them as a day out spending tons of money. Kitchen projects are our favorites, and my daughter always talks about the time spent cooking, even after the meal is long gone.
Keep reading for some super simple activity ideas your little one might enjoy doing at home with you today:
Are you shopping for a teenager for Christmas this year? Groan. I know the feeling. Most teenagers are difficult to shop for. I mean, how are you supposed to know what they want when most times THEY don't even know? Unless they have some specific interests, choosing gifts are sometimes a shot in the dark. But... it really is possible to find gifts they will love. Here are some really great options that most older kiddos - and even some adults - will enjoy: [We may get commission for purchases made through links below.]
