love this site and so do my kids
Ben's Guide to Government for Kids
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Valuable education tool, but games won't wow kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 5 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of Ben's Guide to Government for Kids was written by Dana Villamagna
Parents need to know that this site is the U.S. Government Printing Office's educational online outreach for grades K to 12. The nonpartisan, text-heavy site provides tutorials and games on all branches of U.S. government, history, states, and symbols. It's informative, but amusing enough that kids will actually enjoy learning things. Parents and teachers may have to help younger kids sift through the lengthy information and read them only the most relevant parts.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about why some of the historic documents posted on the site, such as the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation Proclamation, are important. Families can also discuss how learning about the government can help kids and families be active citizens. How does knowing about the government help us make positive changes in our country?
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More on Ben's Guide to Government for Kids
What’s the Story?
With a cartoon Ben Franklin as your guide, BEN'S GUIDE TO U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR KIDS is easy to navigate and clearly organized by grade level, and there's a separate section for parents and teachers. One click on Ben's age-appropriate kite will bring you to links about historic documents, government symbols, the election process, and more. One of the most useful things on this site is the list with links of all government-sponsored sites for kids. It points kids toward more specific information on just about anything in government from environmental protection and law enforcement to health and immigration. There's also a games section, where kids can color, play word games, figure out mazes, or match states on a map either online or offline by printing them out.
Is It Any Good?
This nonpartisan site isn't heavy on bells and whistles, but it's rich in information about the ins and outs of federal government and citizenship. The plain graphics, simple games, and lengthy text make this U.S. Government Printing Office-sponsored site a great place for students, parents, and teachers to go for information, but not necessarily for entertainment.
Some games repeat throughout the grade levels, and a few are too rudimentary to interest most kids older than 12. Explanations of how bills and laws are created, why the nation needs a government, and what government agencies do in the community are clear but dry and, therefore, may not wow most gradeschoolers.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
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this hole site is great
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