Top 5 Free Kid's Online Game Sites

Author: Patty Getz

Looking for something free, safe, and fun for your kids to do can be challenging, especially if you are looking online. Many Game sites on the Internet are filled with harmful downloads that can damage your computer, or are geared for teens and may not be appropriate for the younger crowd. When choosing a game site for your child there are a few things you should consider.
Games should be able to be played online not downloaded. It is really not a good idea to allow your child to download large numbers of games to your computer; it will slow your computer down, and eventually bring it to a halt. If you do allow them to do downloads, be certain of the source they are downloading from and insist they stick to a preset limit.
Spend some time on the sites your child will be visiting, many of them have forums or places for children to interact which is fine, just be sure that the crowd your child will be spending time around is age appropriate and that you or another parent is available to monitor his activities.
Sites with too many pop ups or ads can cause problems if your computer is not up to it, so look for sites where ads are not intrusive. Also pay attention to the types of ads; nothing is worse than getting a mailbox full of spam because junior decided to put your email in every box that popped up.
While you're at it set some rules about what is appropriate and what is not, remind your child never to give out any personal information on the internet ever. Help them to create a special online name that they will always use for signing up at various sites.

We reviewed several sites and came up with 5 that we liked best.

Kidz Pages: On entering this site the first thing you will notice is how bright and colorful it is, you are not instantly attacked by pop-ups or flash elements and the advertising is tastefully done. Along the top you will find a menu filled with arcade games, learning games, clip art just for kids, coloring pages, puzzles, downloads and more. This site will appeal to kids thru grade six.

Nick Jr - These sites are perennial favorites for all ages, they do have downloadable games but they also have games that are onsite, be sure to set ground rules ahead of time. Nick jr has color pages, crafts and other activities as well as games and is geared to the 6 and younger crowd. Nick is aimed at the 7 and up crowd and is filled with games, Ezines, shows and more.

Yahoo Kids Yahoo- has been around a long time, and Yahoo Kids is a wonderful resource for kids and parents alike. Again the games on this site are both online and downloadable trials so be sure to look thru this site with your child before turning them loose. In addition to several genres of online games for all ages, this site also has a study zone filled with videos and links to sites around the internet offering your child help on their homework. Be sure to check out their parent section which covers the very important topic of online safety.

Fun Brain: This site aims at being educational as well as fun. They feature arcade games, both regular and those geared at improving your math skills. They also have puzzle games like Sudoku, reading such as comics and movies to watch. They cater to grades k-8 and have specific activities geared to both boys and girls. Fun Brain has found a way to bring the fun into learning.

Funschool: This site is part of the Kaboose website, and features a huge assortment of activities for your preschooler and grade school age child. The site is colorful and busy, advertising is minimal and discreet. They offer games, word puzzles, coloring, and interactive polls and home work help. Funschool also has a new and free multiplayer online game called Minyanland that teaches kids about money. There is a section for parents and teachers as well that helps you integrate their fun and learning time.
There is so much to do and see at these five sites it will keep your child occupied for hours, and the best part about it is that your child will be learning and not even realize it!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/top-5-free-kids-online-game-sites-818990.html

About the Author:

Thrifty Hearts target="_blank" provides practical solutions for Frugal Families, Patty Getz has been helping families get more for their money since 2000. For more money saving tips and advice visit our website, or stop by our Forums! target="_blank"

15 Fun and Engaging Family Activities For All Ages

Author: Britt Michaelian

Finding things to do with the entire family in tow is not always an easy feat. There are many reasons for this, one being agendas. A lot of times family outings end up with the children in tears and you wishing you were in bed, with the covers pulled up and a pillow over your head. Eventually, we develop a sort of mental block as to what is fun as a family and what can be traumatic for everyone involved.

Have no fear! The following is a list of engaging activities for you and your children to enjoy together. The list is long, so there are many options for you to try. Just remember, the goal is to enjoy yourselves (at least a little) if you want to have a successful family activity. This starts with smiling, read the studies.

F A M I L Y F U N

1. DANCE! Ever feel like going to the park with the kids and strutting your stuff on the dance floor all at the same time! Baby Loves Disco is your kind of place! With locations in dance clubs across the US, you can host a birthday party here or just go for an afternoon of dancing with the kids.

