[Dillpicklechip]

<p>My 5 (almost 6) year old enjoys spending time on the computer. I allow him 30 minutes each day. I'd like to find a website he could play on with educational games, or at least inoffensive games free of advertising.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>When he was a bit younger he used to enjoy Starfall.com, which was great because using that site he taught himself to read! But now I guess he's too old for that...he has been spending time on sites like Hotwheels.com, which I no longer allow because they're too flashy and intense and filled with advertising for toys. I refuse to let him be bombarded by commercialism like that. But I'm not sure where else I can let him play.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So are there any sites out there with decent, free games for young children, that aren't trying to sell something? Thank you!</p>

 

[Daffodil]

<p><a href="http://www.linerider.com/" target="_blank">Linerider</a>.  It's not exactly educational, but it's at least inoffensive, and it's pretty fun.  (You'll want to try it yourself.)</p>

 

[ChristaN]

<p>Does he like Cyberchase at all?  Since it is a PBS show and site, the ads should be minimal or none.  Here's their website: <a href="http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/allgames.html" target="_blank">http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/allgames.html</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Eta: funbrain might be another good option although it isn't totally advertisement free: <a href="http://www.funbrain.com/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.funbrain.com/index.html</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you are looking for educational games, I've been keeping a list of them here too: <a href="http://www.galileoeducation.org/links.html" target="_blank">http://www.galileoeducation.org/links.html</a>  I hope that this one is okay for me to link since I'm not selling anything or making any money off of any of the links on this webpage!</p>

 

[SundayCrepes]

<p>When my son is older, we will be checking out <a href="http://www.cosmeo.com" target="_blank">www.cosmeo.com</a>. It is put on by discovery channel. They have over 30,000 video clips sorted by grade and subject. They help schooled kids with their homework.</p>

 

[Dillpicklechip]

<p>Thank you for the suggestions everyone. </p>

 

[ChristaN]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>SundayCrepes</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1281688/i-m-looking-for-websites-for-a-5-year-old#post_16072534"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>When my son is older, we will be checking out <a href="http://www.cosmeo.com" target="_blank">www.cosmeo.com</a>. It is put on by discovery channel. They have over 30,000 video clips sorted by grade and subject. They help schooled kids with their homework.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><br><br>
The BBC schools website looks like it is somewhat similar to the Cosmeo one you mention (and it is free).  BBC schools is, of course, British so the content may vary a bit for that side of the pond . <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/</a></p>

 

[Lillian J]

<p><span style="color:rgb(75,0,130);">Try a browse through this section of my non-commerical website. I loathe loud, flashy sites with ads, so it avoids those as much as possible. I suggest that you simply scroll through the annotated lists of links first to familiarize yourself with what's there, or else you'll be wandering around in cyberspace forever. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<h1 style="color:rgb(0,100,0);font-style:italic;font-size:24px;font-family:Times;line-height:normal;"><strong><span style="color:rgb(75,0,130);"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="http://besthomeschooling.org/gateway/intedws.html" target="_blank">A Homeschooling Gateway to the Internet</a></span></span></span></strong></h1>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(75,0,130);">Lillian</span></p>
<h1 style="color:rgb(0,100,0);font-style:italic;font-size:24px;font-family:Times;line-height:normal;"></h1>

 

[Dillpicklechip]

<p>Goodness, Lillian! I could spend hours browsing all the sites you have listed! Thanks! <br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Lillian J</strong> <a href="/community/forum/thread/1281688/i-m-looking-for-websites-for-a-5-year-old#post_16074518"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p><span style="color:rgb(75,0,130);">Try a browse through this section of my non-commerical website. I loathe loud, flashy sites with ads, so it avoids those as much as possible. I suggest that you simply scroll through the annotated lists of links first to familiarize yourself with what's there, or else you'll be wandering around in cyberspace forever. </span></p>
<p> </p>
<h1 style="color:rgb(0,100,0);font-style:italic;font-size:24px;font-family:Times;line-height:normal;"><strong><span style="color:rgb(75,0,130);"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><a href="http://besthomeschooling.org/gateway/intedws.html" target="_blank">A Homeschooling Gateway to the Internet</a></span></span></span></strong></h1>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="color:rgb(75,0,130);">Lillian</span></p>
<h1 style="color:rgb(0,100,0);font-style:italic;font-size:24px;font-family:Times;line-height:normal;"> </h1>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[amis2girls]

<p>zoodles.com  </p>

 

[mojobin]

<p>abcya.com</p>

 

[TAKLinda]

<a href="http://Www.starfall.com" target="_blank">Www.starfall.com</a>

 

[onyxravnos]

<p>jumpstar isn't great but isn't too horrible, my  library hs a good selection of kid computer games. maybe yours does too?</p>

 

[elizawill]

<p>i was also going to suggest <a href="http://www.zoodles.com" target="_blank">www.zoodles.com</a> and <a href="http://www.pbskids.org" target="_blank">www.pbskids.org</a></p>

 

[Dillpicklechip]

<p>Thank you everyone for the ideas! Right now he's having good fun with ABCya.com...I like that it's age appropriate, the games are simple and non-commercial. They have stuff like designing your own robot or decorating a Christmas tree that he thinks is pretty cool, and they have simple math games too which I've been using for homeschooling.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>

 

[fuzzypeach]

<p>Definitely check out <a href="http://www.poissonrouge.com" target="_blank">www.poissonrouge.com</a> !</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here is a parent's guide  </p>
<p><a href="http://www.poissonrouge.com/bigfish/en/userguide.html" target="_blank">http://www.poissonrouge.com/bigfish/en/userguide.html</a></p>

 

[Dillpicklechip]

<p>Thank you fuzzypeach, that website is really cool!</p>

 

[Reebekah]

<p>lately my almost 5 yr old son likes go on pbskids, dragonfly tv, national geographic kids, and (i help him) find age appropriate science experiments on youtube.</p>

 

[ohiomommy1122]

<p><span style="display:none;"> </span><span style="display:none;"> </span><a href="http://www2.shidonni.com/v2/LandingPage.aspx" target="_blank">http://www2.shidonni.com/v2/LandingPage.aspx</a> my kids love this, not as educational as I would like  but very creative</p>

 

[staceyshoe]

<p>My 5 y.o. really loves starfall.com and sheppardsoftware.com.  <span><img alt="shine.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/shine.gif"></span></p>