Website Review: nytimes.com/learning
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What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that on this site, kids get access to
the stories that run in
The New York Times, but in kid-friendly, digestible
bits. Even though the site does make the news easier for kids
to absorb, it doesn't necessarily edit what's happening in the
world, so tough subjects might come up (war, crime).The site
does also link to
The New York Times' main page.There are also interactive
areas -- all educational -- such as crossword puzzles, question
and answer sessions with reporters, and a news quiz.
Families can talk about current events. What issues are currently affecting Americans? What's the latest with the war in Iraq? How do the crop of presidential candidates propose to solve problems affecting voters? If parents are having a tough time thinking of questions to ask their kids about what's happening in the news, the site has come up with a list of conversation starters.
Common Sense Media Review
When kids log on to their own special home of
The New York Times, they get the day's news, kid-style.
Though this trusted source of news is clearly aimed at those in
grade, middle, and high school, nothing is dumbed down
here.
Kids can read news summaries of the day's top stories (some might be about tough subjects such as war or killings), take new quizzes, complete crossword puzzles with Web links, learn a word of the day, and go back in time with "On This Day," which displays the front page of the paper from days gone by.
The editors of NYTIMES.COM/LEARNING.COM have also outfitted their stories with links to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary and Atlas. There's also a news magazine especially for teens, produced in conjunction with Scholastic. What's more, with partner Kaplan, the site provides kids with a "Test Prep of the Day" for those looking to brush up on vocabulary words, analogies, and reading comprehension. And if a student can't find the information he or she needs, a handy list of educational Web sites is just a click away.
For other solid educational sites, check out Kids.NationalGeographic.com for younger kids or YouthNoise.com for teens.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