They play fun disco tunes and you can have snacks and drinks when you need to refuel. Check your local area to see if any clubs are holding Baby Loves Disco during the day. If you cannot find one, submit a location or area to the company and they will try to open one up! What a great way to spend an afternoon!

2. MUSEUMS. Local Art, Childrens or History Museums - Children like to go to museums, especially if it means having fun. Pack a picnic and plan on staying for a while. You can get a tour of the museum on headsets or just walk around together and point out what you like (or do not like) about the artwork or artifacts that you encounter.

3. ZOO. Animals are always a hit, especially with the young ones. Once there, look for petting zoos, primates and polar bears, for some reason kids go nuts over these little fellows. Also, make sure to bring snacks, water and a camera!

4. PARKS. Neighborhood Parks and Theme Parks possess great potential to entertain kids for hours. With lots of space, there is always room for releasing energy and stimulating activity. Make sure to hold on tight and stay together. Talk about what to do if someone gets lost before getting stuck in a crowd. Enjoy the outdoors!

5. FARMERS MARKET. There are wonderful opportunities to talk about health and to see new and interesting things at farmers markets. Take advantage of the platform to show kids how to find good fruits and veggies and talk to farmers about how they grow their crops. This is a great way to get kids interested in the foods that they eat and to discuss nutrition.

6. AQUARIUM. Fish are fun! They come in an abundance of beautiful colors, shapes, sizes and habitats. Lots of homes have fish as pets, but many kids have not had the opportunity to explore fish stores and aquariums. It can actually be a relaxing experience (as long as you agree beforehand that you are leaving all of the fish at the store!) The next time you are looking for a rainy day activity, put the slickers and goulashes on and go fishing at the aquarium!

7. MOVIES. If your child is over 3 years old, the movie theater can be a great treat. Pack some of your favorite healthy snacks, grab a sweater and catch a fun flick. IMAX theaters are in many cities across the US now and have great educational films for kids, not to mention the theaters are enormous and have incredible sound systems.

8. THEATER. There are many theater companies in even the smallest towns with childrens theater. Check your local playhouse to see if anything is coming up in your neighborhood. If so, buy some tickets and make a date. If not, create your own play, complete with script, costumes and makeup! Action!

9. LIBRARY. As long as your child is capable of being quiet, this should be a mandatory experience for children as someday it might be a thing of the past. Most local libraries have weekly story time, which can be a lot of fun for young kids. Many libraries even have staff lead songs and art projects. Check your local library for details.

10. CITY HALL. Do your kids know what government is? Probably not. However, City Hall can be a great place to talk to kids about the local lawmakers, while showing them the courts and politicians of the city. If your child is over 7 years old, schedule a class field trip for these future voters and politicians of America!

11. GOLF. Whether you go to a miniature golf course or a putting green, golf is a good, all around fun activity for the whole family. Plan to make a few hours of the game and enjoy it. Just make sure that all kids understand proper form and that golf clubs are held *differently* than baseball bats.

12. SKATING. Ice skating and roller skating are great activities for both boys and girls. Skating encourages motor skills and physical activity as well as family bonding as together, kids can fall down and hold each other up!

13. BOWLING. Strike-outs build self confidence and who does not love to wear those stinky shoes? Bowling is a good, old, all-American past time that all children should experience at least once! Do not forget to bring socks (unless you want to borrow socks from the alley).

14. ART. Make art! Use paper and supplies that you find around the house, yard or school. Create projects that involve nature and color. You can make self-portraits, a family painting or a family mural. Just remember that there is no wrong way to make art, except if you do not make it.

15. BASEBALL. Take them out to the ball game. Need I say more? Oh yes, bring a coat if it is cold out and be prepared to sing and eat peanuts.

