WhiteHouse.gov/kids (http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids)

common sense media says

Government lessons without the politics.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this site is the kids' portion of the official site for the executive branch of the U.S. government. The history lessons stay neutral and the games are educational. Portions of the site comes across as PR material -- like the bios for the president, first lady, VP, and his wife -- but, overall, kids see Barney (Bush's dog) promoted here far more than administration officials. There is a link to the "adult" White House site.

Educational value: A useful parents and teachers guide helps boost the site's educational value. The "My American Journal," "Dream Team" of American notable characters in history, multi-grade math challenges, and Laura Bush's booklists are the highlights.
Positive messages: Promotes learning about government officials, branches of government, and discovering your own ideas about what it means to be an American via the site's printable "My American Journal."
Violence: A couple of sections discuss supporting the troops in current conflicts. There's a "freedom timeline" that tells stories about past wars.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: This is a .gov site created by the executive branch, so expect a few propaganda-ish phrases in some sections on issues like the war.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on WhiteHouse.gov/kids

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the government. What's the role of the executive branch? The downloadable, printable My American Journal offers countless opportunities for parents and kids to discuss what it means to be an American. The open-ended questions like, "I am proud to be an American because..." and "My friends and family can support out troops by..." may have very different answers in different families.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Some of the site may seem a bit too canned for adults, especially related to troop activity and education reform, as well as personal bios of the current administration leaders. But there's enough kid bite-size history and U.S. government and education lessons on this site to make it worth a look or two. It would be interesting to revisit the site after the upcoming presidential election to see how it changes with a different administration. Even if you're not interested in the overall site, the downloadable, printable "My American Journal" is an excellent resource for pre-voters to begin thinking about community and political involvement and the importance of knowing how our government works and who represents its citizens.

This review was written by Dana Villamagna
 
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age