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On The Screen: Resources for Wired Families
Real Families, Real FUN: On The Screen
On The Screen: Resources for Wired Families
By Sean Carton for REAL FAMILIES, REAL FUN
With all the running around, parental creativity, and trial and error involved with keeping your kids entertained, it’s a great relief to be able to rely on some prepackaged entertainment every now and then. Whether you’re popping in a video, turning on the TV, or booting up the computer, there’s a world of fun — and even learning — to be had at the push of a button.
But how do you weed out the good stuff from the bad? With thousands of movies titles, hundreds of television offerings, and a seemingly endless parade of Web sites out there, it can be tough to choose. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
Take the Would Wide Web by the horn, and use it to help you research, select, and even buy quality family entertainment for your family. Here are some of the best sites to surf to find the TV, movie, and online offerings right for you:
TV
Yeah, yeah, yeah…it may rot your brain and all that, but it’ll also save your sanity on rainy days. Where do you go if you want the best in TV for your family? Read on…
- TV Guide Family (http://tvguide.com/family/)
This site’s extensive coverage goes beyond mere TV listings to news and gossip, and an "ask the experts" section where you can seek answers to any television-related question.
- Cartoon Network Department of Cartoons (http://cartoonnetwork.com/doc/index.html)
This site will not only allow you to seek information on cartoons, but will even allow you to request a cartoon that will be shown on the air. Kids can also write e-mails to the Cartoon Network mascot Johnny Bravo, play featured cartoon video games, and enter plenty of promotional contests with lots of exciting prizes.
Movies & Video
Kids and video go together like…heck, they go together better than most anything! And if you’re looking for good vids to show the kids, you’ve come to the right place. Check out our picks for some of the best video resources online.
- FamilyStyle Movie Guide (http://www.familystyle.com)
Before you take your kids to the movies, you may want to take a look at this site. It provides movie reviews and can help you decide which flicks should be reserved for the more mature moviegoer. It also provides reviews for movies that are available on home video, and has listings of the top 100 and top 50 movies of all time.
- VCR Repair Instructions (http://www.fixer.com)
A wonderful self-help Web site... well, maybe not self-help, but certainly VCR-help. This site will guide you through fixing a plethora of your average VCR problems that don’t require taking a trip down to the VCR repairman. It’ll save you time, aggravation, and most importantly money.
- Moviefone.com PQA (http://www.handango.com/palm-software-product.shtml? sectionId=441&productId=4288&catalog=1)
"Hello and welcome to Moviefone…" Well, if your Palm Pilot could talk, that’s what it would say after downloading this free program. After entering your zip code on your little Palm Pilot, you can get movie info, theater listings, and even buy tickets.
Software
If you’ve got a budding Bill Gates on your hands (or you’re just looking for some good educational games) we’ve got some nifty suggestions for the wares you need to keep your family computing along.
Educational Web Sites
Sure you want ‘em to learn stuff…even over the summer. But even you remember your reaction to "educational" materials foisted on you during your vacation. Yuck! Check out these sites for some cool educational foolery.
- Reeko’s Mad Scientist Laboratory (http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/)
The home page of this site recommends protective goggles, which is understandable given its content. It's filled with info on free science experiments for parents, teachers, and kids.
- EcoKids Online (http://ecokids.earthday.ca/pub/splash.cfm)
It's never too early to teach your kids about the environment. This site uses games, friendly graphics, quizzes, and clubs, all in a treehouse format. A definite success in its effort to make learning fun, it's computer time you can feel good about.
Kids’ Sites
There’s lots to do online…the challenge if finding the good stuff. This collection of nifty kids sites will point your little ones towards the best stuff on the Web.
- Bonus.com (http://www.bonus.com)
A "SuperSite" for kids, Bonus is a great resource for online gaming. With links to dozens of different games (some of them multi-player), there are sections that challenge kids' minds on more cerebral matters, including news and careers.
- FreeZone.com (http://freezone.com)
A full-fledged kids' community, this site offers polls, Q&As, chat, contests, and sports content. While kid-friendly and entertainment-heavy, it also makes room for learning, with a "Brainstorm" section that, among other offerings, teaches kids how to build a Web page.
- Seussville Games (http://www.randomhouse.com/seussville/games/): Shockwave games, printable games, and online no-plugin-needed games can be found here. And both you and your kids will appreciate the familiarity and family-friendliness of the featured Dr. Seuss characters.
- Yucky.com (http://www.yucky.com/)
The self-proclaimed "yuckiest site on the Internet" has an obvious appeal to mischievous kids. But even the "Extra Slimy" Flash version offers well-presented, entertainingly designed information about scientific topics -- albeit gross ones like roaches and human bodily functions.
Parents’ Guides
There are plenty of parenting resources on the Net…and most of them seem to have one goal in mind:
to part you with your money as quickly as possible! But if you’re looking for practical advice to help you and your family have better lives together, these sites are worth a peek:
- Epinions.com — Kids & Family Section (http://www.epinions.com/kifm)
From advice on relationships to reviews of nursery furniture, this site combines the opinions of its community members as well as professionals.
- SafetyAlerts.com (http://www.safetyalerts.com/)
This site keeps you informed about the latest product alerts and recalls, including food, cars, and products.
- FamilyFun.com (http://www.familyfun.com/)
The Web site of the popular magazine, Family Fun provides links to articles about travel, crafts, activities, food, and learning.
Whew! It’s amazing how much stuff’s out there, huh? Now there’s no excuse to be bored–get out there and have some family fun!
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