So, now you have 15 activities to enjoy as a family. Each one can be done as many times as you wish, so if you try them all, you are bound to love at least a few of them! There are many fun activities that you can do with your family. Don't be afraid to get creative with your family adventures. Be prepared with food, warmth, money and your smiles and everything should be just fine.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/education-articles/15-fun-and-engaging-family-activities-for-all-ages-290800.html

About the Author:

Britt Michaelian, MA is a family safety expert and CEO of Responsible Family Company, designed to empower families with safety, health and responsible living. Sign up for the newsletter, read the blog, order the award winning Emergency DVD and a Safety Consultation at http://responsiblefamily.com

Fun and Games

FAMILY FUN NIGHT Make your family closer by setting aside time for the whole family to spend some quality time together. Here are some great ideas for a fun family night.	FAMILY ACTIVITIES Finding things to do with the entire family in tow is not always an easy feat. Here is a list of engaging activities for you and your children to enjoy together.
KIDS ONLINE GAMES Looking for something free, safe, and fun for your kids to do can be challenging, especially if you are looking online. Here are the 5 sites we like best.	CAR GAMES Anyone who has traveled with a child is familiar with the "I'm bored" statement, usually repeated numerous times by all children present. In order to eliminate this complaint try the following car games for kids.

Family Fun Night Ideas

Make your family closer by setting aside time for the whole family to spend some quality time together. Here are some great ideas for a fun family night.

1. Have a movie night and order in some pizza or chinese food
2. Look through the family photo albums
3. Build something cool like a sandbox, a fort, a dollhouse, or a swing set
4. Go camping in the backyard
5. Play board games
6. Have a family slumber party
7. Go visit the local zoo, museum, or library
8. Have a splashing fun in the pool
9. Play golf or go to a driving range
10. Have some outdoor fun (catch frisbee, play football or baseball, shoot hoops together, or fly a kite)
11. Do yard work together
12. Take a walk together
13. Ride your bikes together
14. Go bowling, ice skating, or roller blading
15. Visit local carnivals or fairs
16. Go see a concert
17. During the winter time: go skiing, snowboarding, tubing, sledding, build a snowman together, or have a snowball fight
18. Have a cookout
19. Go out to dinner or just for some ice cream
20. Star watching
21. Feed the ducks or the birds
22. Go fishing
23. Go to a pumpkin patch or fruit picking (apples, berries, grapes, etc)
24. Make homemade things for each other (handprints, frames, drawing, etc)
25. Go to a pottery place and paint each other a bowl/mug/plate
26. Play video games together

There are a lot more fun things you can do together as a family. Just remember to plan ahead, be committed (turning your cell phones silent might help!), and just enjoy it!

Car Games For Kids

Author: Sarah J Holt

Anyone who has traveled with a child is familiar with the "I'm bored" statement, usually repeated numerous times by all children present. In order to eliminate this complaint try the following car games for kids.

Bingo
Most of us have played bingo, but this game is a different version of the one most commonly played. Each child is given a bingo card with the names of fast food restaurants, gas stations, and hotels. The goal is to find a bingo by looking for the places on the card and checking them off when they have been spotted. If a child is too young to use a crayon or pen, you can check them off for them.

Camera Searches
Each kid is given a portable, or digital, camera and a list of objects. The list of objects can be anything, such as an all-white horse, a yellow house, or two birds in the same tree. Make the list at least as long as the camera allows. If using film cameras that have 24 exposures then put at least 24 things on the list.

If you have a digital camera that holds up to 100 pictures then put at least 100 items on the list. The goal is for the kids to take pictures of these items along the way, and whoever has the most pictures of items on the list at the end wins. Finding car games for kids that hold their attention can be challenging, but this one is sure to do the job.

The Car Game
Write the names of cars on index cards. Use the make and model for a more challenging game, or just the make for a simpler one. The person who sees a car that matches what is written is handed that index card. The person who ends up with the most cards wins. Another alternative is to make an index card for all 50 states and the person who spots a license plate with that state on it get the corresponding index card.

Story Telling
Tell fun stories about people and have them guess who you are talking about. You can use fictional characters, such as Cinderella or Harry Potter, or you can use people in your family. If using people in your family make sure they are fun stories that will not upset anyone. An example of a story would be saying "Out of my seven closest companions, one has allergies, or seems to because he sneezes a lot, and one is always in a bad mood." Who am I talking about? Snow White, of course.

You can also let the kids take turns telling the story and you can guess who they are referring to, since car games for kids are often more successful at holding their attention if they involve them more.

Being stuck in a car with bored and discontent kids can be avoided. Just prepare in advance to play these car games for kids and everyone will be smiling.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/car-games-for-kids-310105.html

About the Author:
Sarah Holt writes for EverythingAboutTravel.com. Get the free Travel Secrets Ebook, as well as travel stories and tips, at http://www.everythingabouttravel.com