Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this site, which supplements the TIME for Kids magazine, is a safe and wonderfully eye-opening place for kids to hang out online. There are no chat, message board, or e-mail features offered, so no worries about your kids being contacted by strangers. Although there are versions of the TIME for Kids magazine for grade-schoolers, the site is more for tweens and up since articles give frank facts (while leaving out disturbing details) about things like political assassinations and social injustices.
Families can talk about current events and issues and how they affect our lives. Do you understand everything that was said in the news articles you read? What's significant about these issues? How might they affect you or your family personally? Do you have an opinion regarding the issues you've read about?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Larisa Wiseman
The online counterpart to the TIME for Kids magazine, TIMEFORKIDS.COM presents news in a format and writing style that's appealing and accessible to kids; articles are written in a simple, direct, and unbiased voice, and the colorful presentation makes it fun for kids to learn about everything from the latest political crisis to the most recent Hollywood blockbuster. Aside from reading the articles written especially for the site, kids who don't subscribe to the magazine can view a sampling of articles from the latest issue. The site is also a great homework and research resource -- the Homework Helper section offers facts, articles, and activities in a variety of subjects, and the Writing Help section provides tips and tools for writing outstanding essays, reports, and news articles. There's also a nice selection of fun games that require some brain power and occasionally a bit of research. This is a valuable resource that helps build kids' awareness of the world around them and could help them develop a social and political consciousness -- or expand that consciousness, if they've already developed it.
WorldAlmanacforKids.com, Kids.NationalGeographic.com, and SocialStudiesforKids.com are more great resources for tweens who are fascinated by the world around them.
Reviewed: 01/01/2008
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ViolenceNews articles give some basic facts about violent incidents (such as political assassinations, for example) but don't include any disturbing details or photos. |
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Social BehaviorThe site teaches kids to be aware of what's going on in the world -- whether it's politics, social issues, problems stemming from global warming, or just interesting facts about other countries' cultures, geography, and wildlife. It may inspire them to take an active part in making the world a better place. |
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CommercialismAside from a banner ad for the TIME for Kids Almanac 2008 and World Atlas (clicking the banner takes you to Amazon, where you can purchase the books) and links and banners encouraging kids to subscribe to the TIME for Kids magazine, there are also a couple of ads for sweepstakes and contests. |
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Educational ValueGreat resource to help kids learn about social, political, and environmental issues, and much more. |
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