The Best Safe Online Gaming Websites to Keep Your Kids Entertained

June 01, 2010, By Phil Dotree 0 comments

Kids have loved video games ever since plumbers were fighting monkeys named Donkey in the 1980's. There are hundreds of online gaming websites, and as a parent, these websites are a great way to keep the kids entertained without spending hundreds of dollars on game systems.

However, they're not all created equal. Here's a look at some of the best websites out there for children, organized by age group.

Pre-K Gaming Websites

Kids probably shouldn't spend a lot of time gaming before kindergarten, but very basic games can help develop logical skills, hand-eye coordination, and can help them learn how to use computers (which they'll certainly be using quite often throughout their education). Head on over to NickJr.com, which was created by the popular children's network. You'll find educational and non-educational flash games that should keep a kid entertained for hours on end--maybe even giving you a chance to watch a few football plays while you're watching the little guy or girl.

Nick Jr. does a very good job of towing the line between good use of colors and overstimulation--everything's bright and colorful, and the simple game concepts are ideal for your household's youngest gamers. Check out their Moose and Zee series for great educational content.

Elementary School

Most of the online gaming websites designed for elementary-aged kids are educational. Sounds good, right?

The problem is that educational games can seem pretty lame to kids, and boring games don't get played. Therefore, if you're going to go the educational route, you need some games that rely on the basics of good game design. PrimaryGames.com is one of the best websites that we've found to this end, with a selection of wonderful flash, Java, and Shockwave games arranged by subject.

FunSchool is another great elementary website, and it's a bit more polished than PrimaryGames (although the selection is a bit more limited). It's also got some non-educational games.

Middle School

Around this age, school becomes more difficult for kids, and it's a good idea to try to get them hooked on math, spelling, and social studies games that mimic some of the tests and quizzes that they'll deal with at school. To this end, QuizHub (which is exactly what it sounds like, and really more of a study tool than a gaming site) and Math-Play.com are great choices.

Once your kids get a bit tired of the educational games, bring them on over to Yahoo! Kids Games for the slick presentation and addictive gameplay that adult fans of the website have long enjoyed (don't lie, you've wasted a lot of time on Bejeweled). Yahoo! Games' special kid section is very safe and doesn't require a login. There are hundreds of games to choose from, but be warned: they can get pretty addictive.

It's a good idea to set limits to your kid's Internet usage around this age and monitor them closely. Be sure to talk to them about the dangers of Internet chat, and set up some filters on your web browser to prevent them from going to potentially unsafe websites. Internet games can be a great resource for kids of any age, but they're not a license for lazy parenting--pay attention to what your kids do, and you'll be able to keep them happy and safe online.