# Recommend some kids' Web sites and freeware games **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 4, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393 "2005-05-04T16:47:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/1 "2005-05-04T16:47:44Z")
My sister finally woke up and is divorcing her jerk (YAY!). She has just moved into her new apartment, and I am setting her up with a computer, both to work from home when she can and for the kids to learn/play on. They are 3 and 5. However, I know nothing about the kids’ side of the Internet, and I’m sure my sister doesn’t either. I’d very much appreciate some recommendations from any Doper parents, teachers, etc., of kid-friendly freeware games (Windows) and Web sites that I could download/add to her browser bookmarks. Thanks much! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/2 "2005-05-04T16:49:54Z")
My husband is a chess coach, and he recommends [http://www.chesskids.com/](http://www.chesskids.com/) for kids. They have other games on the site too. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/3 "2005-05-04T17:55:57Z")
[Orisinal](http://www.orisinal.com) Very sweet and non-violent for kids. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/4 "2005-05-04T18:23:05Z")
My oldest daughter is 5 (6 at the end of the month) and my youngest daughter is 3. Same age as your neices/nephews. My kids like [Nickelodeon](http://www.nick.com), also be sure to check out [Nick Jr.](http://www.nickjr.com) which is geared towards the Pre-K crowd. [PBS Kids](http://www.pbskids.org) is another good one as is [Cartoon Network](http://www.cartoonnetwork.com). If they are girls check out [Barbie](http://www.barbie.com), and [Polly Pocket](http://www.pollypocket.com). If I can think of more later, I will post them here also. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/5 "2005-05-04T18:42:18Z")
I suppose I could have mentioned that the 5-year-old is a girl and the 3-year-old is a boy. But I have always been careful to avoid sex-specific themes in toys, clothes, etc. that I give kids as gifts. And for these kids, their paternal in-laws give them nothing but electronic toys, so it falls to our side to keep them in books, Tinkertoys, Legos, etc. I also try to avoid the commercial stuff, unless it’s something they’re already into. My niece loves a lot of the Nick shows (Dora, Little Bill, Oswald, Blue’s Clues) and is getting into chapter books. Thanks much for the suggestions so far! Keep 'em coming. ---
**Author:** ![Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Stark\_Raven\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stark_Raven_Mad)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/6 "2005-05-04T18:46:16Z")
[Gunbound!](http://gunbound.com/) Should teach them a bit of hand-eye coordination. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/7 "2005-05-04T19:02:09Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > \ My niece loves a lot of the Nick shows (Dora, Little Bill, Oswald, Blue’s Clues) and is getting into chapter books. \ I believe that all of those shows that you mentioned are on Nick Jr. There are lots of spelling & matching games on the Nick Jr. & PBS sites I listed earlier. My oldest daughter rarely needs my help with the computer or any of the games any more, and her reading, writing and vocabulary are all very good for a kindergardener. She is also fluent in Chinese and has picked up quite a bit of Spanish from Dora/school. I’m very proud (read: jealous) of my daughters linguistic skills. ---
**Author:** ![sneezy5660](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@sneezy5660](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sneezy5660)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/8 "2005-05-05T04:25:56Z")
[Starfall.com](http://Starfall.com) is a good site that helps teach kids to read with phonics. My daughter uses it at school and at home. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-some-kids-web-sites-and-freeware-games/302393/9 "2005-05-05T16:54:01Z")
Neopets is awesome, although maybe a little old for the little one - it’s entirely free. You pick a pet, you feed it, play with it, etc. There are all sorts of neat little games, you can fight your pets in the arenas, you can build up a financial empire - it’s a lot of fun and I’m not ashamed to admit my Neopets problem. Check it out and see whether you think the kids are old enough to grasp the games; they come in a range of difficulties. [neopets.com](http://neopets.com)