KidsPost

This news site gets points for providing content specifically meant for kids, but most of the articles seem to have been written by adults, not younger readers. KidsPost's design also doesn't differ much from the Washington Post's site. While photos appear to be included more often than videos with articles, KidsPost does offer some interactive elements, including quizzes on topics like ice cream, published during National Ice Cream Month. The quizzes show kids the correct answer if their guess is wrong.

The site navigation is somewhat cumbersome. Once kids click on one of the sections, there's sometimes no option to easily return to the main page apart from clicking on the browser's back button, since navigation elements often lead to the main Washington Post site. Aside from four subject matter headings at the top of the screen, and a few items listed near the bottom of the page, KidsPost also doesn't offer any other ways to easily find content. Articles aren't broken down within those pages or marked with tags, and there's no dedicated search option within KidsPost. You can click on the search function in the upper left hand corner of the screen, but that's part of the Washington Post's site -- and KidsPost isn't even listed as a section option to further refine the results. There are a few good resources: The Readers' Corner section features age-appropriate book reviews, for instance, and a Newspaper in Education classroom resource page includes information for teachers that can be a good jumping-off point for discussion. The site's articles don't always include extensive background on the topics, and it doesn't cover all major current events. But in general, the articles provide a concise overview of topics and can help kids learn about some of the things that are happening in the world, if you're willing to search for it. Given a paid subscription to the Washington Post is required, parents may or may not use the site often enough to justify the expense.