Fun and learning on the 'Net

Your search for child-friendly websites that combine education with entertainment ends here

www.alfy.com

This is a great starting point for children, especially young ones. Colourful and cartoon-like, it has lots of sights and sounds, with audible prompts and children's voices inviting youngsters in and giving them tips on how to use the site.

There's a humorous "surprises" section and the site's "cool links" will send them surfing to other child-friendly places.

www.funbrain.com

This site has a corner for children of all ages that makes learning excellent fun through some super games! Whether it's mathematics, geography or language, there's a game to match a child's innate drive for enjoyment with his or her equally natural thirst for knowledge.

www.FEkids.com

A wonderful, very colourful and well-animated site with games, software, activities and more, including a girl's and boy's "guide to life" (future, family, friends, school...) and help with homework courtesy of the Fact Monster, which includes an online encyclopedia and thousands of facts about subjects ranging from 'the world' to biographies of famous people.

www.brainpop.com

A site which boasts of having animated movies for children on just about every science topic out there! ("Well we're working on it"). Concepts about health, science, technology, mathematics and English too are explained in a voice and visual style that is accessible, educational and entertaining for both children and adults. They charge a yearly subscription fee of roughly Lm15, but it seems well worth it.

www.EnchantedLearning.com

A site featuring a huge range of subjects and activities designed to capture the imagination of children while maximising creativity, learning, and enjoyment.

"We believe that children learn the most (and retain it the longest) when they are actively involved in educational pursuits that are clear, logical, stimulating, and fun," says the site.

Children need the simplest computer interface, and the material is created so that the navigation and controls are intuitive.

www.cleverisland.com

This site is offering a 30-day free trial period but charges about Lm30 for a year's subscription after that. Compared to what you're paying to watch TV every month, not a bad price at all for what is touted as being the most advanced online learning system available. It will help young children learn to read through games and activities as well as boosting other skills such as arithmetic, geography, science and logic, art and music.

www.homeworkspot.com

An information portal with links to a vast number of resources for English, mathematics, science, history, art, music, technology, foreign languages, health, life skills, extracurricular activities and much more.

The content is organised into grade-appropriate categories, from early to senior school. It is US-oriented, but most of it is useful to a boy or girl from any country. The site provides free access to some of the world's best libraries, museums and current event sources as well as a wide range of enjoyable, "mind-stretching, horizon-expanding" activities.

www.Howstuffworks.com

A fantastic, multiple-award winning website that would appeal to adults and the older inquisitive student alike. Clear, straightforward information complete with colourful animated illustrations on how things work, from car engines and air conditioners, to beer and dieting; 2,500 articles with 2,000 graphics. The content is organised by category - such as Computers & Internet, Body & Health - but also offers a powerful search engine and daily features including Gadget of the Day, Question of the Day and a Top 40 list of articles.