There are a number of kid-friendly search engines to help you and your child navigate the Internet in a more safe fashion. The list below is not all-inclusive, but gives you a few free options that come recommended by various parenting groups and professionals. (This site does not recommend any one specific site over another and does not receive any compensation from any sources for listing them on this site. These recommendations are merely a list of some available options. As always, do your own research on any site, application, or software.)
Recommended for kids age 9+, Fact Monster is a well-organized, kid-friendly mega resource that can help with homework. It's brought to you by educational professionals, so no need to worry about the content. There are ads on pages, but this site is a very safe location to find helpful facts.
Recommends for kids age 4+, Kido'z is a free, downloadable browser that is generally very safe. It comes pre-stocked with a wide variety of shows and videos. These can be toggled on and off through the parental controls section of the site.
Recommended for kids 8+, Zilladog is a free, safe, interactive browser created by parents for kids. There are web links for free, online, parent-approved games such as Pacman and Simon Says, music at Radio Disney and KidzBop, and favorite Web sites like PBSkids.org, Barbie.com, Disney.com, and Webkinz. Zilladog.com also offers a child-safe, spam-free email service known as ZillaMail for children and their parents if you are interested
Parents are often looking for safe gaming and activity sites for younger kids. Below are a few recommended sites, and, although there are more, these along with other .gov and .edu sites are typically safe places for kids to use online.
Netsmartz Kids is a safe site offering videos, games, free activity sheets, and more for kids. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children created this site as a safe alternative for kids to play online while also learning safe habits. Check them out for great resources and free content.
PBS Kids houses safe games, videos, and other content great for young kids. They also have a number of resources for parents.
Junior astronauts will have a blast exploring this fun and exciting website. There’s information and games geared to a variety of ages and skill levels to help feed their love of space. Games and content are kid-friendly and safe.
Finding useful and cool sites for teens can be a challenge. Below are a few great sites for teens to check out online. Some even allow them to create their own content!
NS Teens is a teen version of NetSmartz Kids. NCMEC created this site as a safe alternative for teens to use online. Check it out for great resources and free content geared toward teenagers.
TED-Ed is TED’s youth and education initiative. Its mission is to spark and celebrate the ideas of teachers and students around the world. The site provides a growing library of original animated videos created by an international platform of teachers.
Teen Ink is national magazine written by teens for teens. It’s a great resource where students can submit their own work and appreciate what their peers write.