Our son will be 5 in a week (YIKES!) and doesn't have much experience on a computer. I want him to start learning his way around and am looking for good websites to play around on. Educational, but fun.
Thanks!
I should clarify that my intentions are simply for him to learn to use a computer...100% supervised and interactive with me. He will NOT be perusing around on the internet on his own...good grief! I am looking for the popular sites because I don't know them, we are NOT on the computer, we are not a technology family, we don't have cable, tablets, or smartphones (except hubby). But, I do realize that technology is making its way in our world and it is something I would like him to go into kindergarten knowing how to use. SO take the question for what it says...just websites for a 5 year old...don't assume I am going to set my child in front of a computer for hours on end to explore whatever he comes across.
I wouldn't let a 5 year old anywhere near a website. I would download games maybe that help teach skills, from keyboarding to matching games and so on (a little young for a lot of math and reading games). But no way would I permit a child of this age (or 7 or 9 or 11) to be on active websites.
pbskids.org
They have lots of learning games and it's perfect for that age.
My kids liked pbskids.org at that age.
Starfall.com
And www.gooutsideand play!.com (😜)
I agree, starfall is the site our schools use for kindergarten and 1st grade. If it's good enough for the schools it's good enough for me.
Starfall is a great one. It was recommended to me by a friend who is a kindergarten teacher. It has games focused on early reading skills.
For math oriented games, my kids like Sumdog, which my son's K teacher recommended to all the parents.
PBS Kids, NickJR, Disney JR. My son plays on them but he really seems to like PBS kids the best. And the games span age groups. Many of the games are educational as well.
Starfall.com
Abcya.com
Learning about using a computer and learning about navigating the internet are two separate things.
There's plenty a child can learn without going to sites.
There are games that you can download and install and they can play them and learn without an internet connection - which is perfect for elementary kids.
Facebook has an age limit of 13 - and as far as I'm concerned that's too young - but there are plenty of people who are older chronologically that use it but will never be mature no matter how old they get.
Kids can learn about using a mouse and keyboarding, how to use Word and Excel, and Paint (our son LOVED Paint and made quite a few pictures just messing around with it).
There are kids sites (PBS Kids for one) with some nice games - make sure you limit the sites they can get to and you pay attention to what they are doing when they are online.
I second pbskids.org. Fun and educational.
pbskids.org
and abcmouse.com
are the two favorites that our kids used at that age.
When my older kids were little, we had Read Rabbit cds that were great. They learned how to navigate the mouse and keyboard by sorting htings. They earned playtime. They also went on PBSKids as well as Nickelodeon. There is nothing wrong with a 5 yr old being on the computer and on sites as long as you have it setup so that he can only get into certain sites. You can setup an ID for him with approved websites under parental control.
I recently created an ID for my 7 yr old. She has access at school so letting her gon on during the summer will help reinforce the math and reading that she learned and help her improve.
I totally disagree with the comment that this age is too young for math and reading. I was really surprised by how much it was pushed when my daughter was in kindergarten and what they were expected to know. The books my daughter will read in 2nd grade were prevuiously considered 3rd and 4th grade level. They will be learning how to get area and mass etc.
He is too young to be navigating the internet.
There is nothing wrong with educational games he can play. When my daughter was little she used the Jumpstart series of games for toddler, preschool and up to 4th grade including Spanish. I loved that series and she loved them as well.
She started playing them around 3. They were educational, they included reading, math, interactive play, etc. There are lots of games on the market that would be suitable for him to play.
In K, the students read the story of the week online and have online activities pertaining to the story. They also start Paws in Typing Town which teaches them keyboarding. By 2nd grade they learn how to do research on the school computers which are protected from some unknown site popping up.
The main thing is to let him play and explore and not be surfing the web. Also don't push him to do something, let him figure out what he likes.
Best wishes.
My kids loved the Disney sites at that age, also Starfall.com.
Definitely beneficial to get him used to technology because he will need it when he goes to Kindergarten.
