Childnet International is a
London-based non-profit organisation, founded in 1995 which works
around the world to promote children's interest in international
communications. Though the site does focus on protecting the
child from the dangers of the net, its overall approach is more
positive as it seeks to help children in actually leveraging the
Net advantage. A major item in its programme is the Cable &
Wireless Childnet International Awards for children, and those
working with them, who are developing outstanding Internet sites
and activities which directly benefit other children. It is also
ment to encourage children with limited resources to extend what
they are doing. There are five categories in which the awards are
given: individual, non-profit organisations, schools, government
and special awards. The second prize winner in the year 2000
awards was the 15-year-old Indian boy Jason Fernandes "who
overcomes dyslexia and helps others through the Net." A link
to Jason's page is provided from this site. The closing date for
the 2001 awards 31 October, 2000.Cyberteens
Teenagers can try the hang-out
at Cyberteens "where creative teens rule." Attractions
include games like Air Hockey, Cane Toad Explode!, Breakout,
Alien Autopsy, and Good Night Mr Snoozleberg. In the last, you
need to help Mr Snoozleberg, a career diplomat and chronic
sleepwalker, sleepwalk through the night without waking him up.
Then there are cartoons, movie reviews, contests, an art gallery,
and works of young composers. The Daily Factoid gives a nugget of
animated knowlege (your browser needs to be Java enabled),
clicking on which you are taken to a page which supplies more on
the matter including related links. Surfnetkids
For Surf Net Kids, mother of
two, Barbara Feldman has avidly searched the Net for educational
sites for children, who are more interested in the destination
than in surfing around trying to get there. So what she has
provided here are links to sites which she has reviewed, rated
and organised by topic -- arts and crafts, computers and the Web,
math, science... There is a calendar for each month which gives
links to important events on a particular day of that month (generally
relaing to the US). There is a weekly topic of discussion, with
related links and also a collection of related jokes. The topics
are all archived.There are games too like the Christopher
Columbus Quiz, Garden Gander Word Scramble, Hamster Jigsaw Puzzle,
and the Scienticially Speaking Crossword. Also popular is the
Harry Potter Word Search and Crossword Puzzle.Sex etc.
Pornography is not the only
way that sex is represented on the Web. Sex etc, for example, is
"A Website by teens for teens" which goes out to
educate teenagers on this common or garden activity in the living
world. It is actually a print publication which started off in
1994 with a print run of 10,000 copies. Today, 535,000 copies are
distributed free in North America. But the Website has the
advantage of being interactive, so you can send in questions
which you'd only ask other teens, and get immediate answers. Sex,
etc covers a wide gamut of topics with a special focus on
teenagers. The editors -- mainly high school student recruited
every year -- do not claim to give advice themselves and have
essentially taken on the role of finding out what's happening
around and then consulting experts -- "legal, medical,
psychological" -- before actually posting material on the
Web. The site is interactive, so if you have queries which you
don't feel like raising with your parents or your boring teacher,
just send them in to Sex, etc. Squigly's Playhouse
Now this is an Indian site
also focussed on the pre-teens. There are sections like Fun2learn
where you get info on nuggets like 'How can fat bottome help when
you fall?' Or in MyKindaLab you can learn 'how to make rice dance
without touching it.' Then you can browse the Do-it-Yourself
section and come up with a submarine periscope, a vintage car or
a spinning top. The book club has news and views on childrens'
books, and talks of the latest releases. One such book to look
forward to is J K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Doomspell
Tournament. Here kids can also build their first home pages,
engage in chats or keep an online diary. We found this site a
good introduction for kids to the Net.