Wizarding World

The fall 2019 redesign of this beautifully illustrated site focused the content on question-based activities that offer more engagement. On Wizarding World, kids can find out what house the sorting hat would place them in, for example. They can also answer questions that will determine their Patronus, a defensive spell introduced in one of the books that takes the form of an animal guardian. After seeing a glowing stag gallop through a clearing, kids are taken on a three-dimensional journey, zooming past branches and trees with each question.

While the activities are both stunning and fun, there aren't too many of them -- in addition to Patronus and house selection, kids can also determine their best wand and identify six of their favorite characters and places from the series. Less dynamic quizzes, illustrated with photos, are available in a separate section. Much of the other site content -- such as an archive of J.K. Rowling's writing and blog posts comparing two characters' paths, what one woman learned by re-reading the books as a parent and other topics -- mostly involves reading. Fans will likely still enjoy checking those items out. And the site mentions, more new sections will be coming. It's free to sign up for a wizarding passport account. Until additional dynamic activities debut, though, kids may feel motivated to register for the $74.99 annual Wizarding World Gold subscription, which promises to supply exclusive content and other goodies. Given there's a cost involved, that's a prospect parents might not be enthusiastic about. But as more activities appear, kids may be able to find enough free content to keep them busy -- and it's possible parents could decide the Gold subscription features are more than worth the fee, once they see them in action.