Websites for Kids

The following is a guide on how to pick websites which are safe, and responsibly run, as well as information on how to respectfully utilize such sites. Take into consideration the following information to ensure that your students have the best possible digital experience. These websites can be used to help students who struggle with writing to gather topics for their letters. 

Is the website safe?

To ensure that a website is safe from scams, then follow this criteria. If there is an https at the beginning of the URL then that can indicate that it is safe. If there is a lock symbol then it will also indicate that it is safe. (DoIT News 2022) An s after http is an indicator of safety. If the URL has any misspellings or typos, then this has a high chance of being unsafe. Typos within the content, immediately biased content, or a lack of information on the author, date published, and sources can lead to irresponsibility. If there are many pop ups, then this is also an indicator of unsafety. (MIT FCU) Reputation can also lead to safety, as being affiliated with a known site such as National Geographic or NASA proves credibility. 

To know that a website is safe for kids, follow the same guidelines above, but also take into consideration the following. Red flags can be if there is any content which could be harmful, if the site asks for specific personal information, or if there is content or games which are pointless and not educational. Green flags could be if there is a site separate from the main one just for kids such as national geographic kids, if there are colors, if it is educational, and if it has clear and concise content. Ensure that there is no way to contact people through the website. 

Is the website responsibly run? 

Having trigger warnings on sites is exceptionally important, particularly for news sites. For websites that kids navigate, there should be no information which could cause harm. The website(s) should also have a contact us page. As a responsible adult, make sure that the students are not contacting the websites. If they need information, it is your responsibility to reach out on their behalf. Children should not be in direct contact with anyone online. 

How can I respectfully use a website?

If you are sharing a link with the whole school, do not do it all at once. Give it to smaller groups at a time. Otherwise you risk giving the website the “hug of death,” where a website crashes due to too many users. Additionally, do not interfere with the coding necessary for the website to function. 

Below are some examples of safe and responsibly run websites:

Example 1: Ducksters is an example of a kids website which is harmless. They are only speaking on topics involving education, which is very responsible as it leads to a net benefit for the world at a later date. 

Example 2: National Geographic kids is another great example of a safe and responsible website. They have s after http, they have transparent information about who their sources are, and their information is totally educational, which is a responsible thing to do, as you are furthering humanity. 

Example 3: Nasa Kids Club is another educational website which is made for kids to better understand STEM topics. It prevents interaction with other people, and does not include anything that could be harmful.