5 Web Browsers
for kids
It's always amazing how quickly kids pick up on technology
and integrate it into their lives. Today's children are likely to know how to
operate Smartphone apps and computer games before they can count to twenty!
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, about 93%
of kids ages twelve to seventeen use the internet today, and 80% of children
under age five who use the internet do so at least once a week.
Image by PictureYouth
Of course, the web has a lot to offer today's youngsters,
who have access to a whole host of educational games, online television shows
and educational resources that weren't available even five or ten years ago.
The problem is that the web also opens kids up to many potential
problems, including cyber bullying, identity theft, online predators, and
even online gaming addiction. One way for parents to help kids avoid problems
like these is to check out web browsers that are actually made for kids!
Web browsers for kids have a host of different
functionalities that can help protect kids from information they don't need to
see, online predators, and other web based problems. Wondering which browsers
are best? Here are the top five options on today's market:
Kidzui
This is one kid and parent approved browser that lets kids
feel like they have access to the entire world of the internet while screening
them from problematic websites, chat rooms, popups, and viruses. Kidzui
basically offers a curated list of browsing options for kids, including YouTube
videos and educational resources chosen by a team of educators who work with
the creators of Kidzui! The browser also offers access to certain websites that
are kid-friendly, like the Disney Channel site and PBSKids.
The basic version of Kidzui is free, but you can pay an
annual fee for an upgraded version that gives you access to Homework Helper and
that also allows you to monitor communication with friends through the browser.
The Kidzui browser can even email you a weekly report of what your child did
online, so you can keep track of their interests!
Glubble
This is a Firefox plugin that makes your regular Firefox
browser safe and friendly for the entire family. Glubble starts out with a list
of about 350 different domains that kids can visit – all kid friendly sites, of
course. Parents can add new options for kids to browse, too. As a parent, you
can actually add an entire domain or a specific page link. Glubble is also
social in many aspects, in that it allows children to communicate with approved
people online and even lets parents merge lists of approved sites with other
parents.
One of the cool things with Glubble is the way the white
list of pages works. If a child tries to access a page that isn't allowed, they
can click an option to ask for their parents' permission to visit the list.
That link will then be sent to the parent, who can add the single link or the
entire domain to the white list. Children can chat through the basic instant message
system in Glubble, too, so if they know another child's screen name and if the
parents approve the IM connection, they can chat safely with people they know.
Buddy Browser
This is a similar concept to Glubble in that parents can
control the list of white listed pages. With this browser, parents can also put
usage time limits on the internet for their kids, and it also offers parental
usage tracking so that parents can get alerts about the websites kids are
visiting, instant messaging conversations, and internet programs used. If your
kids attempt to access an inappropriate website, you can be notified by email
instantly.
Buddy Browser comes with its own social network for kids,
and it features educational quizzes and other features that change on a daily
basis to get kids excited about the internet. Kids can play games and watch
videos through the browser, as well. Parents can find the latest information
and activities for kids, too, through the list of learning channels, which are
sorted by category and age.
Zac Browser
The Zone for Autistic Children browser is great if you're
dealing with a child on the spectrum. If you have an older child who is on the
spectrum and younger children who simply need some guidance with the internet,
this can be a fantastic option because it will work flexibly for both. Zac
Browser features a full-screen mode, an interactive background, and icons that
give access to music, stories, games, television, and a drawing program.
Zac Browser is a little more limited than other web browsers
for kids, but it can be a great option for very young children or those who
need a toned-down version of the internet because of their autism.
KidRocket
This is another good flexible browser that's helpful for
introducing kids to the internet. One of the best features is that it has a kid
email program, so your kids can email their grandparents across the country or
their friends across the street, while you get to monitor their email. Like
other browsers, it comes with a customizable preset list of white listed pages,
including Barbie and PBS Kids. You can manually set a time limit for browser
use through the Admin tools on the home page, so you can easily change internet
time limits each session.
KidRocket features a full screen lockdown mode that is
password protected, so once you get the browser turned on, kids can't get out
of it until you say so.
